# Sign Regulations in Gladstone, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gladstone, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/gladstone
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-01
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Gladstone/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TITIXBUCOORBA_CH1600SI)

## At a glance

Gladstone, Missouri regulates 10 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Commercial District (C-O, CP-O, C-1, CP-1, C-2, CP-2, C-3, CP-3, C-4, CP-4) zoning district are capped at 50 square feet, with a Minimum of 15 feet from the back of curb setback (Sec. Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)a). Most commercial signs in Gladstone require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, RP-1, R-2, RP-2) | 3 | — | 40 square feet total | — |
| Residential District (R-3, RP-3, R-4, RP-4, RCH-1, RPCH-1) | 2 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C-O, CP-O, C-1, CP-1, C-2, CP-2, C-3, CP-3, C-4, CP-4) | 5 | — | 120 square feet | — |
| Industrial District (M-1) | 5 | — | 120 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | Varies by type | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential District (R-1, RP-1, R-2, RP-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One sign per building | Mounted on the building | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(1)a |
| Church Sign | — | 40 square feet total | — | — | Up to three signs per church | On church property | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(1)b |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to two signs per street entrance | Per street entrance to a residential plat | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(1)c |

### Commercial District (C-O, CP-O, C-1, CP-1, C-2, CP-2, C-3, CP-3, C-4, CP-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | Minimum of 15 feet from the back of curb | One per separately platted lot | On private property | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)a |
| Electronic Message Center or Changeable Message Sign | — | 30% of sign area | — | — | — | Detached sign | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)a |
| Incidental and Directional Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)b |
| Wall Sign | — | 120 square feet | — | — | One per building or store frontage | On the wall of a building in which the business is located | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)c |
| Off-Building Structural Sign | — | 120 square feet | — | — | One per business | Attached to the building frontage or store frontage or adjacent non-building structure | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)d |

### Industrial District (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | Minimum of 15 feet from the back of curb | One per separately platted lot | On private property | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)a |
| Electronic Message Center or Changeable Message Sign | — | 30% of sign area | — | — | — | Detached sign | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)a |
| Incidental and Directional Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)b |
| Wall Sign | — | 120 square feet | — | — | One per building or store frontage | On the wall of a building in which the business is located | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)c |
| Off-Building Structural Sign | — | 120 square feet | — | — | One per business | Attached to the building frontage or store frontage or adjacent non-building structure | — | Sec. 9.1600.100(b)(3)d |

## Prohibited signs in Gladstone

- Temporary signs shall not be erected, placed, posted, or otherwise be displayed on any sign posts, traffic signal post, utility poles, streetlight poles, equipment pedestals or boxes, within rights-of-way, or other public property.
- Signs containing lewd, pornographic, fraudulent or misleading information.
- Signs erected, placed, posted, or otherwise displayed on any street sign or post, traffic sign or post, utility poles, streetlight poles, traffic signal poles or equipment boxes, or other public property, or within rights-of-way.
- Roof signs as defined herein.
- Billboard signs, except as permitted for in section 9.1600.150.
- Off-premises sign as defined herein.
- Signs which obstruct any window, door, or fire escape opening or prevent free passage from one part of a building to another or to the outside.
- Signs which interfere with an opening required for ventilation.
- Signs or other advertising structures or devices regulated by this chapter shall not be erected at an intersection of any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where, by reason of its position, shape or color, the sign may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized sign, signal or device; or make use of the words 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'Drive-In,' 'Danger,' or any other words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gladstone

- Political signs which comply with this chapter.
- Municipal signs, legal notices, trespassing signs, signs to add safety.
- Subdivision development signs.
- Construction signs.
- Residential real estate signs.
- Painting, cleaning, and general maintenance of existing signs.
- Changing of the advertising copy of an existing sign.
- Open house signs not exceeding four square feet.
- Tables constructed of bronze, brass, stone, or other noncombustible materials, when built or attached to the walls of the building.
- Incidental and direction signs not exceeding three square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Construction documents, special inspection and structural observation programs, and other data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application for a permit.
- A sign company recognized by this jurisdiction shall prepare the construction documents.
- Where special conditions exist, the building official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional.
- The construction documents submitted with the application for permit shall be accompanied by a site plan showing to scale the size and location of new sign construction and existing structures on the site, and distances from lot lines and, as applicable, flood hazard areas, floodways, and design flood elevations; and it shall be drawn in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Gladstone — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Gladstone+MO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-gladstone

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