# Sign Regulations in Nevada, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nevada, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/nevada
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Nevada/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH29SI)

## At a glance

Nevada, Missouri regulates 16 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Off-Premises Billboard Sign (Osage Blvd/Bus 71 and Austin St/Highway 54/Business 71)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 ft above grade of abutting highways tall and 300 sq ft (per face), with a 30 ft from ROW of interstate/primary highways; 30 ft from all property lines and roofed structures; 500 ft from interchanges; 600 ft from residential zones (these two only for Osage Blvd and Austin St). Minimum 500 ft from other off-premises signs (on interstate/freeways). setback (Sec. Sec. 29-14(d)(1)-(10)). Most commercial signs in Nevada require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| District R-1, District R-2 | 6 | 18 in | 50 sq ft | — |
| District R-3 | 2 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| District C-O | 3 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| District C-1 | 1 | Subject to section 37-23 | — | — |
| District C-2, District C-3, District M-1, District M-2 | 1 | See height regulations of district; C-2 uses same height regulation as C-3 | — | — |
| Planned districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 40 ft above grade of abutting highways | 700 sq ft (per face) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### District R-1, District R-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 1 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — | — | 1 per building | Mounted on building | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Real Estate) | 5 ft (or 6 ft if 150 ft+ from residential dwelling) | 12 sq ft (or 32 sq ft if 150 ft+ from residential dwelling) | — | — | 1 per lot/parcel | On lot/parcel for sale/rent | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(1)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Church) | — | 50 sq ft | 10 ft per side (max) | — | 1 per church | Church premises | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Construction) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On site of construction | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(1)(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (Election/Campaign/Political) | 4 ft (6 ft if 150 ft+ from residential dwelling) | 16 sq ft (32 sq ft if 150 ft+ from residential dwelling) | — | — | 1 per candidate/issue per street frontage | On lot/parcel, per street frontage | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(1)(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (Garage/Yard/Basement/Driveway/Patio Sale) | 18 in | — | 24 in | — | Max 2 per sale | Only on residential lot of sale and (with permission) corner property adjacent to street of sale | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(1)(f) |

### District C-O

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Permitted in Districts R-1, R-2, R-3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(3)(i) |
| Wall Sign (Office Building/Mortuary Main Sign) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 per office building or mortuary | Flat against building wall, projecting max 6 in | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(3)(j) |
| Wall Sign (Nameplate at Major Entrance) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major entrance | Flat against building wall at major entrance, projecting max 6 in | — | Sec. 29-10(a)(3)(j) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premises Billboard Sign (Osage Blvd/Bus 71 and Austin St/Highway 54/Business 71) | 20 ft above grade of abutting highways | 300 sq ft (per face) | — | 30 ft from ROW of interstate/primary highways; 30 ft from all property lines and roofed structures; 500 ft from interchanges; 600 ft from residential zones (these two only for Osage Blvd and Austin St). Minimum 500 ft from other off-premises signs (on interstate/freeways). | — | Along Osage Blvd/Bus 71 and Austin St/Highway 54/Business 71 | — | Sec. 29-14(d)(1)-(10) |
| Off-Premises Billboard Sign (Other Highways) | 40 ft above grade of abutting highways | 700 sq ft (per face) | — | 30 ft from ROW of interstate/primary highways; 30 ft from all property lines or roofed structures; 500 ft from interchanges; 500 ft from other off-premises signs (on interstate/freeways) | — | All other highways within city | — | Sec. 29-14(d)(2)(a), (d)(4)-(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Nevada

- A sign shall not be erected in a manner that would confuse or obstruct the view or interpretation of any official traffic sign, signal or device.
- Rotating signs except barber poles are prohibited.
- Rotating beacons are prohibited.
- Sidewalk signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Signs that resemble or imitate government signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any fire escape, exit or standpipe.
- No sign shall obstruct any openings to such an extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by the building code.
- All portions of any sign shall be at least seven feet above any public sidewalk.
- Signs shall not project beyond a property line or right-of-way line, except as specified for certain zoning districts and conditions.
- No anchor or support of any sign shall be connected to, or supported by, an unbraced parapet wall, unless such wall is designed in accordance with the requirements for parapet walls specified for seismic zones in the building codes.
- Signs shall be located not less than six feet horizontally or 12 feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors energized in excess of 480 volts.
- Any sign or part of a sign that is in disrepair or derelict in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is declared to be unlawful and a nuisance.
- Any sign except a real estate sign which is located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of six months or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed abandoned and is prohibited.
- Permanent signs applicable to a business shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of nine months or more.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nevada

- Any sign within a building, not visible beyond a lot line, does not require a permit.
- Banner signs, temporary only, do not require a permit.
- Barber poles do not require a permit.
- Church signs do not require a permit.
- Commemorative plaques do not require a permit.
- Construction signs do not require a permit.
- Direction/information signs do not require a permit.
- Display of street numbers does not require a permit.
- Election, canopy, or political signs do not require a permit.
- Festoons, temporary, do not require a permit.
- Government flags or commercial organization flags do not require a permit.
- Nameplate signs do not require a permit.
- Painted wall signs do not require a permit.
- Product dispensers do not require a permit.
- Real estate or property signs, on-premises, do not require a permit.
- Residential signs do not require a permit.
- Scoreboards on athletic fields do not require a permit.
- Temporary signs, not including portable signs, do not require a permit.
- Window displays do not require a permit.
- Window signs (inside window), not electric, do not require a permit.
- Signs painted on operable motor vehicles do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Upon request by the city, the owner or erector of a proposed sign shall furnish written plans and written and signed certification that the sign complies with all applicable design, construction and installation standards set forth in this chapter, the International Building Code and the National Electrical Code, as adopted by the city.
- For off-premises billboards, before a permit is issued, the applicant must receive approval for a plan for landscaping, billboard lighting, and fencing around the proposed off-premises billboard to ensure the structure is aesthetically compatible and safe; such plans shall be reviewed and approved by the city engineer.

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

---

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