# Sign Regulations in Walnut Grove, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Walnut Grove, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/walnut-grove
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Walnut_Grove/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITIVLAUS_CH405ZORE_ARTXISI)

## At a glance

Walnut Grove, Missouri regulates 15 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding (Detached) Sign (Commercial)s in the Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1), General Commercial District (C-2) zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and See formula and max per frontage, with a 10 ft from ROW setback (Sec. 405.810, 405.800, 405.780(B)). Most commercial signs in Walnut Grove require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District (A-1), Single-Family Residence District (R-1), Two-Family Residence District (R-2), Medium Density Multi-Family Residence District (R-3), High Density Multi-Family Residence District (R-4), Manufactured Housing Park District (R-MP) | 2 | 15 ft | 9 sq ft (R-1, R-MP); 32 sq ft (R-3, R-4) | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1), General Commercial District (C-2) | 3 | 25 ft | 250 sq ft per face (highway) | — |
| Historic Business District (H-1) | 3 | 15 ft (Sec.405.800.E) | See above | — |
| Light Manufacturing District (M-1), Large Manufacturing Industrial District (M-2) | 2 | 25 ft (405.800.E) | No explicit individual sign max; per-lot total per formula | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### Neighborhood Commercial District (C-1), General Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Commercial) | — | — | — | N/A to wall | Total wall sign area cannot exceed allowable total sign area per lot. | On-premises; affixed to building wall | — | 405.780(B); 405.800; 405.840 |
| Freestanding (Detached) Sign (Commercial) | 25 ft | See formula and max per frontage | — | Highway/Arterial: 15 ft; Collector/Local: 10 ft from ROW | One per premise or per frontage (see 405.810 for exceptions). | On-premises, yard, not public ROW | — | 405.810, 405.800, 405.780(B) |
| Off-Premises Freestanding Sign (Billboard) | 25 ft (C-1/C-2 districts) | 250 sq ft per face (highway) | — | Highway: 15 ft; Arterial: 15 ft; Collector/Local: 10 ft from ROW | One per lot-facing street per 405.810/820. | Allowed per 405.820, in C-1 and C-2 only if also complying with commercial use zoning matrix | — | 405.820, 405.800, 405.840 |

### Historic Business District (H-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Historic) | — | — | — | n/a (wall sign) | Total wall sign area per lot per allowed area. | On-premises; on building wall | — | 405.780(B); 405.800; 405.840 |
| Freestanding (Detached) Sign (Historic) | 15 ft (Sec.405.800.E) | See above | — | 15 ft from Hwy/Arterial; 10 ft from Collector/Local ROW (405.800.F) | One per lot/street frontage (per 405.810, with exception for corner/long lots). | On-premises, yard, not in public ROW | — | 405.800; 405.810; 405.780(B); 405.840 |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Historic) | — | — | — | — | Not specified; one per business customarily allowed | On-premises, only during business hours | — | 405.750 (Exempt Signs) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Numbers and Name Plates (Exempt) | — | 1 sq ft per character (numbers); 2 sq ft per name plate per unit/business | — | — | Per dwelling/business as described. | Affixed to mailbox, curb, building, or appropriate place | — | 405.750 |
| Temporary Signs (Exempt) | — | Real estate: 4 sq ft (residential), up to 32 sq ft for lots with over 5 acres and 400'+ frontage; Special events: 32 sq ft; Banners: 4 sq ft; Non-commercial (religious/political): 16 sq ft per abutting street | — | — | See text (generally one per abutting street or per lot). | On-premises, as applicable | — | 405.750 |
| Construction Site Signs (Exempt) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per construction site | On construction site | — | 405.750 |
| Directional/Traffic Signs (Exempt) | — | 4 sq ft each | — | — | As required per private property | On-premises/private property | — | 405.750 |
| Sandwich Board Signs (H-1 only, Exempt) | — | — | — | — | See H-1 regulations | See H-1 | — | 405.750 |

## Prohibited signs in Walnut Grove

- Signs which advertise or promote unlawful activity.
- Signs which may be confused with a traffic control signal sign or device, the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle or any other governmental agency sign.
- Signs which hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal or similar traffic control or directional sign.
- Signs which use searchlights, strobe lights or that are animated to attract the attention of the public.
- Business and product advertising signs, except for yard/garage sales, special events, lost pets, and missing children; these exceptions should not remain beyond one week.

## Signs exempt from permit in Walnut Grove

- Address numbers not exceeding one square foot in area per character and name plates not exceeding two square feet in area per dwelling unit or business.
- Banner signs not exceeding four square feet of area; one sign per business premise is permitted, posted for not more than 30 business days per year.
- Construction site identification signs not exceeding one sign per site, with such sign not exceeding 32 square feet in area.
- Directional signs on private property not exceeding four square feet each and containing no advertising.
- Flags, pennants or insignia of any government or non-profit organization when on display in connection with a commercial promotion.
- Governmental signs erected by or on behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body, including legal notices, identification and information signs, traffic and directional signs, or regulatory signs.
- Neighborhood identification signs, such as a masonry wall or landscaping or other similar materials, displaying only the name of the neighborhood, tract or historic district.
- Non-commercial signs proclaiming religious, political or other non-commercial messages (not exceeding one per abutting street and 16 square feet in area and not internally illuminated).
- Official signs of a non-commercial nature erected by public utilities.
- Real estate sale or lease signs (detached or attached, non-illuminated, temporary on-premise), not exceeding four square feet in area, with specific conditions for lots over 5 acres and signage removal after sale/lease.
- Sandwich board signs in the 'H-1' Historic Business District, displayed on premises only during business hours.
- Temporary special event signs (up to 32 square feet) advertising civic, educational, philanthropic, religious, political, or similar events, with timing limitations on erection and removal.
- Vehicular signs painted on or permanently attached to vehicles (without flashing/blinking lights or animation).
- Window signs (not exceeding 50% of the glass area).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All illuminated signs shall be designed, constructed and located to eliminate or minimize glare and shall not increase lighting intensity upon adjoining properties.
- Signs painted on building walls must be approved by the planning and zoning commission; denials may be appealed to the board of aldermen.
- Routine maintenance, repainting, or changing the message on a sign does not require a sign permit.
- No sign shall be erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered without first obtaining a sign permit from the City of Walnut Grove, except for exempt signs listed in Section 405.750.
- A sign permit application must be submitted to the City of Walnut Grove with required information to determine compliance.
- For lots occupied or intended to be occupied by multiple businesses (such as shopping centers), sign permits are issued in the name of the lot owner or an authorized agent.
- Every sign permit expires if work is not commenced within 180 days or if work is abandoned for 90 days; permitting process and fees may apply for resumption.
- Unsafe signs that are in danger of falling or breaking apart must be removed or repaired by the sign owner.
- Site plans must include the location, size, and arrangement of proposed outdoor signs when site plan review is required (e.g., for planned unit developments, manufactured housing parks, and all conditional uses).

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

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