# Sign Regulations in Saint Joseph, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Saint Joseph, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/saint-joseph
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-15
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/mo/st._joseph/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH31ZO_ARTIISI_DIV2SIRE)

## At a glance

Saint Joseph, Missouri regulates 70 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Billboard Sign - General Requirements (All Zones where allowed)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Maximum 60 feet in height tall and Maximum 725 square feet in total display area per side; no more than two sides, with a At least 100 feet from adjacent residential zoning district measured along both sides of street frontage; must lie within 660 feet of specified highway rights-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 31-131(a)–(j)). Most commercial signs in Saint Joseph 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 | 35 | Maximum 60 feet in height | Maximum 725 square feet in total display area per side; no more than two sides | — |
| Residential zoning districts (R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, RP-1A, RP-1B, RP-2, RP-3, RP-4, RP-5) | 4 | Freestanding signs in residential zoning districts shall not exceed 5 feet in height (for these landmark-related signs). | Maximum 20 square feet per sign | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts (C-0, C-1, C-2, C-3, CP-0, CP-1, CP-2, CP-3, B-P(C), B-P(W), B-P(D), M-1, M-2, MP-1, MP-2, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-5, P-6, P-7, P-8, P-9, P-10, P-11, P-12) | 19 | Maximum 60 feet | Maximum 725 square feet per side; no more than two sides | — |
| P-1: Downtown Precise Plan District | 6 | — | Included within the 10% of facade area cap | — |
| Historic District Number One (Hall Street Historic District), Historic District Number Two (Museum Hill Historic District), Frank L. Goetz Residence Landmark (2902 Frederick Avenue), Nelson/Pettis Farmstead Landmark (4401 Ajax Road), Second Presbyterian Church Landmark (1122 S. 12th Street), Albert and Flora Goetz Residence Landmark (2603 Francis Street) | 6 | Freestanding signs in residential zoning districts shall not exceed 5 feet in height | 10% of facade area (first 20 ft of building height) per facade | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Signs - General (Non-Exempt) | — | Not specified here; see subsections (b), (c) for specific temporary wall/freestanding and banners | — | Minimum 11 feet from paved portion of street; minimum 5 feet from any other privately owned property | — | Private property only; not allowed in public rights-of-way or on public property | — | Sec. 31-116(a) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Signs (Non-Exempt) - Residential Districts | — | Maximum 20 square feet in area when located in residential zoning districts | — | Same as general temporary: at least 11 ft from paved street and 5 ft from other private property; not in ROW | One temporary wall or freestanding sign per parcel for each street frontage | On private property in residential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-116(b)(1), (3) |
| Temporary Wall or Freestanding Signs (Non-Exempt) - Nonresidential Districts | — | Maximum 100 square feet in area when located in nonresidential zoning districts | — | At least 11 ft from paved street and 5 ft from other private property; not in ROW | One temporary wall or freestanding sign per parcel per street frontage | On private property in nonresidential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-116(b)(2), (3) |
| Banners - Residential Zoning Districts (Temporary) | — | Maximum 20 square feet | — | By general temporary sign rules: at least 11 ft from paved street and 5 ft from other private property; not in ROW | — | On structure such as building, wall, or fence on private property in residential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-116(c)(1)a, (c)(1)c–h |
| Banners - Nonresidential Zoning Districts (Temporary) | — | Maximum 100 square feet | — | By general temporary sign rules | — | On structure such as building, wall, or fence on private property in nonresidential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-116(c)(1)b, (c)(1)c–h |
| Temporary Signs - Additional During Elections | — | — | — | Same as temporary/noncommercial temporary signs | One additional temporary sign per issue per candidate during the defined election period | Private property in districts where the election relates to the district | — | Sec. 31-116(f)(1) |
| Temporary Signs - Additional During Property Sale | — | — | — | Same as temporary signs | One additional temporary sign under the listed sale conditions | On the property that is for sale | — | Sec. 31-116(f)(2) |
| Billboard Sign - General Requirements (All Zones where allowed) | Maximum 60 feet in height | Maximum 725 square feet in total display area per side; no more than two sides | — | At least 100 feet from adjacent residential zoning district measured along both sides of street frontage; must lie within 660 feet of specified highway rights-of-way | — | Within 660 feet of right-of-way and visible from Interstate 29, Interstate 229, Highway 36, Highway 59, Highway 169 or Business Loop 29/Highway 169 (between exit 44 on I-29 and the separation of Business Loop 29 and Highway 169). | — | Sec. 31-131(a)–(j) |

### Residential zoning districts (R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, RP-1A, RP-1B, RP-2, RP-3, RP-4, RP-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign - Residential Districts | — | Maximum 20 square feet per sign | — | Leading edge must be at least 1 foot from property line; no sign permitted in rear yard; must be on lot with principal use. | Maximum one monument sign per lot | On the lot that accommodates the principal use in residential zoning districts (R and RP districts) | — | Sec. 31-130(b)(1)a–b |
| Temporary Signs - Exempt (Residential Districts) | — | Maximum 9 square feet (general exempt temporary signs in residential districts); separate temporary wall/freestanding allowances up to 20 sq ft with permit under 31-116(b). | — | For temporary signs under 31-116: at least 11 ft from paved street and 5 ft from other private property; not in ROW; must not intrude into required visibility triangles. | General exempt temporary signs have no explicit numeric cap; temporary wall/freestanding signs under 31-116(b) limited to one per parcel per street frontage | On private property within residential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-115(3), 31-115(5)a–c; 31-116(b)(1) |
| Banners - Residential Districts (Temporary) | — | Maximum 20 square feet | — | By general temporary sign rules: at least 11 ft from paved street and 5 ft from other private property; not in ROW | — | On a structure (building, wall, fence) on private property in residential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-116(c)(1)a, (c)(1)c–h |
| Locally Designated Residential Landmark Signs (Historic, Residential Zoning) | Freestanding signs in residential zoning districts shall not exceed 5 feet in height (for these landmark-related signs). | Two identification signs, one square foot each, for general residentially zoned landmarks; OR one sign not to exceed 6 square feet in area if landmark property has a conditional use permit for commercial purposes. | — | — | Two identification signs (1 sq ft each) OR one sign (6 sq ft) for commercially used landmark with conditional use permit | On locally designated landmark properties in residential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-130(e)(1)–(2) |

### Nonresidential zoning districts (C-0, C-1, C-2, C-3, CP-0, CP-1, CP-2, CP-3, B-P(C), B-P(W), B-P(D), M-1, M-2, MP-1, MP-2, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-5, P-6, P-7, P-8, P-9, P-10, P-11, P-12)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign - Nonresidential Districts (With Wall Signs) | — | Not a fixed sq ft; limited by 10% of facade area shared with wall signs. | — | Building must be within 20 ft of ROW to use this option; sign itself must still respect 1 ft property-line offset plus any right-of-way limits. | Maximum one projecting sign per such building/facade | On building facades in nonresidential districts when building is closer than 20 ft to street right-of-way | — | Sec. 31-130(c)(1)c |
| Freestanding Sign - Nonresidential Districts (Base Option, per Parcel ≤100 ft Frontage) | — | Base 100 sq ft per freestanding sign prior to setback-based bonuses and multi-tenant adjustments | — | Leading edge must be at least 1 ft from property line; additional setback bonuses available beyond 1 ft. | One freestanding sign permitted per parcel with up to 100 ft of street frontage | On parcels in commercial, planned business and industrial zones | — | Sec. 31-130(c)(2)a, e |
| Freestanding Sign - Nonresidential Districts (Second Sign, Parcels >100 ft Frontage) | — | Same as base: 100 sq ft per freestanding sign plus setback bonuses; multi-tenant rules if applicable | — | Leading edge ≥1 ft from property line; additional bonuses at greater setbacks as in Freestanding Sign (Setback Bonuses) | Two freestanding signs permitted per parcel with more than 100 ft frontage | Parcels in nonresidential districts having more than 100 ft of frontage | — | Sec. 31-130(c)(2)a, e |
| Multi-Tenant Freestanding Sign - Nonresidential Districts | — | Up to 600 square feet maximum, including base, setback bonus, and per-tenant additions | — | Same as freestanding sign: ≥1 ft from property line; larger setbacks allow more area via bonus | At most one of the freestanding signs per parcel may be a multi-tenant sign | As one of the permitted freestanding signs on nonresidential parcels | — | Sec. 31-130(c)(2)e–g |
| Temporary Signs - Exempt (Nonresidential Districts) | — | Maximum 32 square feet (general exempt temporary signs in nonresidential districts); separate temporary wall/freestanding allowance up to 100 sq ft under 31-116(b)(2) with permit. | — | Under 31-116, must be at least 11 ft from paved street and 5 ft from other private property; not in ROW | Temporary wall/freestanding signs under 31-116 limited to one per parcel per street frontage | On private property in nonresidential zoning districts | — | Sec. 31-115(3), 31-115(5)b; 31-116(b)(2) |
| Billboard Sign - C-3 | Maximum 60 feet | Maximum 725 square feet per side; no more than two sides | — | Minimum 2,000 ft spacing between billboards; within 660 ft of ROW of specified highways; at least 100 ft from residential zoning district measured along street frontage | — | Only on parcels zoned C-3, within 660 ft of specified highway rights-of-way and visible from those highways | — | Sec. 31-131(a)–(j) |
| Billboard Sign - M-1 | Maximum 60 feet | Maximum 725 square feet per side; no more than two sides | — | 2,000 ft spacing; within 660 ft of specified highway ROW; 100 ft from residential zoning districts along both sides of street frontage | — | On parcels zoned M-1 within 660 ft of specified highway ROW and visible from those facilities | — | Sec. 31-131(a)–(j) |
| Billboard Sign - M-2 | Maximum 60 feet | Maximum 725 square feet per side; no more than two sides | — | 2,000 ft spacing; within 660 ft of specified highway ROW; 100 ft from residential zoning districts along both sides of street frontage | — | On parcels zoned M-2 within 660 ft of specified highway ROW and visible from those facilities | — | Sec. 31-131(a)–(j) |

## Prohibited signs in Saint Joseph

- Any sign erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained in the city must conform to the standards, procedures and requirements of the sign code; all signs not expressly permitted or exempt are prohibited (Sec. 31-111(a),(b)).
- Signs that interfere with free use of building entrances and exits, including emergency exits, or that obstruct doors or windows or impede light and ventilation required by city ordinance, code or regulation (Sec. 31-114(1)).
- Signs in a public right-of-way other than those specifically permitted in the ordinance or approved in writing by the public works and transportation director or designee (Secs. 31-114(2), 31-115 lead-in, 31-130(a)(3)).
- Signs located within a driveway or street intersection sight visibility triangle that are between three feet and ten feet in height (Sec. 31-114(3)).
- Vehicle signs on vehicles or trailers parked or located so they can be seen from a street right-of-way where the primary purpose is displaying the sign, including vehicles or trailers parked on the same property for a continuous period exceeding 72 hours (Sec. 31-114(4)), except where specifically exempted (Sec. 31-115(1)).
- Inflatable displays (Sec. 31-114(5)).
- Strobe lights, animated or moving signs, attention‑attracting devices and beacons (Sec. 31-114(6)).
- Signs painted directly onto structures (Sec. 31-114(7)).
- Obsolete signs or any sign or sign structure determined by the city to be structurally unsafe or a safety or health hazard due to inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment (Sec. 31-114(8)).
- Obscene signs (Sec. 31-114(9)).
- Portable signs (Sec. 31-114(10)).
- Roof signs (Sec. 31-114(11)).
- No sign other than billboards and certain pole signs within 500 feet of an interstate may exceed 30 feet in height from grade and must comply with the height regulations of the zoning district (Sec. 31-130(a)(1)).
- No signs other than projecting signs may be located closer than one foot from the property line (Sec. 31-130(a)(2)).
- No permanent signs (other than defined exceptions such as traffic control devices, certain directional signs, permitted projecting signs or awnings) may be located within or above any street right‑of‑way; no permanent sign other than traffic control devices may be within one foot of the back of curb of the travel lane (Sec. 31-130(a)(3)b).
- All signs other than billboards must advertise only for business activity taking place on that parcel (Sec. 31-130(a)(4)).
- No direct light or significant glare from any sign shall be cast onto an adjacent lot zoned and used for residential purposes (Sec. 31-130(a)(5)).
- No sign that can conduct electricity may be located within ten feet of any high‑voltage overhead line (Sec. 31-130(a)(6)).
- No guys, braces, attachments, banners, flags, inflatable displays or similar devices may be attached to any freestanding sign (Sec. 31-130(a)(7)).
- All signs and their supports, braces, guys and anchors must be kept in good repair and properly protected/coated as needed; failure to maintain constitutes a violation and may result in city‑ordered removal, especially if unsafe (Secs. 31-130(a)(8), 31-151(a)).
- Temporary signs (unless exempt) are prohibited on public rights‑of‑way and public property; they must not be located in intersection visibility triangles, mounted on or above roofs, or illuminated, and must not be of a type listed as prohibited signs (Sec. 31-116(a)(1),(3),(5)-(8)).
- Non‑commercial temporary signs are prohibited on public rights‑of‑way and public property and must meet minimum setback from streets and other private property (Sec. 31-116(e)(1),(3)).
- Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts other than C‑3, M‑1 and M‑2 and outside of specified highway corridors and spacing/size/height limits (Sec. 31-131(a)-(f)).
- Installation, creation, erection, modification or maintenance of any sign requiring a permit without a permit, or inconsistent with a permit, and continuation of such violations are prohibited (Sec. 31-153(1)-(4)).
- Installation, creation, erection, modification or maintenance of any sign that is prohibited by the sign regulations is itself a violation (Sec. 31-153(5)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Saint Joseph

- Advertising and identifying signs located on currently licensed vehicles such as taxicabs, buses and trucks, and on bus benches, are exempt from sign permit requirements, except for vehicle signs prohibited as advertising‑only parked displays (Secs. 31-115(1), 31-114(4)).
- Any legal or public notice or warning required by applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance is exempt from sign permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(2)).
- Temporary signs in all zoning districts are exempt from permit requirements if they do not exceed nine square feet in residential districts or 32 square feet in nonresidential districts and are not painted directly on a structure (Sec. 31-115(3)).
- Holiday and seasonal lights and decorations that do not otherwise meet the definition of a sign are exempt from permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(4)).
- Signs advertising temporary activity on the property (sale, rent or lease of the property; construction; grand openings; garage and yard sales; special events) are exempt from permit requirements if they meet size limits: maximum nine square feet in residential zoning districts, 30 square feet in nonresidential districts, and for garage sale signs, limited to four consecutive days per sale and no more than two garage sales per property in any 12‑month period (Sec. 31-115(5)).
- Hard balloons, streamers and pennants are exempt from permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(6)).
- Historical markers are exempt from permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(7)).
- Government flags are exempt from permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(8)).
- Signs carried by a person are exempt from permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(9)).
- Warning signs placed on private property that contain no commercial message and are a maximum of three square feet in area are exempt from permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(10)).
- Window signs are exempt from permit requirements, provided they obscure no more than 25% of transparent or translucent surfaces (Sec. 31-115(11)).
- Signs preempted from regulation by state or federal law are exempt from permit requirements (Sec. 31-115(12)).
- Non‑commercial temporary signs do not require a sign permit but must comply with placement and setback standards (Sec. 31-116(e)).
- Permit fees for signs required under the sign code are waived for all not‑for‑profit organizations, although permits themselves may still be required (Sec. 31-150(b)(2)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The ordinance, as provided, does not reference or require a master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan for multi‑tenant sites or developments.
- Exceptions to the sign ordinance (i.e., variances or deviations from standards) require an exception permit processed under Sections 31‑090 and 31‑093 of the zoning ordinance; the zoning board of adjustment or landmark commission (for historic properties and districts) acts similarly to a variance body and may impose conditions such as limits on illumination hours, lighting types, or duration of the exception (Sec. 31-152(a),(b)).
- Signs in the P‑1 Downtown Precise Plan District require approval by the Downtown Review Board, which functions as a design/plan review body for signage in that district (Sec. 31-130(d)).
- Signs on historic landmarks and in historic districts require a certificate of appropriateness from the Landmark Commission, which reviews size, location, height, materials, lighting and style and may grant exceptions to sign requirements (Sec. 31-130(e)(1)).
- Certain sign applications must be referred by the city planner to the Landmark Commission or Downtown Review Board when required under Section 31‑179, meaning those boards effectively review a sign plan for compliance in those special areas (Sec. 31-150(b)(3)c).

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

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