# Sign Regulations in Sunset Hills, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sunset Hills, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/sunset-hills
- **Data last verified:** 2025-07-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/mo/sunset_hills/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXDSIRE)

## At a glance

Sunset Hills, Missouri regulates 36 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 30 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 7). Most commercial signs in Sunset Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 9 | 12 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Non residential districts | 21 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | Affixed to the residence | — | Sec. 4(a)(1) |
| Ground Sign (Public/Semi-public Institution) | — | — | — | — | 1 per institution | On premises of church, place of worship, school, hospital, or other public/semi-public institution | — | Sec. 4(a)(2) |
| Ground Sign (Subdivision Name) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Common ground within subdivision | — | Sec. 4(a)(3) |
| Freestanding Pole Sign (Subdivision Name) | 12 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Common ground within subdivision | — | Sec. 4(a)(4) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot (2 on corner lots) | On property for sale or rent | — | Sec. 4(b)(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Development Sign (New Subdivision Opening) | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Subdivision property | — | Sec. 4(b)(3)a |
| Temporary Real Estate/Development Sign (During Construction - New Subdivision) | — | 48 sq ft | — | 100 ft from any other sign on same premises | — | Subdivision property | — | Sec. 4(b)(3)b |
| Temporary Opinion/Political/Election/Other Yard Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot (2 on corner lots) | — | — | Sec. 4(b)(4) |

### Non residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Large Development Ground Sign (10-34.99 acres) | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Retail shopping centers with at least 10 acres & 1000 ft of frontage | — | Sec. 5(a)(1) |
| Large Development Ground Sign (35+ acres) | 40 ft | 300 sq ft | — | — | — | Retail shopping centers with at least 35 acres | — | Sec. 5(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Single Tenant Non-Residential) | — | 100 sq ft (total), 50 sq ft (max per sign) | — | — | 1 per frontage (max total 100 sq ft) | On building | — | Sec. 5(a)(2)a |
| Ground Sign (Retail Multi-Tenant) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel | — | Sec. 5(a)(2)b |
| Pole Sign (Retail Multi-Tenant) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel | — | Sec. 5(a)(2)b |
| Retail Intersection Sign (Double Frontage) | — | 200 sq ft (total); max 100 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per frontage | At intersection of two roadways, each frontage | — | Sec. 5(a)(2)g |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Development/Construction) | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 (2 for dual frontage) | On property for future use/development | — | Sec. 5(b)(1) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 (2 on corner lots) | On property for lease/rent/sale | — | Sec. 5(b)(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area single tenant, 5% for multi-tenant (see zone regulations) | — | — | — | On front, side, or rear walls (plane parallel to wall) | — | Sec. 6(a)-(f) |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per lot | On same lot/tract | — | Sec. 7 |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street/R-O-W; not within 50 ft of an intersection | 1 per lot | On same lot/tract | — | Sec. 8(a)-(h) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 3 sq ft (18 in x 24 in) | — | — | — | As directed by city, installed under supervision | — | Sec. 9 |
| Electronic Message Sign (as Ground or Pole Sign) | — | 50 sq ft | — | Min 100 ft from residential zone | 1 per establishment | Attached to/placed as ground or pole sign | — | Sec. 10 |
| Historic Route 66 Neon Sign | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street/R-O-W; not within 50 ft of intersection | 1 per property | Non-residential districts adjacent to historic Route 66 | — | Sec. 22 |

## Prohibited signs in Sunset Hills

- No sign shall be erected, repaired, altered or relocated without first obtaining a permit from the director of public works or designee, except exemptions provided.
- No permit shall be issued to any commercial sign company without a current sign erector's license.
- All signs must be constructed and erected according to building code requirements and specifications.
- All illuminated signs must comply with the city's electrical code.
- No sign shall prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall display obscene, indecent, or immoral matter; all displays must meet public decency standards.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be placed so as to obstruct vision at street intersections, or interfere with/confuse traffic signs or signals.
- Unlawful signs (installed, erected, or maintained in violation of the ordinance), existing signs enlarged, rebuilt, structurally altered or relocated except as allowed, or signs no longer applicable to the property/building are prohibited.
- Signs on parking lot light standards are prohibited.
- All portable signs (including human signage) are prohibited.
- Paper posters and painted signs applied directly to exterior walls, poles, or supports are prohibited.
- Advertising devices (such as banners unless allowed in Section 5, pennants on poles, wires, or ropes, streamers, wind operated devices, search lights, flashing lights, fluttering devices) are prohibited.
- Mechanical contrivances such as flashers or animators in signs are prohibited.
- Conflicting signs that resemble or conflict with traffic control devices by color, location, or design are prohibited.
- Advertising devices in show or display windows exceeding 20% of the display area are prohibited.
- Signs advertising products or services not provided/produced/rendered on the premises are prohibited.
- Revolving or moving message signs are prohibited, except permitted time, temperature, and electronic message signs that meet requirements.
- Signs in residential districts for home occupations, and signs affixed or displayed on residences except one personal ID sign (not over 2 square feet) are prohibited.
- Signs with more than two faces are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Marquee signs are prohibited.
- Signs painted on or attached to trees, fence posts, rocks, natural features, utility poles, or on roofs visible from public thoroughfares are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to maintain or allow to remain any unsafe or insecure sign liable to injure persons/property, or any sign damaging to other property.
- No sign shall be displayed in violation of federal, state or county law.
- No sign may be installed, enlarged, structurally altered or relocated in violation of this ordinance.
- No permit-required work may be started more than 6 months after permit issuance or be incomplete after 1 year.
- No pole sign may be erected in the City after November 30, 2018.
- Any change to a legally existing sign, including facing, surface, lettering, message or logo constitutes a new sign and is not allowed unless compliant.
- No sign shall use the words 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'Drive-in,' 'Danger' or similar where it could mislead/confuse traffic.
- Illuminated signs must prevent glare and not cause traffic hazards.
- Any unlawful sign may be removed at the expense of the person responsible.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sunset Hills

- Real estate signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in area advertising sale, rental or lease of the premises where located.
- Bulletin boards not over twenty-five (25) square feet for public charitable or religious institutions, located on their premises.
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor on work under construction and not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, emergency, or non-advertising signs.
- Political posters not over four (4) square feet in size.
- Professional name plates not exceeding three (3) square feet.
- Occupational signs not over four (4) square feet (on building).
- Signs erected inside a building and not visible through windows.
- Temporary window signs complying with section 5.
- Exterior signs for pricing merchandise not exceeding one (1) square foot.
- Ingress, egress, or customer directional signage within a complex in compliance with section 9.
- No hunting, no fishing, no trespassing, no soliciting, and similar signs not exceeding one (1) square foot.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan must be submitted with the sign application for permanent ground signs for churches, places of worship, schools, hospitals, or similar public institutions in residential districts.
- A site plan must be submitted with the sign application for subdivision name signs (both ground and freestanding pole) in residential districts.
- A site plan must be submitted with the sign application for real estate development signs in residential districts.
- A site plan must be submitted with the sign application for temporary ground signs advertising development in non-residential districts.
- A site plan must be submitted with the sign application for temporary for rent, sale, or lease signs in business, commercial, or industrial districts.
- Large development signs for shopping centers (over 10 acres) require submission of sign drawings (eleven copies), including a site plan, for review and approval by the board of aldermen before permit issuance.
- Historic Route 66 neon signs must be submitted with a site plan, sign drawings, proof of authenticity, and property owner approval to the Board of Aldermen for review. Approval must be by ordinance; a building permit must be obtained thereafter.
- All applications for sign permits must include plans and specifications, including dimensions, materials, and construction details.
- Director of public works may prescribe regulations for form and content of sign permit applications.
- If an application is denied, the applicant may appeal to the board of adjustment.

## Full detail

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

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