# Sign Regulations in Nixa, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nixa, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/nixa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Nixa/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH113SI)

## At a glance

Nixa, Missouri regulates 59 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Project I.D.s in the Residential Zones (R-1, R-3, R-4) zoning district are capped at 8 ft (pole-mounted: 36 in) tall, 16 sq ft (pole-mounted: 24 in x 36 in), and 24 in (pole-mounted) wide, with a Equal to height of sign (pole-mounted same as street ID sign) setback (Sec. Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding)). Most commercial signs in Nixa require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 36 in | 3 sq ft (18 in x 24 in), not to exceed 36 in height | — |
| Highway Commercial District (HC) | 1 | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zones (R-1, R-3, R-4) | 20 | 15 ft or top of 1st floor wall, whichever is less | 35 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zones (CC, NC, GC, HC, O) | 36 | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Zones (M-1, M-2) | 19 | 35 ft or top of wall, whichever is less | 600 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Zones (R-1, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Nonresidential | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | Equal to height of sign | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Construction | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft | 1 per street frontage/per parcel, max 5 | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Election | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 1 ft | Unlimited | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Ideological | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 1 ft | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Memorial | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Real Estate (off-site) | 2 ft | 2 sq ft | — | Equal to height of sign | 1 per intersection | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Project I.D. | 8 ft (pole-mounted: 36 in) | 16 sq ft (pole-mounted: 24 in x 36 in) | 24 in (pole-mounted) | Equal to height of sign (pole-mounted same as street ID sign) | 2 per entry | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Yard Sale | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 1 ft | 1 per street frontage | Private property with owner's permission | — | Sec. 113-52 (Residential Zones Table, Freestanding) |

### Commercial Zones (CC, NC, GC, HC, O)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - General Advertising (CC&O) | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 1' or equal to height of sign if taller than 6' | 1 per street frontage per parcel, +1 per 500' excess | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - General Advertising (NC & GC) | 21 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 1' or equal to height of sign if taller than 6' | 1 per street frontage per parcel, +1 per 500' excess | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - General Advertising (HC) | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — | 1' or equal to height of sign if taller than 6' | 1 per street frontage per parcel, +1 per 500' excess | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) & 113-51(5) |
| Freestanding Sign - Center I.D. (CC&O) | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 1' or height if >6' | 1 per street frontage per parcel, +1 per 500' excess | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Center I.D. (NC & GC) | 21 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 1' or height if >6' | 1 per street frontage per parcel, +1 per 500' excess | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Center I.D. (HC) | 35 ft | 400 sq ft | — | 1' or height if >6' | 1 per street frontage per parcel, +1 per 500' excess | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Construction | 15 ft (all commercial zones) | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage per parcel, max 5, +1 per 500' excess | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - On-Premises | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 1 ft | As approved by city | As approved by review process | — | Sec. 113-52 (Commercial Table, Freestanding) |

### Industrial Zones (M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - General Advertising | 25 ft or building height, whichever is less | 100 sq ft | — | 1' if 6' height, otherwise equal to height | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Center I.D. | 25 ft or building height, whichever is less | 100 sq ft | — | 1' if 6' height, otherwise equal to height | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Construction | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage, max 4 | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Election | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | Unlimited | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Real Estate | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 1' if 6' height, else equal to height | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Project I.D. | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 2 per major entrance | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |
| Freestanding Sign - Portable | 5 ft | 15 sq ft | — | 1 ft | 1 | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |
| Billboard | 25 ft | 600 sq ft | — | Equal to height of sign | 1 per 500 linear ft | — | — | Sec. 113-52 (Industrial Table, Freestanding) |

## Prohibited signs in Nixa

- No one use may have more than four signs per street frontage and no more than five signs total, excluding on-site directional signs.
- No more than one projecting sign is allowed per use.
- No more than one freestanding sign is allowed per use, except as otherwise permitted.
- If there is more than one business in a building or group, only joint identification or center identification signs are permitted as freestanding signs.
- No person may, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any sign, damage, trim, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation within the right-of-way of any public street or road without express written authorization of the city or relevant agency.
- No person may, for sign visibility purposes, damage, trim, destroy, or remove vegetation on property they do not own or control without express authorization of the property owner.
- No person may, for sign visibility purposes, damage, trim, destroy, or remove vegetation in any area where such vegetation is required to remain under a permit.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited from being placed in the public right-of-way or within a site view triangle.
- Off-premises signage is limited to a maximum distance of one block from the storefront.
- A maximum of two off-premises signs is allowed per business.
- No street corner may contain more than one off-premises sign.
- All signs and their components must be kept in good repair; damaged or deteriorated signs must be repaired within 30 days.
- Abandoned signs (advertising a use no longer in operation) must be removed within 90 days of abandonment.
- If the message portion of a sign is removed, the owner must replace the message or remove the entire sign structure; leaving only the supporting 'shell' is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nixa

- Pedestrian-oriented under-awning or under-canopy signs and signs exempt per section 113-31 are not counted toward the maximum number of signs allowed per use.
- Signs exempt from permit per section 113-31 are not counted toward the maximum number of signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For on-premises signs in commercial zones, the number and type may be 'as approved by the city through review process,' indicating that some form of sign plan or administrative review is required.
- For on-premises projecting information signs in commercial and industrial zones, approval 'as approved by the city through review process' is required.
- Multiple-use buildings (more than one business) may require coordination for joint or center identification signage, which may involve a sign plan.
- Collocation of freestanding signage for second tier properties requires a letter of authorization from the frontage property owner to accompany the application.
- Where the number and placement of certain sign types is subject to city approval (e.g., on-premises signs, projecting information signs), submission of details or a plan is required as part of the review process.

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

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