# Sign Regulations in Kearney, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kearney, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/kearney
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-15
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28602045)

## At a glance

Kearney, Missouri regulates 28 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary For Sale or For Rent Signs in the Residential Zoning Districts (R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 8 sq. ft., with a Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage). Most commercial signs in Kearney require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) | 11 | 12 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (per Section 405.825) | — |
| Commercial Office District (C-O), Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1), General Commercial District (C), Industrial District (M) | 15 | 50 ft. | Combined area for individual freestanding signs on lots >=300 ft frontage | — |
| Central Business District Overlay District (CBD) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | Behind existing or proposed right-of-way | Not specified | On private property, not in public right-of-way | — | Section 405.820 |
| Temporary or Banner Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft behind existing or proposed right-of-way | 1 per business or property | On private property | — | Section 405.825 |

### Residential Zoning Districts (R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary For Sale or For Rent Sign | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 8 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage |
| Temporary Subdivision or Apartment Sign | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage |
| Permanent Subdivision or Apartment Development Identification Sign | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | Approved by site plan | Monument sign | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage |
| Non-residential Identification Sign - Day Care, Funeral Homes, Clubs, Nursing Homes, Retirement Homes | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | Approved by site plan | Monument sign | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage |
| Non-residential Identification Sign - Government Buildings, Places of Worship, Public Schools | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | Approved by site plan | Monument sign | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage, Note 2 |
| Permanent Institutional Bulletin Board Sign | 8 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way for freestanding | 1 | Freestanding or wall sign | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage |
| Permanent On-site Directory Sign - Apartment Complexes | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way for freestanding | Approved by site plan | Freestanding or wall sign | — | Table 19, Residential Zoning District Signage |

### Commercial Office District (C-O), Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1), General Commercial District (C), Industrial District (M)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary For Sale or For Rent Sign | 8 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage |
| Temporary Construction Sign - Standard | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 | Freestanding | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage |
| Temporary Construction Sign - Near I-35 | 12 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 | Along I-35 right-of-way | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage, Note 9 |
| Permanent Ground or Monument Sign - Standard | 7.5 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 per property line along a street | Ground or monument | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage |
| Permanent Ground or Monument Sign - Multi-tenant Additional | 7.5 ft. | 50 sq. ft. per sign | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 additional per 300 ft street frontage | Ground or monument | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage |
| Permanent Ground or Monument Sign - Multi-tenant 75 sq ft Option | 7.5 ft. | 75 sq. ft. sign face | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | Up to 1 per 300 ft street frontage | Ground or monument | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage |
| Freestanding Pole Sign - Standard | Limited to the peak of the roof of the structure | 80 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 per property line along a street (corner note) | Freestanding pole | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage |
| Freestanding Pole Sign - Multi-tenant Additional | Limited to the peak of the roof of the structure | Combined area for individual freestanding signs on lots >=300 ft frontage | — | At least 5 ft behind right-of-way | 1 per lot or tract frontage; additional per 300 ft | Freestanding pole | — | Table 20, Commercial Signage |

## Prohibited signs in Kearney

- Signs installed without a sign permit, unless classified as a sign not requiring permit.
- Signs erected or maintained without the consent of the owner of the real property or the person or entity in legal possession of the real property.
- Rotating, animated, moving or flashing signs (does not prohibit static display of electronic reader board or LED sign changing at no faster than two-second intervals).
- No private sign or supporting structure shall interfere with lines of vision between a motorist and any official traffic sign, signal, or other vehicles approaching any street intersection.
- No private sign shall display flashing intermittent lights resembling emergency vehicles or traffic signals, or use words that might be misconstrued as public safety warnings, traffic signs, or signals.
- No sign used for advertising shall be located between any side of a building and any interior property line adjacent to a residential zoning district.
- It shall be unlawful to display obscene, indecent, or immoral matter on any sign or advertising structure.
- No sign shall be located within City, State, or Federal right-of-way or attached to utility poles or appurtenances in easements or rights-of-way.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations shall be prohibited.
- No sign except governmental signs shall be placed in, extend into, or over any public property or right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kearney

- Any sign placed or painted on the inside of a building or outside of any vehicle.
- Nameplates attached directly to the wall of a building or structure.
- Municipal signs, legal notices, trespassing signs, or signs to aid safety.
- Information or direction signs containing no advertising copy.
- Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises.
- Tablets of bronze, brass, stone, or other incombustible materials attached to building walls bearing name of owner, building use, or commemorative material.
- Signs announcing names of architects, engineers, contractors for buildings under construction, alteration, or repair, and signs announcing building character or purpose.
- Signs advertising public or civic welfare or charitable enterprises, limited to 30 square feet, placed on posts, poles, or buildings, removed within 5 days following the event.
- All political signs, removed within 5 days following the event.
- Holiday decoration signs, garage sale, yard sale, residential moving sales, auctions, direction signs for parties, reunions, or weddings, limited to 4 square feet, removed within 5 days following the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- New or expanded permanent signs and replacement/reface of existing pole signs require a site plan review by the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to submittal of a sign permit application.
- Sign permit applications shall be accompanied by concept plans (see Section 405.135) and site plans (see Section 405.140), including plans showing location, support, illumination; scale drawings of sign faces; calculation of total existing sign area; attestation of compliance with maximum areas; and other information as deemed necessary by the Planning and Zoning Commission or Board of Aldermen.
- New monument signs where none existed shall be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Aldermen at time of minor site plan review; may require enclosed base and landscaping.
- New wall or pole signs where none existed shall be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Aldermen at time of minor site plan review.
- New on-site directory signs where none existed shall be approved by the Director of Community Development at time of staff level plan review.
- In the CBD Downtown Business Overlay District, all signage is subject to review and approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Billboards may be permitted as a conditional use in C or M districts, requiring conditional use permit approval.
- Permanent subdivision or apartment development identification signs, non-residential identification signs for certain uses, and permanent on-site directory signs for apartment complexes are approved by site plan.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Kearney — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Kearney+MO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-kearney

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