# Sign Regulations in Des Peres, Missouri

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Des Peres, Missouri, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Des Peres, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/des-peres
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Des_Peres/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6BUBURE_ARTXIIISI)

## At a glance

Des Peres, Missouri regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Billboards in the Commercial Zoning Districts, Non-Residential Zoning Districts, C-1 Zoning District, C-2 Zoning District, C-3 Zoning District, Planned Business Center zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall, 800 sq ft per sign face, and 72 ft wide, with a 750 ft of highway ROW (min), 1,000 ft from residential, 1,400 ft from another billboard (same side of highway) setback (Sec. Section 410.050.A.6). Most commercial signs in Des Peres require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 7 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft per frontage, or 2 signs per vehicular entrance, each 24 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zoning Districts, Non-Residential Zoning Districts, C-1 Zoning District, C-2 Zoning District, C-3 Zoning District, Planned Business Center | 16 | No more than 35 ft above grade; minimum 8 ft above ground if travel beneath allowed | 800 sq ft per sign face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 2 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Ground Sign (Subdivision/Non-Residential Use) | 6 ft (ground sign), 10 ft (wall sign) | 24 sq ft per frontage, or 2 signs per vehicular entrance, each 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage or 2 per vehicular entrance | Per frontage or per vehicular entrance to subdivision/institution | — | Section 410.040.A.1 |
| Ground Sign (General Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | Not within 10 ft of right-of-way | 3 | — | — | Section 410.040.A.2 |
| Ground Sign (Temporary for New Subdivisions) | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Location and duration approved by city | — | Section 410.040.B.1 |
| Ground Sign (Temporary Non-Residential Use) | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Not less than 10 ft from right-of-way | 2 per frontage | Not less than 10 ft from right-of-way | — | Section 410.040.B.2 |
| Street Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | All residential properties | — | Section 410.040.C.1 |
| Directional Sign (Institutional or Non-Residential Use) | 3.5 ft (ground/fence), 6 ft (wall mounted) | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Detailing entrances, exits, and traffic circulation | — | Section 410.040.C.2 |
| Ground Sign (Construction - Non-Residential Use) | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Not less than 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per frontage (active construction permit) | Not less than 10 ft from right-of-way, per frontage | — | Section 410.040.C.3 |

### Commercial Zoning Districts, Non-Residential Zoning Districts, C-1 Zoning District, C-2 Zoning District, C-3 Zoning District, Planned Business Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Main Entrance) | No more than 35 ft above grade; minimum 8 ft above ground if travel beneath allowed | 150 sq ft | — | — | One per main entrance | Each main entrance, facing street or above primary entrance | — | Section 410.050.A.1 |
| Wall Sign (Rear/Side - Inward-Facing Entrance in Planned Business Center) | — | 35 sq ft | — | — | One per occupant (applies only if primary entrance faces inward in development) | Rear or side of building facing Manchester Rd or other arterial; must not face residential; not on side facing internally to development | — | Section 410.050.A.1.ii |
| Ground Sign (General) | 4 ft (except: 6 ft for signs fronting Manchester Rd, up to 8 ft including supports) | 30 sq ft (<3 acres), 50 sq ft (3-10 acres), 100 sq ft (>10 acres) | — | Signs fronting Manchester Rd at least 3 ft from property line | One per lot or per Manchester Rd frontage | One per lot, or one per Manchester Road frontage if multiple frontages | — | Section 410.050.A.2 |
| Pole Sign (C-2 District) | 35 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 150 ft from I-270 right-of-way (C-2 District) | One per frontage | One per frontage onto a non-residential street in C-2; in other commercial districts only as conditional use | — | Section 410.050.A.3 |
| Window Sign (Permanent, Non-Residential) | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per window; max two per building | One per window, up to two per building, must face street or entrance | — | Section 410.050.A.4 |
| Billboard | 30 ft | 800 sq ft per sign face | 72 ft | 750 ft of highway ROW (min), 1,000 ft from residential, 1,400 ft from another billboard (same side of highway) | One per lot | Within 750 ft of right-of-way and visible from highway in commercial zones | — | Section 410.050.A.6 |
| Banner Sign (Temporary, C-1 District) | 6 ft; top no more than 12 ft above grade | 12 sq ft | 2 ft | — | As approved | Faces collector street, highway, or at major public entrance; perpendicular banner may project up to 2 ft from wall | — | Section 410.050.B.1 |
| Ground Sign (Construction - Non-Residential Use) | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — | Not less than 10 ft from right-of-way | 1 per frontage | Not less than 10 ft from right-of-way, per frontage | — | Section 410.050.C.3 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Exterior door or window (either side of glass) | — | Section 410.030 (definition of Sign, window, permanent) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside of exterior window or glass door | — | Section 410.030 (definition of Sign, window, temporary) |

## Prohibited signs in Des Peres

- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that poses a threat or danger to motorists or pedestrians, or that may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or warning device.
- No sign shall make use of any vulgar or obscene language or images or other words or images offensive to persons of reasonable sensitivity or any words or images intended to degrade or insult any persons of a particular race, religion or ethnic group.
- Box wall cabinet signs shall not be permitted in conjunction with construction of any commercial buildings constructed after the date of adoption of this appendix.
- All sign illumination shall be oriented to prevent undue glare onto adjacent streets or residential properties.
- Signs on public street right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs that are in disrepair or hazardous are prohibited.
- Signs posing a danger to motorists or pedestrians or which block vision at entrances, intersections, or sharp curves are prohibited.
- Signs directly painted on any wall or any wall of any structure are prohibited.
- Moving signs (all or any part of which move or are designed to facilitate movement by means of mechanical, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or other natural or artificial force) are prohibited.
- Signs with flashing lights or which appear to move are prohibited.
- Roof signs (erected on a roof or projecting above a wall or parapet wall, excluding marquee and canopy signs) are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited unless permanently painted on motor vehicles and less than two feet in each dimension, or as otherwise specifically permitted.
- Signs providing false information in a manner that could negatively impact traffic safety must be removed.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected or altered in violation of any other applicable provisions of the city's Code of Ordinances.
- Signs shall not be constructed of inappropriate materials not designed for the type of sign construction, and must be installed in a businesslike fashion and secured to the ground or building.
- Temporary signs are not permitted as offsite signs and are not allowed on the public right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Des Peres

- Signs displaying the street address for all properties do not require a permit.
- Street address numbers are automatically required for all properties and must be two square feet or less in size. No permit is needed.
- Directional signs required for entrances, exits, and traffic circulation (not exceeding two square feet in size and specified height limits) are required for institutional, non-residential and commercial properties and require a permit, but are mandatory and not subject to standard prohibitions.
- Ground signs displaying contractor, architect, engineer, and property owner information are mandatory where there is an active construction permit and require a permit, but are required by ordinance.
- Existing permanent signs in residential districts as of the effective date of the chapter remain until removed, replaced, or substantially altered (then must conform).
- Permanent signs in commercial districts with legal permits that exceed current standards must be brought into compliance within two years, but can remain until then.
- Existing permanent signs in commercial districts within multi-tenant buildings without approved uniform sign standards may remain until removed, replaced, or substantially altered.
- Existing temporary signs as of the effective date of the chapter have ninety days to be brought into compliance.
- Message substitution: Any sign allowed to display a commercial message may substitute a non-commercial message, or vice versa, without additional approval or permitting, as long as the sign otherwise complies with the chapter. This does not allow signage area to be increased.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign structures on multi-tenant buildings shall be of a generally uniform appearance and of a configuration approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Colors, style, size, height, and locations of sign structures shall blend in an architecturally pleasing manner to create a unified design of all signs for the building.
- The owners of any planned business center located within any Commercial Zoning District may petition the Board of Aldermen for approval of a comprehensive sign plan in lieu of application of the general provisions of the sign code. The Board of Aldermen, after review by the Planning and Zoning Commission, may adopt requirements that are more or less restrictive than the general sign ordinance.
- For multi-tenant buildings in non-residential districts, uniform sign regulations must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- In Planned Business Centers, uniform sign standards for additional wall signs on rear or side of buildings must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Multi-tenant building sign structures or those within planned business centers or in any C-2 or C-3 development must have a generally uniform appearance.
- The Board of Aldermen may approve, after receiving a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, a unified directional sign plan that may vary from the standard requirements upon certain findings.
- Applications for large development temporary sign permits (in C-2 and C-3 districts) require submission of detailed plans and review and approval by the Board of Aldermen.

## Full detail

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