# Sign Regulations in Webster Groves, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Webster Groves, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/webster-groves
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/Webster_Groves/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTVIPL_CH54SI)

## At a glance

Webster Groves, Missouri regulates 29 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft. (or up to 40 ft. if within 250 ft. of interstate highway, under specified conditions) (Section 54.071.C) tall and Max 48 sqft per face, with a Not within 30 ft sight triangle; 10 ft side property line setback (Sec. Sections 54.071.A-F, 54.059, 54.051, 54.141-54.144, 54.060). Most commercial signs in Webster Groves require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 28 | 25 ft. (or up to 40 ft. if within 250 ft. of interstate highway, under specified conditions) (Section 54.071.C) | 60 sqft per face | — |
| Planned Districts | 1 | No sign more than 125% of standard height | 10% of face area, no sign more than 125% of max allowed by code | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 2 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft. (or up to 40 ft. if within 250 ft. of interstate highway, under specified conditions) (Section 54.071.C) | Max 48 sqft per face | — | Not within 30 ft sight triangle; 10 ft side property line | 1 per 100 ft of street frontage per street | On property; not within 30 ft sight triangle of right-of-way; not within 10 ft of side lot line (Section 54.071.D.1-2, Section 54.056) | — | Sections 54.071.A-F, 54.059, 54.051, 54.141-54.144, 54.060 |
| Projecting Sign (C, D, PC Multi-story) | Not above floor line of 3rd floor (Section 54.074.C.2) | 16 sqft per face, 32 sqft total all faces | — | Not within 3 ft of curb line | No specific number stated, but included in city-wide area/number calculations | On wall facing street; may project max 6 ft into front yard/right-of-way; not within 3 ft of curb line (Section 54.074.D.1-2) | — | Sections 54.074.A-F, 54.051, 54.059, 54.141-54.144 |
| Projecting Sign (Other Districts) | Not above floor line of 2nd floor (Section 54.074.C.2) | 16 sqft per face, 32 sqft total all faces | — | Not within 3 ft of curb line | No specific number stated, but included in city-wide area/number calculations | On wall facing street; may project max 6 ft; not within 3 ft of curb line (Section 54.074.D.1-2) | — | Sections 54.074.A-F, 54.051, 54.059, 54.141-54.144 |
| Portable Sign | 12 ft (Section 54.073.C) | 50 sqft per face, 100 sqft total all faces | — | Not within 30 ft triangle of driveway/street, not within 10 ft of side line | One per street frontage | On property; not within 30 ft sight triangle of driveway/street; not within 10 ft side property line (Section 54.073.D.1-2) | — | Sections 54.073.A-F, 54.059, 54.051, 54.141-54.144 |
| Sandwich Board | 3.75 ft (45 inches) (54.090.E) | 6 sqft per face | — | Not in 30 ft sight triangle; must allow 3-ft walkway clearance | One per business | Within prolongated limits of space it references; not within 30-ft sight triangle; 3-ft walkway clearance (54.090.G) | — | Section 54.090 |
| Bulletin Board (Institution/Theater Only) | 6 ft (54.081.E) | 20 sqft per face | — | Not in 30-ft sight triangle | 1 per street | On property to which sign refers; not in 30-ft sight triangle (54.081.G.1-2) | — | Section 54.081 |
| Political Sign (Temporary - Single-family) | 3 ft (54.088.E.1) | 6 sqft per face | — | Not in 30-ft sight triangle for signs >2.5 ft tall (54.088.G.3) | Not included in number calculations | Entirely on private property unless on election day (54.088.G.1), not in right-of-way (54.088.G.2) | — | Section 54.088 |
| Political Sign (Temporary - Commercial) | 12 ft (54.088.E.1) | 6 sqft per face | — | Not in 30-ft sight triangle for signs >2.5 ft tall (54.088.G.3) | Not included in number calculations | Entirely on private property unless on election day (54.088.G.1), not in right-of-way (54.088.G.2) | — | Section 54.088 |

### Planned Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All permanent signage (Sign Package) | No sign more than 125% of standard height | 10% of face area, no sign more than 125% of max allowed by code | — | As specified in package | As specified in package, but not to exceed code limits unless ARB allows a variance | Per sign package, must be shown on site plan | — | Section 54.103 |

## Prohibited signs in Webster Groves

- Any sign not expressly permitted by this sign code is prohibited in the City of Webster Groves.
- All signs must comply with all applicable provisions of the Building, Electrical, Plumbing and Municipal Codes of the City of Webster Groves.
- No sign shall, by electronic, mechanical, environmentally activated or other means, flap, flash, flutter, glitter, move, revolve, rotate, sparkle, spin, swing, scroll text across any portion of a sign, or display video content on any portion of a sign.
- No sign is permitted whose color, location or design resembles or conflicts with traffic control signs or devices.
- Unless specifically exempted, no sign shall be painted on or attached to trees, shrubs, lamp posts, parking meter posts, hydrants, guard rails, bridge supports, traffic signs, stairways, benches, refuse containers, rocks, other natural features, telephone poles, utility poles or similar structures.
- Except as specified in sections 54.083, 54.085, 54.090, and 54.092, no sign shall be placed, nor shall any person place any sign, in any public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected or painted on a roof.
- No sign shall use noise amplifiers of any kind.
- No signs or nameplates of any type shall be allowed for home occupations.
- Signs that project light in excess of 0.5 horizontal foot-candles as measured at the property line shall be prohibited.
- Sign lighting shall not cause a glare or be directed in such a manner that traffic is impeded or the lighting causes a nuisance.
- Unless specifically exempted, no sign shall be erected until a permit has been issued.
- Unless specifically exempted, all signs shall be located upon the property to which the sign refers.
- No sign shall be so erected on any door, window or elsewhere on any building so as to prevent free ingress or egress to or from any window, door or any fire escape of any building.
- Any abandoned sign, including the support structure, shall be removed within 30 days after the business or product is no longer present.

## Signs exempt from permit in Webster Groves

- Temporary signs shall not be required to meet building, electrical or plumbing code requirements.
- This code does not regulate any traffic and roadway signage generally governed by state statutes and that are erected by the State of Missouri, St. Louis County, or the City of Webster Groves.
- Holiday displays are exempted from window sign area limitations for up to 30 days prior to the holiday, and 14 days after the holiday.
- Century plaques shall not require a permit.
- Construction signs which are temporary signs shall not require a permit.
- Temporary political signs and semi-permanent political signs shall not require a permit.
- Real estate signs do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a sign permit shall include, when required by the building commissioner: a site plan; the plans and specifications for said sign, including dimensions, materials, and required details of construction, including weights and methods of anchorage.
- In planned districts, the owner/developer may propose a 'sign package' addressing all aspects of exterior permanent signage for the entire planned district. The sign package must include: a site plan showing sign location, height, and size; dimensions, area, construction materials, colors, and illumination source/level; color elevations of all proposed signs; description of advertising copy; proposed landscaping for free-standing signs.
- Sign packages for planned districts shall be approved by the architectural review board (ARB).
- Requests for a civic activity sign permit for a period greater than 30 days require approval by the architectural review board and, for designated historic districts, the historic preservation commission.
- Applications for building identification signs for buildings on the national register of historic places, city-designated landmarks, and buildings in historic districts must be approved by the historic preservation commission prior to review by the architectural review board.
- Requests for a variance from sign code standards must be reviewed by the board of adjustment after a variance application and hearing.
- Any application for a permit to locate a sandwich board in a public right-of-way must include a certificate of liability insurance naming the city as additionally insured.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 2 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 4 zoning districts in Webster Groves — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Webster+Groves+MO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-webster-groves

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