# Sign Regulations in Ladue, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ladue, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/ladue
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Ladue/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIITEOR_CH130SI)

## At a glance

Ladue, Missouri regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Institutional Freestanding Signs in the Residential zoning districts, Residentially zoned areas zoning district are capped at 6 ft (per 130-12(c)) tall and 16 sq ft per sign face, with a per code/setbacks for permanent signs setback (Sec. Sec. 130-5(a)(4), Sec. 130-8(1)(a), Sec. 130-12(c)). Most commercial signs in Ladue require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zoning districts, Residentially zoned areas | 7 | 6 ft (per 130-12(c)) | 16 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts, Nonresidentially zoned areas | 8 | 6 ft (per 130-12(c)) | 16 sq ft per sign face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 25 ft in residential districts; in other districts see maximum structure height limitations. | 24 sq ft per flag | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential zoning districts, Residentially zoned areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | See 130-12(b): must comply with permanent sign setbacks | Maximum two (one per sign face) | At subdivision or neighborhood entrance | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(1), Sec. 130-8(1)(c) |
| Political or Religious Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face (max two faces) | — | — | One per lot | On any lot by owner or with owner's permission | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(2), Sec. 130-8(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | Advertises the property for sale, lease or rent | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(3), Sec. 130-8(1) |
| Institutional Wall Sign | — | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One permanent wall sign | For institutional uses such as schools, country clubs, monasteries, convents, and places of worship | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(4), Sec. 130-8(1)(a) |
| Institutional Freestanding Sign | 6 ft (per 130-12(c)) | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | See 130-12(b): per code/setbacks for permanent signs | One permanent freestanding sign; two if significant accessory use | For institutional uses such as schools, places of worship, etc. | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(4), Sec. 130-8(1)(a), Sec. 130-12(c) |
| Institutional Temporary Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face; total gross area of any such sign shall not exceed 8 sq ft | — | — | One temporary sign | On premises of institution (school, place of worship, etc.) | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(4) |
| Election Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | At least 10 feet from edge of pavement | One per candidate/issue per lot | On any lot by property owner or with owner's permission | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(5) |

### Nonresidential zoning districts, Nonresidentially zoned areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | See 130-12(b): must comply with permanent sign setbacks | Maximum two (one per sign face) | At subdivision or neighborhood entrance | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(1), 130-8(2) |
| Political or Religious Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face (max two faces) | — | — | One per lot | On any lot by owner or with owner's permission | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(2), 130-8(2) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | Advertises the property for sale, lease or rent | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(3), 130-8(2) |
| Institutional Wall Sign | — | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One permanent wall sign | For institutional uses such as schools, country clubs, monasteries, convents, and places of worship | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(4), 130-8(2) |
| Institutional Freestanding Sign | 6 ft (per 130-12(c)) | 16 sq ft per sign face | — | See 130-12(b): per code/setbacks for permanent signs | One permanent freestanding sign; two if significant accessory use | For institutional uses such as schools, places of worship, etc. | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(4), Sec. 130-8(2), Sec. 130-12(c) |
| Institutional Temporary Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face; total gross area of any such sign shall not exceed 8 sq ft | — | — | One temporary sign | On premises of institution (school, place of worship, etc.) | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(4), 130-8(2) |
| Election Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | At least 10 feet from edge of pavement | One per candidate/issue per lot | On any lot by property owner or with owner's permission | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(5), 130-8(2) |
| Commercial Message Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 130-5(a)(6), 130-8(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | 25 ft in residential districts; in other districts see maximum structure height limitations. | 24 sq ft per flag | — | — | See size restriction field | On a lot or parcel | — | Sec. 130-12(a) |
| Driveway Sign | 2 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | At driveway entrance | — | Sec. 130-6(3)(a) |
| No Parking or No Trespassing Sign | 2 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 130-6(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Ladue

- Signs visible from a public right-of-way that imitate, blend, or conflict with, or that may be confused with, traffic signals and signs, including imitations of 'stop,' 'go,' 'caution,' 'danger,' or 'warning.'
- Signs that are of a size, location, movement or illumination as may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which might obstruct from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
- Signs on public land, except those erected at the direction of or with the permission of an appropriate public authority.
- Strips or strings of lights used to call attention to a use or occupancy by outlining property lines, roof lines, doors, windows, wall edges, or other architectural features of a building site, except holiday lighting displayed from November 1 through January 15.
- Moving signs, including those of which all or any part of the sign moves or appears to move. This prohibition extends to devices including strings of lightbulbs and rotating signs.
- Commercial message signs in residential zoning districts (with limited exceptions for real estate signs and certain preexisting nonconforming uses).
- Snipe signs as defined in section 130-3.
- Unkempt or unsightly signs as defined in section 130-3.
- Roof signs as defined in section 130-3.
- Signs which project more than 14 inches from the face of the building except covered walkway signs as allowed by other regulations.
- Any sign structure which no longer supports a sign, except where a sign permit or application is on file for alteration or repair, which must be completed within one month of issuance of the approved permit.
- Automated or digital changeable copy signs.
- Permanent or temporary window signs above the ceiling of the second floor, including lettering painted or applied to glass.
- Portable signs as defined in section 130-3.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons.
- Signs extending over a roadway.
- Off-premises signs as defined in section 130-3.
- Pole signs as defined in section 130-3.
- Billboards in residentially zoned areas.
- Any sign not permitted by section 130-5 or exempted by section 130-6 is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ladue

- Governmental and official signs, including public notices and official notices posted or authorized by government officials in the performance of their duties; and signs for the control or direction of traffic and other appropriate public purposes.
- 'No parking' and 'no trespassing' signs that are no larger than one square foot in gross sign area and have a sign height of two feet or less.
- Driveway signs, including signs at driveway entrances not exceeding one square foot in gross sign area and two feet in height, and residential address numbers on signs not larger than one square foot in area or, if on a freestanding sign, limited to three feet in height.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit with plans and specifications is required for most permanent signs (including required drawings and details) before erection or placement.
- Applications for permits to erect signs must be approved by the city's planning consultant before issuance by the city clerk.
- For freestanding signs, a building permit is required in addition to a sign permit.
- Variances from this chapter may be granted by the zoning board of adjustment where there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship, with procedures and criteria set forth in the zoning ordinance.

## Full detail

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/ladue