# Sign Regulations in West Plains, Missouri

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Plains, Missouri (MO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/missouri/west-plains
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/MO/West_Plains/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH34SI)

## At a glance

West Plains, Missouri regulates 32 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Billboard (only along Hwy 63/160)s in the Manufacturing District (M-1, M-2) zoning district are capped at 35 ft above adjacent street level tall and 300 sq ft (per side), with a Not within 300 ft of residential property setback (Sec. Sec. 34-17; Sec. 34-11; Billboards not permitted in C-3 Midtown.). Most commercial signs in West Plains require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Agricultural District (A-1) | 14 | 10 ft from ground level | 64 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4), Manufacturing District (M-1, M-2), Planned Unit Developments | 10 | 6 ft above grade | 300 sq ft | — |
| C-3, Midtown | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Manufacturing District (M-1, M-2) | 11 | 35 ft above adjacent street level | 300 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Developments | 2 | 35 ft | 300 sq ft (per side) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3), Agricultural District (A-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Numbers and Nameplates | — | Address numbers: 1 sq ft per character; Nameplate: 2 sq ft per dwelling unit or business | — | — | — | Attached to structure unless building is more than 100 feet from street, then may be detached. Can be attached to mailbox or curb if not increasing size/shape. | — | Sec. 34-2 (Definitions); Sec. 34-5(c)(1)a; Sec. 34-9(1) |
| Place of Worship, Institutional or Governmental Sign | 7 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of institution/government agency, or private property with permission | — | Sec. 34-12(1); Sec. 34-9(2), (5) |
| Construction Sign | — | 6 sq ft, unless ≥250 ft frontage or more than 5 acres, then up to 40 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises, detached or attached | — | Sec. 34-12(2); Sec. 34-9(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall fronting a public street | 1 per wall fronting a public street | — | Sec. 34-15(b); Sec. 34-9(4) |
| Real Estate Sale and Lease Sign | — | 6 sq ft, unless premises ≥250 ft frontage or more than 5 acres, then up to 40 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises only | — | Sec. 34-12(2); Sec. 34-9(8) |
| Subdivision Real Estate Sign | — | 64 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per entrance plus 1 off-premises sign | One per subdivision entrance, and one off-premises within 1,000 ft of subdivision boundary | — | Sec. 34-12(3); Sec. 34-9(9) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign/Neighborhood Identification Sign | — | Per ground sign standards (48 sq ft, see ground sign for additional details) | — | — | — | Entry to subdivision | — | Sec. 34-12(4); Sec. 34-9(10) |
| Ground Sign (R-3 only) | 6 ft above grade | 48 sq ft | 8 ft | — | — | R-3 only; must not obstruct vision at intersection or entry/exit | — | Sec. 34-13; Sec. 34-9(15) |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4), Manufacturing District (M-1, M-2), Planned Unit Developments

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Allowed in Residential Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 34-10(1) |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft above grade | 48 sq ft | 8 ft | — | — | Must not obstruct vision at intersections or driveways | — | Sec. 34-13; Sec. 34-10(2) |
| Canopy and/or Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to canopy or awning | — | Sec. 34-10(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any wall facing a street. If business does not front on street, allowed signage as if it did. | — | Sec. 34-15(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | At least 1-foot setback from property line of street; not closer than 1-foot to interior property line. | 1 per business license, no more than two per building | One per business license, not exceeding two per building. No part to project beyond a 1-foot setback from street property line or closer than 1 foot to interior property line. | — | Sec. 34-14; Sec. 34-10(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | If allowed as substitute for a freestanding/detached sign | Projects from building face; only if no roof sign or if maximum detached signs not used. | — | Sec. 34-15(a)(4); Sec. 34-10(8) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | Set back 4 ft from outside walls | — | Mounted on/above main roof portion, set back at least 4 ft from outside walls, does not extend beyond wall. | — | Sec. 34-15(a)(3); Sec. 34-10(9) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (max 2 per building) | Inside sidewalk or at least 15 feet from street curb (inside personal property). | — | Sec. 34-5(c)(1)s; Sec. 34-10(10) |

### Manufacturing District (M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft above grade | 48 sq ft | 8 ft | — | — | Must not block vision at intersection/driveway | — | Sec. 34-13; Sec. 34-10(2) |
| Canopy and/or Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to canopy or awning | — | Sec. 34-10(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On any wall fronting a street. Businesses not fronting street treated as if they did. | — | Sec. 34-15(a); Sec. 34-10(5) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 300 sq ft | — | 1 ft from street property line; 1 ft from interior property line | 1 per business license, max 2 per building | 1 per business license, up to 2 per building. 1-foot setback from property line. | — | Sec. 34-14; Sec. 34-10(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | If substituting for a detached sign. | Projecting from building face. Only if no roof sign or if max number of detached signs not exceeded. | — | Sec. 34-15(a)(4); Sec. 34-10(8) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | 4 ft from outside walls | — | Mounted on/above main roof, setback at least 4 ft from outside walls, not beyond any wall | — | Sec. 34-15(a)(3); Sec. 34-10(9) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business, max 2 per building | Inside sidewalk or at least 15 ft from street curb (on personal property). | — | Sec. 34-5(c)(1)s; Sec. 34-10(10) |
| Billboard (only along Hwy 63/160) | 35 ft above adjacent street level | 300 sq ft (per side) | — | Not within 300 ft of residential property | Spacing: not within 1200 ft of any other billboard, same side of road | Only along U.S. Hwy 63 or 160, not attached to or above a building wall; not in C-3 Midtown | — | Sec. 34-17; Sec. 34-11; Billboards not permitted in C-3 Midtown. |

## Prohibited signs in West Plains

- Signs on any public right-of-way.
- Paper, cardboard, or other similar nonpermanent material signs located outside of a building, except for signs not requiring a permit.
- Notices, posters, or other papers or devices calculated to attract the attention of the public posted or affixed to any lamppost, public utility pole, shade tree located on the public right-of-way or upon any public structure or building, except as may be authorized by or required by law.
- Signs creating a sight distance obstruction.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or at any location where, because of its position, shape, color, or flashing light source, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of any word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- All outdoor signs and supports must be weather-resistant and maintained in good repair so as to prevent rust, peeling, flaking, or fading.
- Illuminated signs must be oriented to prevent casting light onto residential properties or onto streets.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Plains

- Address numbers and nameplates.
- Banner signs (not to exceed one banner per 100 linear feet of street frontage, maximum five per building; maximum sign area 16 square feet).
- Directional signs.
- Government signs.
- Real estate sale signs.
- Lease and construction signs.
- Internal signs.
- Neighborhood identification signs.
- Vehicular signs.
- Inflatable display objects.
- Political signs.
- Flags.
- No-trespassing signs.
- Auction signs.
- Garage sale signs.
- Birth announcement signs.
- Birthday signs.
- Temporary signs (not to exceed one temporary sign per 100 linear feet of street frontage, maximum five per building; maximum sign area eight square feet).
- Portable signs (if no temporary signs or banners are in place; limit one per business, not to exceed two per building; maximum sign area 32 square feet).
- A sign located on machinery or equipment which is necessary or customary to the business, including gasoline pumps or vending machines, not increasing the surface area or altering the shape of the machine or equipment.
- A sign used as a part of a bus stop bench, provided it does not interfere with driver vision or pedestrian movement.
- A sign on facilities located in city parks which provides information incidental to a sponsored activity, such as scoreboards, time clocks, benches, or signs in concession stands.
- A detached or attached temporary sign or banner not exceeding 36 square feet in background area advertising drives or events of a civic, philanthropic, educational, religious, political or similar nature, provided the sign is posted only during the drive or event for no more than 30 days per year and is removed within 72 hours after the event.
- Changing the copy describing products or services on an existing permitted sign which is specifically designed for the use of manually or automatically changeable copy, including billboard panels and posters, but not including changes in the structure, size, placement, or location of the sign.
- Maintenance, including repainting, cleaning or other normal repair of a sign not involving structural changes. Maintenance includes all face changes, but does not include changes in the structure, size, placement, materials or location of the sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No mention of a master sign plan or general requirement for a sign plan or required variance meeting in these sections; variances may be considered by the board of adjustments as provided by law.

## 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 6 zoning districts in West Plains — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=West+Plains+MO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-west-plains

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