[R.O. 2010 §530.010; CC 1970 §27-1; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978; Ord. No. 13-89 §1, 7-17-1989; Ord. No. 11-97 §1, 10-20-1997; Ord. No. 04-05 §1, 3-21-2005]
For the purposes of this Chapter the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
A wall sign or projecting sign attached to a building wall
or the generally vertical plane of a mansard type roof.
Any structure covered by canvas cloth or other similar temporary
material and/or which can be retracted or rolled to the structure
by which it is supported.
See "STANDARD OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURE".
Any structure attached to a building at the inner end and
supported on the outer end.
A sign attached to the exterior of a church or located elsewhere
on the church premises and used to indicate the services or activities
of the church and including the church name if desired.
Any sign which is supported by one (1) or more stationary
poles three (3) feet or less above the mean grade line of the ground
at its base.
A sign which indicates a direction for vehicular or pedestrian
traffic or other movement.
An illuminated sign on which, or around which artificial
or reflected light is not steady or in which colors change and shall
include such lights in windows in which temporary signs are sometimes
displayed, whether or not such temporary signs are being displayed
at the time.
A sign which flutters and includes banners, flags or other
flexible material which moves with the wind or by some artificial
means.
Any sign hanging entirely beneath a canopy, portico or marquee.
Any sign which is illuminated by light sources mounted on
it or in the sign or at some other location.
Any permanent structure supported entirely by the building
and which projects from the wall of a building.
A sign attached to or illustrated on a marquee, canopy or
awning respectively.
Any permanent detached sign which has its bottom portion
erected upon or supported by the ground with not more than two (2)
feet of supports standing above the ground.
A sign, all or any part of which, that moves by any means.
Any sign which is supported by one (1) or more stationary
poles longer than three (3) feet above the mean grade line of the
ground at its base.
A temporary sign advocating or opposing any political proposition
or candidate for public office.
A sign that is not permanently affixed to a building, structure
or ground and that may be readily moved or relocated, placed on trailers
and other transportable devices.
A sign attached to a building, the sign face of which extends
away from the building at an angle.
Any sign erected on a roof. The generally vertical plane
of a mansard type roof shall be interpreted as the same as a wall
of a building.
The area of the sign face. The sign area of a multifaced
sign is the sum of the sign areas of each face, including structural
trim. If a wall sign consists of letters without a defined margin,
differentiated background, or structural trim, the area shall be computed
by extending parallel lines across the highest and lowest points of
the letters or insignia and along the left and right extremity of
the same. The area shall be that portion enclosed in the rectangle
thus formed.
A temporary sign used during construction of new buildings
or reconstruction of, or additions to, existing buildings, such as
those identifying the project and denoting the owner, architect, engineer
or contractor of the project.
The portion or side of the sign on which the message or advertisement
is contained.
All signs which advertise products, services or businesses
which are not located on the same premises as the sign, including
billboards, detached pole signs on separate parcels, wall signs and
signs otherwise attached to buildings and/or supported by uprights
or braces on the ground. Real estate signs are excluded from this
definition.
A sign that is permanently or temporarily affixed to a vehicle
or trailer that is parked within fifteen (15) feet of the Manchester
Road right-of-way.
A sign attached to a building wall or the vertical plane
of a mansard roof, the sign face of which is parallel to the wall
or mansard roof and which does not extend away from the building.
[R.O. 2010 §530.020; CC 1970 §27-2; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978; Ord. No. 15-02 §1, 10-7-2002; Ord. No. 07-05 §5, 4-18-2005; Ord. No. B10-13 §5, 12-2-2013]
Any person desiring to erect and maintain any permanent commercial
sign in the City shall first make written application to the City,
which application shall be on a form to be furnished by the City Clerk.
The application shall contain full and exact information on the exact
dimensions of the sign, the wording of the sign, the coloring of the
sign and whether the sign is to be illuminated and, if so, in what
manner, the location of the sign and the materials of which the sign
is constructed. Each application for a permit for each sign shall
be accompanied by payment of a permit fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
This application shall be reviewed by the Building Commissioner (or
his or her designee) and either approved, rejected or approved with
conditions and returned to applicant. When required by the Building
Code, a building permit shall be obtained from the St. Louis County
Department of Public Works.
[R.O. 2010 §530.030; CC 1970 §27-3; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
The granting of such license and permit shall not grant the
holder of such permit a vested right and in the event that at any
time in the opinion of the Board of Aldermen, the sign, billboard
or bill or painted sign becomes objectionable, it shall be removed
at the direction of the Board of Aldermen.
[R.O. 2010 §530.040; CC 1970 §27-4; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
All permanent signs approved and existing before passage of this Chapter which are non-conforming as stated in this Chapter shall be removed upon change of ownership, or within three (3) years, whichever is later. Temporary window signs which are non-conforming must be removed by November 10, 1978. For other obsolete signs, see Section 515.070(B).
[R.O. 2010 §530.050; CC 1970 §27-5; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978; Ord. No. 10-84 §1, 4-23-1984; Ord. No. 4-88 §1, 4-18-1988; Ord. No. 2-90 §1, 2-20-1990; Ord. No. 11-97 §3, 10-20-1997; Ord. No. 04-05 §2, 3-21-2005]
A.
Each
commercial establishment or business in the City shall be authorized
to erect not more than three (3) permanent signs that are in compliance
with this Section. Any such sign may state the name of the business,
contain a registered trademark or logo and include a statement of
the nature or purpose of the business if necessary to identify the
business to be conducted.
1.
Monument signs shall be subject to the following additional requirements:
a.
No monument signs shall be permitted on any streets except Manchester
Road and monument signs shall be restricted to lots having a minimum
frontage of one hundred (100) feet on Manchester Road.
b.
No business or commercial center shall be permitted more than one
(1) monument sign. In the event one (1) monument sign is used for
several businesses occupying separate stores on the same premises,
it may contain the name of the shopping center and name each business
located therein.
c.
No portion of the monument or monument sign shall be located closer
than five (5) feet of the right-of-way or more than fifteen (15) feet
from the right-of-way.
d.
No portion of the monument sign shall be six (6) feet higher than
above the street grade on which the sign is placed.
e.
No monument sign on a one hundred (100) foot lot on Manchester Road
shall exceed forty (40) square feet per sign face. For each five (5)
feet of additional frontage in excess of one hundred (100) feet on
Manchester Road, the sign area may be increased by two (2) square
feet to a maximum of eighty (80) square feet in area.
f.
No monument sign shall have more than two (2) sign faces.
g.
Signs on a street corner shall not be closer than ten (10) feet from
the intersection of the intersection of paved streets, so as to not
obstruct a clear vision. No part of any sign shall be permitted on
any street right-of-way.
2.
Wall or facia signs shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a.
In case of single tenant buildings, the area of a wall (or fascia)
sign shall not exceed one (1) square foot for each running foot of
the side of the building or wall to which it is attached or a maximum
of sixty (60) square feet, whichever is the lesser of the two (2).
Where more than one (1) side of a building or unit is used for signage,
the same limitations shall apply to each side used.
b.
In the case of a multi-tenant building, each tenant shall be permitted
a wall or fascia sign of a size to be determined by the owner/leasing
agent of the building; provided, that the total square footage of
wall signs on each wall shall not exceed one and one-half (1½)
square feet per lineal foot of wall on each level and no sign shall
exceed forty (40) square feet. Such sign shall be a minimum of three
(3) feet from any other wall or fascia sign and must be located on
that area of wall occupied by the business to which it relates.
c.
The height of any sign shall not exceed its width and all signs on
any individual wall/fascia shall be of uniform height.
d.
No sign shall be permitted to be attached to any wall advertising
a business not located on the premises and not utilizing a portion
of that wall.
3.
Supplemental signs shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a.
Filling stations shall be permitted to have one (1) additional double-faced
"price sign". Such sign shall not be placed within five (5) feet of
the right-of-way or have an area greater than nine (9) square feet.
All signs shall be securely and permanently anchored to a monument
sign or to the ground.
b.
Each business shall be permitted a sign on the door or window not
to exceed one (1) square foot showing the days and hours of operation
and a window sign not exceeding three (3) square feet providing the
name, address and phone number of the business.
c.
Directional (enter/exit) signs not exceeding six (6) square feet
in area used to assist customers in accessing a parking lot. No more
than two (2) signs per entrance for each business location. No part
of these signs may be located in the street right-of-way.
d.
Supplemental signs shall not be counted in the total for permanent
signs permitted under this Section for a commercial establishment
or business.
4.
Temporary window signs shall be subject to the following restrictions:
a.
Signs may be of no more than fifty percent (50%) of the window or
glass to which they are applied; provided that a grocery store shall
be excluded from this limitation.
b.
Temporary signs shall be maintained in good repair and shall be displayed
for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days. The most recent date
of installation shall be clearly shown on the sign in two (2) inch
letters placed on the bottom right-hand corner of the front of such
sign.
c.
In the case of a grocery store, temporary window signs shall not
exceed seventy percent (70%) of the area of the window or glass to
which they are attached. All signs used for the promotion of weekly
specials must be removed at the end of seven (7) days.
d.
Signs to be located on a commercial establishment premises as provided
for in this Chapter shall be erected on the premises on which the
commercial establishment is located.
e.
All illuminated signs for a commercial establishment shall be illuminated
from the inside. Signs with intermittent or flashing lights are prohibited.
[R.O. 2010 §530.060; CC 1970 §27-7; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
A yearly inspection shall be made of all signs by the City.
The purpose of this inspection is to determine that there are no signs
in violation of this Chapter, that all signs are well maintained,
neatly painted and secured in the approved manner and that the number
of signs does not exceed those allowed.
[R.O. 2010 §530.070; CC 1970 §27-8; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
A.
Unsafe Signs. If the City shall find that any sign or other
advertising structure regulated under the provisions of this Chapter
is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, has been constructed
or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of
this Chapter, written notice of such condition shall be given to the
permittee or owner of the premises on which the structure is located
and shall direct that any such condition be remedied or the structure
removed within ten (10) days from the date of issue of such notice.
If the structure is not repaired or removed as provided by this Section
within ten (10) days after such notice, such signs or other advertising
structure may be removed or altered and repaired to comply with this
Chapter by the City, at the cost of the permittee or owner of the
property on which the sign is located. A permit shall not be issued
to any permittee who fails to pay such costs. The City may cause any
sign or other advertising structure which is in immediate peril to
persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
B.
Obsolete Signs. Any sign which no longer advertises a bona
fide business conducted or a product sold within the City on the premises,
shall be taken down and removed by the property owner, agent or person
having the beneficial use of the business or structure upon which
the sign may be found, within ten (10) days after written notification
from the City to do so, and upon failure to comply with this notice
within the time specified, the City is authorized to have the sign
removed. The expenses incident to such removal shall be paid by the
owner of the premises on which such sign is located.
[R.O. 2010 §530.080; CC 1970 §27-9; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
Special promotions or display signs not exceeding twelve (12)
square feet, used for holidays or the promotion of civil welfare or
charitable purposes may be temporarily displayed by any church, not-for-profit
institution or government. The signs may not be displayed for a period
of more than fifteen (15) days, nor shall any sign be permitted more
often than once each forty-five (45) days.
[R.O. 2010 §530.090; CC 1970 §27-10; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978; Ord. No. 10-84 §2, 4-23-1984; Ord. No. 11-97 §2, 10-20-1997; Ord. No. 04-05 §3, 3-21-2005]
A.
The
following signs are prohibited:
1.
Wall signs painted directly onto the wall of a structure.
2.
Paper posters applied directly to the wall of a building or wall
of a support, letters or pictures in the form of advertising printed
or applied directly on the exterior wall of a building.
3.
Flashing signs.
4.
Fluttering signs or flags.
5.
Roof signs.
6.
Moving signs.
7.
Projecting signs.
8.
If a sign is in the direct line of vision of any traffic signal (as
viewed from any point in the traffic lanes) and is located within
one hundred (100) feet from the traffic signal as one approaches the
traffic signal (measured from the sidewalk line at the traffic signal),
it shall not have red, green or amber illumination. No signs shall
make use of the words stop, look, yield, danger or any other word,
phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with,
mislead or confuse traffic.
9.
Pole signs. Existing pole signs shall be grandfathered
until such time as the business advertised thereon is closed or the
property sold or they are removed, become in substantial disrepair
or become dangerous.
10.
Portable signs.
11.
Vehicle signs.
[R.O. 2010 §530.100; CC 1970 §27-11; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, no commercial
establishment shall be allowed to erect more than three (3) permanent
signs on their premises.
[R.O. 2010 §530.105; Ord. No. 11-97 §4, 10-20-1997]
A.
No
permit to allow a sign to be newly erected shall be issued without
a permit issued by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.
Standard outdoor advertising structures may be permitted in the City
provided that such signs:
B.
Lighting.
1.
Lighting cannot exceed a twenty (20) foot-candle average.
2.
No revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light that simulates an
emergency light or device shall be permitted as part of any sign.
No flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights will be permitted
except scoreboards and other illuminated signs designating public
service information such as time, date or temperature, or similar
information, will be allowed.
3.
External lighting, such as floodlights, thin line and gooseneck reflectors
are permitted, provided the light source is directed upon the face
of the signs and is effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or
rays of light from being directed into any portion of the main traveled
way of the Federal-aid primary highway and the lights are not of such
intensity so as to cause glare, impair the vision of the driver of
a motor vehicle, or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation
of a motor vehicle; provided the light source is effectively shielded
so as to prevent beams or rays of light from shining on any lot which
is used or zoned residential.
4.
No sign shall be illuminated so that it interferes with the effectiveness
of or obscures any official traffic sign, device or signal.
C.
Size Of Signs.
1.
The maximum area per face for any one (1) sign located within six
hundred sixty (660) feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of
a primary highway as defined by the Missouri Highway and Transportation
Department shall be one hundred twenty-eight (128) square feet, inclusive
of border and trim but excluding the base or apron, supports and other
structural members, with a maximum vertical dimension of thirty (30)
feet and a maximum horizontal dimension of sixty (60) feet.
2.
The maximum height of any sign shall not exceed thirty-five (35)
feet from the highest point on the sign structure to the grade of
the highway from which the sign is intended to be read nor exceed
fifty (50) feet above the surrounding grade where the sign is installed.
D.
Spacing Of Signs.
1.
No sign structure shall be erected within one thousand (1,000) feet
of an existing sign on either side of the adjacent primary highway.
2.
The spacing between structure provisions of Subparagraph (D)(1) of
this Subsection do not apply to signs which are separated by buildings,
natural surroundings, or other obstructions in such manner that only
one (1) sign facing located within such distance is visible at any
one (1) time. Directional or other official signs or those advertising
the sale or lease of the property on which they are located, or those
which advertise activities on the property on which they are located,
including products sold, shall not be counted, not shall measurements
be made from them for the purpose of compliance with spacing provisions.
3.
The measurements in this Subsection shall be the minimum distances
between standard outdoor advertising structures measured along the
nearest edge of the pavement between points directly opposite the
signs along each side of the highway.
E.
Set Backs And Location. No standard outdoor advertising
structure shall be located within:
1.
Ninety (90) feet of any property line or roofed structure;
2.
Ninety (90) feet of any right-of-way;
3.
One thousand (1,000) feet from any lot which is used or zoned as
residential or for any public use, including but not limited to parks,
schools, churches, libraries, hospitals, historic districts, landmarks
or any area on the National Register of Historic Places;
4.
Two hundred fifty (250) feet of any on-premises sign located on a
building or other non-sign structure;
5.
One thousand (1,000) feet of any other freestanding on-premises sign;
or
6.
One thousand (1,000) feet of an interchange, intersection at grade,
or safety rest area. Such distances shall be measured from beginning
or ending of the pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to
the main traveled way.
F.
Miscellaneous Regulations.
1.
Only one (1) sign shall be allowed to face in one (1) direction along
an interstate or primary highway; while signs may be placed back-to-back
on the same sign structure so that two (2) signs are facing in opposite
directions, signs of V-type construction are prohibited as is sign
stacking.
2.
No sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise
physically interfere with the effectiveness of any official traffic
sign, signal or device or obstruct or physically interfere with a
motor vehicle operator's view of approaching, merging or intersecting
traffic.
3.
No sign shall be located on or attached to the roof of a building
or any other non-sign structure.
[R.O. 2010 §530.110; CC 1970 §27-12; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978; Ord. No. 10-84 §3, 4-23-1984; Ord. No. 5-86 §1, 5-5-1986; Ord. No. 20-89 §1, 10-2-1989]
A.
Subject
to the limitations hereinafter set forth only the following signs
shall be permitted in residential districts:
1.
Public, charitable or religious institution bulletin boards. Public, charitable or religious institutions desiring to erect bulletin boards on their premise shall submit the same to the City Administrator for approval; provided, that the face of the bulletin board shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet with no linear dimension in excess of six (6) feet, and which shall be located on the premises of such institution, and with a set back from the right-of-way of ten (10) feet. Such signage shall not violate the provisions of Section 515.090. No charge shall be made for such permit or for the annual inspection thereof, but such signs shall be safely maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 515.070.
2.
Political signs. No political sign exceeding eight
(8) square feet in area advertising any candidate or political cause
shall be erected on any premise in a residential zone. No illuminated
signs of this character shall be erected. Such sign shall not be posted
more than thirty (30) days prior to the election at which such candidate
or causes are being submitted and shall be removed within three (3)
days after such election. No such signs shall be erected within fifteen
(15) feet of the paved portion of the street. No signs shall be posted
on private property without permission of the property owner. There
shall be no more than two (2) signs per lot. Political signs shall
not be required to be submitted for a permit.
3.
Real estate signs. Unilluminated residential real
estate signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area which advertise
sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which the signs are located
may be erected, without a permit; provided, that such signs are not
located within fifteen (15) feet of the paved portion of the street.
There shall not be more than one (1) sign on each lot frontage. One
(1) "Open" directional sign for each house for sale of a size not
exceeding four (4) square feet to be located at the corner of two
(2) intersecting streets may also be erected without a permit provided
that the sign is located at least two (2) feet from the paved portion
of the street, permission is given for the placement of the sign by
the property owner, and adjoining property owner and the sign is only
displayed on Sunday between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. "Sold",
"Leased" or "Rented" signs are not permitted.
Unilluminated commercial real estate signs not exceeding sixteen
(16) square feet in area which advertise sale, rental or lease of
the premises upon which the sign is located may be erected without
a permit provided, that only one (1) sign is erected on a building
or premises per lot and such sign is not located within the public
right-of-way. This requirement shall not preclude the placement of
an additional window sign which shall designate the actual area for
sale, rent or lease. A window sign may cover no more than fifty percent
(50%) of the window or glass to which it is applied. Any sign legend
shall refer only to the sale or lease of the building or premises;
the name, address and telephone number of the agent; the zoning designation;
and the amount of space available. "Sold," "Leased" or "Rented" signs
are not permitted. All signs must be removed within two (2) days of
the sale closing or lease initiation date.
4.
Temporary accessory signs to subdivision developments. These signs shall be for the purpose of identification of homes
for sale or rent in the subdivision under construction. One (1) such
sign shall be allowed for each subdivision or development and shall
not be closer than nine (9) feet to the right-of-way of adjacent streets.
No sign shall be higher than eight (8) feet from the ground. The sign
shall be removed within ten (10) days of that time in which occupancy
permits have been issued for eighty percent (80%) of the homes in
the subdivision.
5.
Garage sale signs. Signs used to indicate a garage
sale, lawn sale or basement sale may not be placed within fifteen
(15) feet of the paved portion of the street. Such signs shall not
be larger than four (4) square feet. No more than one (1) such sign
per lot may be posted between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M.
and all signs must be removed after one (1) day.
6.
Privacy signs. Signs not exceeding two (2) square
feet in sign face per side nor height of four (4) feet from the ground
which prohibit trespassing or indicate privacy of premises, driveway
or roads.
7.
Nameplates. Professional nameplates not exceeding
one (1) square foot in area need not be submitted for approval or
for license.
8.
Traffic and directional signs. Traffic or directional,
municipal signs of a non-advertising nature may be required in the
operation of a business which are located on the premises thereof;
provided, that such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in
total signage per area, per business or commercial center.
9.
Detached signs. Schools, churches, country clubs
and multi-family developments shall be permitted one (1) ground sign
on each street; provided, that such sign shall not exceed five (5)
feet in height or exceed thirty (30) square feet.
[R.O. 2010 §530.120; CC 1970 §27-13; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
A.
The
Board of Aldermen is empowered to review or modify the City Administrator's
order or determination with respect to signs covered by this Chapter
and to that end shall during appeal have the City Administrator's
powers. In addition, the Board may grant variances from this Chapter
as provided by this Section.
1.
Grounds for granting variances. The Board of Aldermen
may grant variances from this Chapter where it is found that because
of the limitations on the character, size or dimensions of a sign
or the regulations controlling the erection or installation of a sign,
the permittee would be subject to undue hardship. Undue hardship is
not a mere loss of a possible advantage or convenience to the applicant.
2.
Procedure for requesting variances. Application
for a variance shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty-five dollars
($25.00).
[R.O. 2010 §530.130; CC 1970 §27-14; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
No person shall paint, post, place, hang, suspend or affix any
advertisement, card, poster, sign, banner or streamer, of any nature,
or for any purpose, or shall cause the same to be done, on or to any
curbstone, flagstone or any other portion of any street or sidewalk,
or upon any tree or lamppost standing or erected on any public street,
alley or other public place, to carry telephone wire or cables, electric
light wires or other electric conductors, or to any hydrant, bridge
or any public structure within the City.
[R.O. 2010 §530.140; CC 1970 §27-15; Ord. No. 9-78, 10-26-1978]
A.
In
the event that any sign advertisement, card, poster, banner or streamer
is posted, painted, placed, hung, suspended or affixed contrary to
the provisions of this Section on public right-of-way, it shall be
removed by the Police or Street Department of the City and shall be
destroyed unless the sign is in the opinion of the Police Chief a
permanent sign of wood or metal, in which event he/she may hold it
for a period of not to exceed two (2) weeks after which time it shall
be destroyed.
B.
Any
person, whether owner or tenant of premises in the City, who erects
or causes to be erected or maintained on any commercial establishment
or residential premises or public building, any sign, poster, card,
banner or streamer in violation of this Chapter shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor if such sign, card, poster, banner or streamer is
not removed within ten (10) days of written notice being given by
the Police Department to remove such signs, advertisement, poster,
banner or streamer. Each day's violation shall be considered as a
separate violation.
