# Sign Regulations in Hillsboro, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hillsboro, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/hillsboro
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Hillsboro/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH5BUBURE_ARTXEMSI)

## At a glance

Hillsboro, Missouri regulates 22 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Uses, including Churches and Schools)s in the Residential zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a 15 ft from public right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 5-208(4)). Most commercial signs in Hillsboro require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential zones | 4 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial zones, Industrial zones | 12 | 50 ft | 300 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (32 sq ft, 60 days prior; 30 days post-completion) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft | One per street frontage of construction project | Minimum 20 ft setback from property line; per street frontage of project | — | Sec. 5-207(2) |
| Name Plate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per occupancy | Attached to building occupancy | — | Sec. 5-207(3), Sec. 5-205(4) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Posted per Section 8-6 of ordinances | — | Sec. 5-207(4), 5-205(5) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | — | — | 15 ft from pavement edge | — | No closer than 15 ft from edge of any street or road | — | Sec. 5-207(5) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window | — | Sec. 5-205(8) |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 5-205(9) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On property for sale | — | Sec. 5-205(10) |

### Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 ft | 48 sq ft per face | — | — | One per main entrance | At each main entrance to subdivision; within an easement, platted lot, common ground, or on approved entrance island. | — | Sec. 5-208(2) |
| Identification Sign (Apartment or Condominium Complex) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | Per entrance | — | Sec. 5-208(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Uses, including Churches and Schools) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 15 ft from public right-of-way | One per use | — | — | Sec. 5-208(4) |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential Uses, including Churches and Schools) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per use | — | — | Sec. 5-208(4) |

### Commercial zones, Industrial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (on HWY/Business Routes) | 50 ft | 300 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | One per street frontage | Fronting Business Route 21, Highway 21, Highway A, Highway B, College Drive | — | Sec. 5-209(2)a |
| Freestanding Sign (other locations) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | One per street frontage | All other locations not fronting on specified highways | — | Sec. 5-209(2)a |
| Monument Sign (Commercial property surrounded by residential on two or more sides) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | One per commercial property | — | — | Sec. 5-209(2)b |
| Wall Sign or Electric Awning Sign | — | 10% of wall area or 32 sq ft, whichever is greater, but no more than 300 sq ft | — | — | One per eligible wall (see additional requirements) | One sign on up to two walls with exterior exposure; up to three for corner/double-frontage lots | — | Sec. 5-209(3)a and (10) |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per separate occupancy or entrance | Under canopy, one per occupancy/entrance | — | Sec. 5-209(4) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Per occupancy | — | — | Sec. 5-209(5) |
| Roof Sign (in lieu of wall or canopy sign) | — | — | — | — | One per business in lieu of wall/canopy sign | On roof | — | Sec. 5-209(6) |
| Commercial Sign Center | Same as zoning district maximum height | — | — | Must not exceed zoning district minimum requirements | One per commercial center | — | — | Sec. 5-209(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Hillsboro

- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals, or appearing to convey official messages including but not limited to stop, caution or emergency.
- Abandoned signs.
- Portable signs.
- Paper posters and painted signs applied directly to the wall of a building, pole or other support.
- Exterior use of advertising media such as streamers, pendants, flags, balloons, lights (whether flashing, fluttering, blinking or rotating) and wind operated devices, except as otherwise provided. (Official flags of the United States, the state, the county, the city, the city School district or the city fire district are exempted; up to three flags per pole; only one trademark flag per business location.)
- Flashing signs (including all signs with flashing messages, as defined in movement and animation provisions).
- No sign over three feet in height may be located in the sight distance triangle.
- No signs shall be located on or over a public right-of-way without approval of the department of public works.
- All business, identification, and advertising signs shall be located so as not to impair the visibility of any official highway sign or marker or any other sign.
- No sign, except a sign presently so lighted, shall be illuminated by intermittent light sources. (Time/temperature display and electronic message centers not considered intermittent.)

## Signs exempt from permit in Hillsboro

- Construction signs of 16 square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Directional/informational signs of nine square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Traditional holiday decorations are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Name plates of two square feet or less are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Real estate signs posted upon property for sale or rent are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Window signs are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.
- Garage sale signs are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with all other requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a permit must include a site plan with measurements showing the proposed locations of any and all existing and proposed signs on the same premises.
- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan is mentioned in the provided sections; sign permitting is handled per sign with required site plan submission.
- Structural calculations sealed by a Missouri-certified engineer are required as part of the submission for projecting signs, marquee signs, roof signs, and ground signs that exceed ten feet in height or 100 square feet.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Hillsboro, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Hillsboro+MO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-hillsboro

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