# Sign Regulations in Odessa, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Odessa, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/odessa
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Odessa/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH50ZO_ARTVISI)

## At a glance

Odessa, Missouri regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Residential Subdivision Monuments in the Residential areas zoning district are capped at 6 ft (min 3 ft) tall and 12 sq ft, with a 6 ft from curb edge or property line setback (Sec. Sec. 50-721(4)). Most commercial signs in Odessa 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 | 9 | 22 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential areas | 4 | 6 ft (min 3 ft) | 64 sq ft (subdivision real estate), or standard for-sale signs (typically smaller, see below). | — |
| Downtown district | 3 | 22 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial zones | 3 | 22 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Planned districts | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 22 ft | 70 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | At least 75 ft from any other freestanding sign on the same side of the street. Only one per lot. | — | Sec. 50-721(1), Sec. 50-697, Sec. 50-720 |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Mounted or painted directly upon the exterior wall of a building. | — | Sec. 50-721(7), Sec. 50-720 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to wall, projecting over sidewalk/row. | — | Sec. 50-721(2) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to underside of marquee or canopy, protruding over sidewalk. | — | Sec. 50-721(2) |
| Portable A-frame Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 50-721(6), Sec. 50-722 |
| Entrance and Exit Sign | 2.5 ft | — | 6 ft length | — | 2 per driveway | At driveways providing access into or from a property. | — | Sec. 50-721(3) |
| Address Sign | 4 in | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 50-721(8) |
| Billboard | — | — | — | — | 0 | — | — | Sec. 50-722 |

### Residential areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Subdivision Monument | 6 ft (min 3 ft) | 12 sq ft | — | 6 ft from curb edge or property line | — | At subdivision entrances, at least 6 ft from nearest curb edge or property line. | — | Sec. 50-721(4) |
| Building Number Identification Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | — | On building; for name/number identification. | — | Sec. 50-671 (definition), Sec. 50-697(b)(3) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 64 sq ft (subdivision real estate), or standard for-sale signs (typically smaller, see below). | — | — | — | On property for sale/rent. | — | Sec. 50-697(b)(6)-(8) |
| Temporary Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 50-697(b)(4), (9) |

### Downtown district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable A-frame Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 50-722, Sec. 50-721(6) |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | Mounted or painted on building wall. | — | Sec. 50-721(7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 22 ft | 70 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | At least 75 ft from any other freestanding sign on the same side of street. Only one per lot. | — | Sec. 50-721(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Odessa

- It is unlawful to place, erect, alter or relocate any non-exempt sign regulated under this article without first obtaining a building permit and paying the required fee, except as otherwise exempted.
- No sign is permitted within city rights-of-way, including any signs otherwise exempt from the permit requirement.
- Signs mounted on any roof top of any building in any district except industrial zones are prohibited.
- Obscene signs are prohibited.
- Signs that emit sound or smoke are prohibited.
- Portable signs other than A-frame signs in the downtown district are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited, except in industrial zones.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Signs mounted or painted on vehicles or trailers, positioned for the primary purpose of acting as signs rather than for sign transport, are prohibited.
- No sign or any part thereof shall hinder or prevent the ingress or egress through any doorway or window.
- No sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the sign to swing due to wind action.
- Signs illuminated by floodlight or spotlight shall be positioned so that none of the light spills over onto adjacent property or glares or shines into the eyes of motorists or pedestrians.

## Signs exempt from permit in Odessa

- A sign required or authorized by any rule, statute or ordinance and designed to identify any public area or installation that gives notice of danger in connection with a public project or hazard (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- A sign denoting a historical landmark designation or plaque erected by a public or nonprofit body or organization (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- A sign that identifies by name or number each individual building within any institutional or residential building complex and does not exceed 1.5 square feet in area (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- A sign in nature of a decoration, identification, or direction incidentally and customarily associated with any national or religious holiday, civic festival, fair, or similar gathering held during a period of 45 days or less, provided that the sign shall not differ substantially from the general requirements of this article (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- A sign in a display window of a business establishment that is incorporated into a display of merchandise or service offered at the premises (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- Garage sale signs no larger than two feet by two feet, provided that such signs may not be mounted on municipal poles (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- Subdivision real estate signs not exceeding 64 square feet (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- Real estate agent 'for sale' signs and 'for sale by owner' or 'for rent by owner' signs (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- Signs advertising temporary events (except signs in city rights-of-way).
- No permit is required for a change of copy on a changeable copy sign or for the repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance of any sign if its copy does not change.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A plot plan (dimensioned, showing building, structure and lot location) is required for a sign permit application.
- A drawing of the proposed sign, showing the message, method of construction, landscaping, and attachment method, is required for a permit application.
- A description of all electrical equipment and attachments is required if the sign is to be illuminated.
- Signage proposed in planned districts shall conform to the planned architectural theme of the area (may imply need for a sign plan in such districts).
- No explicit mention of a master sign plan or sign variance meeting is found.

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

---

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