[Ord. No. 289 §1, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
It is the intent of this Article to preserve the public health, convenience, welfare and/or safety within the City of Foristell by maintaining the high aesthetic quality of the community while at the same time recognizing the importance of signage in fostering the economic viability of the community and provide safe and concise directional information. These regulations are specifically designed to:
1. 
Provide for uniform regulation and orderly development of signs consistent with established policies and ordinances of the City of Foristell.
2. 
Prohibit hazardous and dangerous signs.
3. 
Provide a desirable and attractive living environment through harmonious and uniform signage.
[Ord. No. 289 §2, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
The provisions of this Article shall govern the erection, alteration and maintenance of all signs and outdoor display structures, together with their appurtenant and auxiliary devices, with respect to location, size, content construction, structure and fire safety.
B. 
The following sign standards by zoning district are intended to include every district in the City of Foristell. The districts are defined by the Zoning Code and Official Zoning Map. Only permanently located signs described herein, and as may be described under temporary signs, will be permitted in each particular district, except for public signs and City, State and Federal historic markers.
C. 
If any district is omitted from this Article, or if a new district is created after the enactment of this Article, no signs shall be permitted therein until this Article is amended to include the new districts.
D. 
Decals, numbers, names, addresses, hours, credit information, etc., attached to doors and windows and all of which occupy a total area of one (1) square foot or less are excluded from this Article.
[Ord. No. 289 §3, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009; Ord. No. 762 §1, 5-17-2010]
The following definitions shall apply in interpretation and enforcement of this Article, unless otherwise specifically stated:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign that no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, project or activity conducted or products available on the premises where such sign is displayed.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
The City Administrator, Building Official, Chief of Police or their designee having specific authority to administrate the authority of the Sign Code.
ANIMATED SIGN
A sign that includes action or motion. For the purposes of this Article, this term does not refer to flashing or changing, all of which are defined separately.
APPROVED COMBUSTIBLE PLASTIC
A plastic material more than one-twentieth (1/20) inch thick which burns at a rate of not more than two and one-half (2½) inches per minute when subjected to ASTM Standard Test for Flammability of Plastics.
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
Consideration of integrating the design with the surrounding environment including, but not limited to, use of colors which shall consist of a background and raceway that is complementary to the face of the building, materials, size and character of typeface(s), regularity of overall shape, type of illumination, orientation and situation of such sign in order to minimize the amount of visual clutter and to avoid the distraction to pedestrians and motorists beyond that necessary to convey the underlying business, information or directional purpose of said sign. All signs should be square and plumb and maintained in such a condition.
AWNING
Any structure entirely supported by the wall to which it is attached and which has a frame covered by canvas, cloth or similar temporary material and/or which can be retracted or rolled to the structure by which it is supported.
BACKGROUND AREA
The entire area of a sign on which a copy is placed but does not include permanent building surfaces.
BILLBOARD
A billboard is an off-premises sign or structure or part thereof displayed outdoors or visible from a public way, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location, or to express a point of view, by any means, including words, letters, design, symbols, figures, colors, or illuminations. Each substantially different face of a billboard structure shall constitute a separate billboard.
BUILDING FACE OR WALL
All window and wall area of a building in one (1) plane or elevation.
CANOPY
Any structure attached to a building at the inner end and supported on the other end, or a freestanding structure, with one (1) or more supports, meant to provide shelter from weather elements onto which signs may be affixed or incorporated.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (MANUAL)
A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, i.e., reader boards with changeable letters or changeable pictorial panels.
CHANGING SIGN (AUTOMATIC)
A sign such as an electronically or electrically controlled public service time, temperature and date sign, message center or reader board, where different copy changes are shown on the same lamp bank.
CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD
A sign attached to the exterior of a church or located elsewhere on church premises and used to indicate the services and/or other activities of the church and including the church name, if desired.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
A designated representative of the City of Foristell responsible for the enforcement of this Article and other ordinances of the City.
COPY
The wording or graphics on a sign surface.
CO-SPONSORED
Business, temporary venue, event, presentation co-sponsored by the City of Foristell by passage of a resolution by the Board of Aldermen declaring co-sponsorship. Said sponsorship will be limited to events, businesses, temporary venues, presentations that are considered a public benefit, that promotes the health, welfare, safety and well-being of the community at large and that its purpose is not solely for profit.
DESIGN CRITERIA
Design criteria shall consist of race way and signage colors that complement or blend in with the primary color of the face of the building or mansard. All signs shall be square, plumb and level and shall be maintained as such. Multiple-tenant buildings should be designed with a theme in mind, having all signs located at the same level and/or centered over each business. Canopies and lettering should be consistent in color and design. Promotional or sale signage painted on a window shall cover no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of each window pane. All signs attached to a building in a commercial district shall be three dimensional as defined in this Chapter.
DETACHED OR GROUND SIGN
A freestanding sign resting upon the ground and/or pavement.
DIGITAL PRICE SIGNS
In those instances where digital price signs are utilized, such signs shall be constant in nature and shall not travel, flash, inverse, write-on, up or down scroll, roll, grow, melt, x-ray, twinkle, snow or otherwise change its nature.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS
Any sign that serves solely to designate the location or direction of any place or area. Also any sign which indicates a direction for vehicular or pedestrian traffic or other movement.
DIRECTORY SIGN
A freestanding sign displaying the collective names of a group of two (2) or more uses such as the title of a shopping center, office park or industrial park and its tenants. No sales or price information shall be permitted.
DISTRICT
As defined under the Zoning Code and Zoning Map.
ELECTRICAL SIGN
Any sign containing electrical wiring that is attached or intended to be attached to any electrical energy source.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER (EMC)
A sign, or portion thereof, with a fixed or changing display or message composed of a series of lights that may be changed through electronic means and that may incorporate LED or other lighting methods. A sign containing only digital time, stock information and/or temperature involving no additional information of an advertising nature shall not be deemed an electronic message center nor shall an animated sign be considered an EMC.
ERECT
To build, construct, reconstruct, attach, hang, rehang, alter, place, affix, enlarge, move or relocate and includes the painting and repainting of lettering for new or existing signs.
FACADE
The front or main part of a building facing a street; for the purposes of this Chapter the ''facade" is defined as measured from the ground elevation to the head beam.
FACE OF SIGN
The entire area of sign on which copy could be placed. The area of a sign that is visible from one (1) direction as projected on a plane.
FLAGS
National, State, City and corporate flags shall be exempt from all provisions contained within the permanent sign regulations, providing that such flags are used for non-commercial purposes and comply with all applicable regulations pertaining to flag etiquette.
FLASHING SIGN
Any sign that contains an intermittent or flashing light source or that includes the illusion or intermittent or flashing light by means of animation or an externally mounted intermittent light source. Automatic changing signs such as public service time, temperature and date signs or electronically controlled message centers are not classified as "flashing signs".
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign that is not affixed to the ground or a structure and is capable of supporting itself. Any sign that can be moved to other areas of the premises such as portable or A-frame signs.
FRONTAGE
The length of the lot along the street side. The front of a lot bordering more than one (1) street is considered separate for each street.
GROUND LEVEL
Immediate surrounding grade.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The vertical distance measured from the surrounding grade to the highest point of the sign.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign containing only the name and address of the occupant or business establishment.
ILLEGAL SIGNS
A sign which contravenes this Article or a non-conforming sign for which a permit required under a previous ordinance was not obtained.
LANDSCAPING
Required around all on-premise pole, monument, directory and/or freestanding signs.
LOGO
A letter, character or symbol used to represent a person, corporation or business enterprise.
LOT
A parcel, tract, plot or area of land accessible by means of a street or other permanently reserved principal means of access. It may be a single parcel separately described in a deed or plat which is recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Deeds, or it may include parts of or a combination of such parcels when adjacent to one another and used as one (1) as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer.
MEMORIAL SIGN
The permanent part of a building that denotes the name of the building, date of erection, historical significance or similar information.
MONUMENT SIGN
A ground-mounted sign with an enclosed sign base constructed of a brick or masonry material.
MENU BOARD
Permanently mounted sign advertising the bill of fare for a restaurant, drive-in or drive-thru restaurant or car wash.
MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Strip mall or commercial/retail or industrial building housing more than one (1) business.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN (LEGAL)
Any advertising structure or sign that was lawfully erected and maintained prior to such time as it came within the purview of this Chapter and any amendments thereto, and restrictions of this Chapter, or a non-conforming sign for which a variance has been issued.
OWNER
A person recorded as such on official records and including duly authorized agent or notary, a purchaser, lessee, devisee, judiciary; any person having a vested or contingent interest in the property or business in question.
PERSON
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation or organization of any kind.
PREMISES
An area of land with its appurtenances and buildings which, because of its unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable unit of real estate.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
That part of any street, road, alley or avenue dedicated for public use as a walkway or thoroughfare for pedestrians or motor vehicles, whether or not the public improvements thereon extend to the fully dedicated limits of such right-of-way.
ROOF LINE
The highest point of the coping on a flat roof, false mansard or parapet wall; the deck line of a true mansard roof; the ridge line between the upper and lower slopes of a gambrel roof; or the mean height level between the eaves and ridge for a gable or hip roof. The top line of the roof that forms the top line of the building silhouette.
ROOF SIGN
A sign mounted on the roof of a building or projecting above the roof line (except a ground or pole sign).
RULES OF CONSTRUCTION - DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Article, certain rules of construction shall apply to the text as follows:
1. 
Words used in the present tense include the future tense and the singular includes the plural, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary.
2. 
The terms "shall" and "must" are always mandatory and not discretionary. The words "may" and "should" are permissive.
3. 
Words or terms not interpreted or defined by this Section shall be used with a meaning of common or standard utilization.
4. 
The word "person" includes a firm, organization, association, partnership, trust, company or corporation, as well as an individual.
5. 
The words "use" or "occupy" shall include the words "intended", "designed" or "arranged" to be "used" or "occupied".
SEASONAL OR SPECIAL OCCASION TEMPORARY SIGNS
A sign that is not permanent and is limited to a specific activity or in celebration of holidays or other special events.
SETBACK
The minimum horizontal distance between either the face of the curb, the edge of pavement, or the right-of-way line and the sign structure as specified as required by this Article I.
SIGN
Any identification, description, statuary, illustration or device, illuminated or non-illuminated, which is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public and which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise; or any emblem, painting, banner, pennant or placard designed to advertise, identify or convey information, with the exception of window displays and national and State flags. For the purpose of erection and/or removal, signs shall also include all sign structures. Not included are decorative devices or emblems as may be displayed on a residential mailbox. Also included in this definition are those signs painted directly upon a building or structure.
SIGN AREA
The area of the sign face. The "sign area" of a multi-faced sign is the sum of the sign areas of each face, including structural trim, which can be seen from a single location on an adjacent street. If a sign is attached to a building or suspended in any manner whereby there is no apparent trim or confining border, the sign area shall be computed by drawing an imaginary straight line around a generally rectangular margin and measuring the area so encompassed by these lines.
SIGN, ATTACHED
A sign attached to a building wall or generally vertical plane of a mansard type roof.
SIGN, COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY
A permanent pole sign designating the name of a commercial center and listing the various tenants of the center.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION
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, contractor and/or financing institutions of the project.
SIGN, DIRECT PAINT
A sign face painted directly onto a building face. Requires a conditional use permit.
SIGN, FLUTTERING
A sign which flutters and includes banners, flags, pennants or other flexible material which moves with the wind or by some artificial means.
SIGN, GROUND OR MONUMENT
Any detached sign on the same lot or parcel as the use it advertises which has its bottom portion erected upon or supported by the ground, a ground planter box or other supports.
SIGN, HANGING
Any sign hanging entirely beneath a canopy, portico or marquee.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
Any sign which is illuminated by light sources mounted on or in the sign or at some other location.
SIGN, INSTITUTIONAL OR GOVERNMENT
A sign identifying the institutional or government facility.
SIGN, MARQUEE, CANOPY AND AWNING
A sign attached to or illustrated on a marquee, canopy or awning.
SIGN, MOVING
A sign, all or part of, which moves by any means. Such sign includes a fluttering sign, including fluttering or flashing lights or sequential lights, simulating movement.
SIGN, OCCUPATIONAL AND/OR IDENTIFICATION
An attached wall sign not larger than two (2) square feet in area identifying the name of a person occupying a building.
SIGN, POLE
Any detached sign located on the same lot or parcel as the use it advertises which is supported by one (1) or more stationary poles not taller than forty (40) feet above the mean grade line of the ground at its base. Pole signs greater than forty (40) feet but not exceeding eighty (80) feet in height may be allowed on property adjacent to the Interstate 70 corridor subject to a conditional use permit granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Aldermen.
SIGN, POLITICAL
A temporary sign advocating or opposing any political proposition or candidate for public office.
SIGN, PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
A permanent ground sign identifying an apartment complex, condominium project or mobile home development entry, name and street names within the project.
SIGN, PROJECTING
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its edge extends more than nine (9) inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
SIGN, PUBLIC INFORMATION
Erected by the municipality for the following purposes: public safety, directional, identifying, parks, public owned utilities, and events.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE
A sign pertaining only to the prospective rental, lease or sale of the property on which it is located. Real estate signs shall be excluded from the definition of pole signs.
SIGN, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Any temporary sign that provides direction to any residential development under construction or promotes the residential development on the project.
SIGN, ROOF
Any sign erected on a roof but excluding marquee, canopy, wall and signs located on a mansard.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The sign and all parts associated with its construction.
SIGN, SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION
A ground sign identifying a subdivision entry, subdivision name and/or street names within the subdivision.
SIGN SUPPORTS
All structures by which a sign is held up including, for example, pole braces, guys and anchors.
SIGN, WALL
A three-dimensional sign erected or attached against the wall of any building with the plane of the face parallel to the plane of the wall below the roof line.
SPECIAL DISPLAYS
Signs not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet, used for holidays, public demonstrations or promotion of civil welfare or charitable purposes.
STREET
A public thoroughfare that affords the principal means of access to abutting property.
STRUCTURAL TRIM
The molding, batten, capping, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign which is not permanent and is allowed for a specific time period.
THREE DIMENSIONAL
All signs attached to a building or mansard shall be three dimensional. Signs must project a minimum of one (1) inch and a maximum of nine (9) inches from the face of the building or mansard.
TRAFFIC DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign which aids the flow of traffic.
USE
The purpose for which a building, lot, sign or other structure is arranged, intended, designed, occupied or maintained.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign advertising sales or specials or attached to or within three (3) feet of glass surface of any fixed window (glazing) visible from a public right-of-way. Window signs may cover no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of each window.
[Ord. No. 289 §4, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
Administration.
1. 
Except where herein otherwise stated, the provisions of this Article shall be administered by the Administrative Officer or his or her designee or by anyone that the Board of Aldermen may designate to enforce provisions of this Article.
2. 
The Administrative Officer or his/her designee is hereby empowered in performance of its function to enter upon land in the City of Foristell for the purpose of making inspections, examinations and surveys or to place and maintain thereon markers, notices or signs required to effect provisions of this Chapter. The above authorized person shall be required to present proper credentials upon demand when entering upon any land or structure for the purpose of this Article.
B. 
Duties Of The Administrative Officer.
1. 
The Administrative Officer, or their designee, shall have the power to grant permits and to make inspections of buildings or premises necessary to carry out his/her duties in the enforcement of this Article.
2. 
It shall be improper for the Administrative Officer to approve plans or issue permits or certificates for any sign until he/she has inspected such plans in detail and found them to conform with this Article and all Building Codes.
3. 
If the Administrative Officer shall find that any provisions of this Article are being violated, he/she shall notify in writing the person responsible for such violations, indicating the nature of the violation and stating the action necessary to correct it. He/she shall order discontinuance of illegal use of land, buildings or structures; removal of illegal signage; discontinuance of any illegal work being done; or shall take any other action authorized by this Article to ensure compliance with or to prevent violation of its provisions.
C. 
Permit Required.
1. 
It shall be unlawful to commence or to proceed with erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension, razing or moving of any sign or sign structure or any portion thereof without first having applied for a sign permit to do so and a sign permit has been approved. Primary responsibility for securing the necessary permits shall be the property owners. However, if the property owner should contract part or all of the proposed work, it shall become the responsibility of the person or firm hired to ensure that all sign permits and approvals have been secured prior to any work being initiated.
2. 
Blank forms shall be provided by the Administrative Officer for the use of those applying for permits as provided in this Section. Any permits issued shall be on standard forms for such purpose. There shall be a separate permit for each sign to be constructed, altered or erected.
3. 
Any sign permit under which no construction work has been commenced within six (6) months after the date of issuance of said permit or under which proposed construction has not been completed within one (1) year of the time of issuance shall expire by limitation.
D. 
Voiding Of Sign Permit. A permit may be revoked by the Administrative Officer or designee at any time prior to the completion of the sign for which the permit was issued, when it shall appear to him/her that there is departure from the plans, specification or conditions as required under the terms of the permit, that the same was procured by false representation, or that any provisions of this Article are being violated. Written notice of such revocation shall be served upon the owner, his/her agent or contractor or upon any such person employed on the building or structure for which such permit was issued, via a stop work order, which shall be posted in a prominent location, and thereafter no such construction shall proceed.
E. 
Existing Signage. Should any existing sign be enlarged, replaced or reconstructed, it shall be considered a new sign. If an existing sign is repainted or the sign panel is replaced for the purpose of changing the business, occupation or tenant advertised or identified, it shall be considered a new sign. However, the repainting of a sign for ordinary maintenance or the repair or restoration of an existing sign to a safe condition after being damaged by storm or other accidental act, as shown in accordance with the original sign permit, shall not constitute such a change as to classify the sign as a new one, subject to no more than fifty percent (50%) of the existing sign being restored.
F. 
Structural Requirements. All signs shall comply with the pertinent requirements of the City of Foristell Building Code.
G. 
Safety. Any existing sign which becomes an immediate danger or hazard to persons or property because of being in an unsafe condition, or which obstructs any fire escape, window or door, is subject to immediate removal by the Administrative Officer or designee without notice and at the expense of the property and/or sign owner.
1. 
Maintenance. All signs and sign supports shall be maintained in good repair so as to prevent rust, peeling, flaking or fading. Broken panels, missing letters, flaking or peeling paint and other visual damage to a sign shall be immediately repaired after notification by the Administrative Officer or designee.
H. 
Abandoned Signs.
1. 
Any sign or sign structure which advertises a business no longer conducted or service no longer rendered or product no longer sold on the premises or lot shall be classified an abandoned sign and shall be removed by the owner, agent or person having beneficial use of the premises or lot upon which the sign is located within ten (10) days following written notice by the Administrative Officer or their designee Director concerning its removal. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified, the Administrative Officer or their designee Director shall cause for removal of such sign, and any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the said owner.
2. 
At the termination of a business or commercial enterprise, all signs pertaining thereto shall be removed from public view within ninety (90) days of such termination.
I. 
Illumination/Lighting.
1. 
No revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light that simulates any 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 that is a feature of a sign classified as a changeable copy sign (automatic).
2. 
External lighting such as floodlights, thin line and gooseneck reflectors are permitted, provided the light source is directed upon the face of the sign and is effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed into any portion of a public road and 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. Said lighting will in no way intrude or interfere with the privacy of any structure that is residential in nature.
3. 
No sign shall be so illuminated that glare interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures, an official traffic sign, device or signal, nor shall the illumination be directed toward any residential area, whereby producing glare.
4. 
Underground wiring shall be required for all illuminated or electrical type signs.
J. 
State Right-Of-Way Requirements. All signs erected within the jurisdiction of State right-of-way requirements shall meet both State and City of Foristell requirements.
K. 
Violations. If it is found that a sign is in violation of this Article, the Administrative Officer, or his/her designee, shall give notice to the owner of the sign or, if the owner cannot be located, to the owner or property management agent of the premises on which the sign is located or, if the sign erection is not complete, to the sign erector either personally, by United States mail or by posting such notice on the premises, such notice stating:
1. 
The violation found.
2. 
The violations must be brought into compliance with requirements of this and all other City ordinances within ten (10) days from the date of such notice. For temporary signs the date of such notice shall constitute the first (1st) day of the thirty (30) day time period allowed by such signs.
3. 
The requirements that must be met.
4. 
Any person found to be in violation of any provision of this Article shall be subject to a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) or up to ninety (90) days imprisonment, or by both such fine and imprisonment, with each day of such violation constituting a separate offense without further notice being required.
L. 
Compliance With Sign Permits. Sign permits issued on the basis of approved plans and applications authorize only the use, arrangement and construction set forth in the approved plans and applications and no other use, arrangement or construction. Any use, arrangement or construction at variance with that authorized shall be deemed a violation of this Article as provided herein.
M. 
Not-For-Profit Organizations. To assure right-of-way requirements are met, the City of Foristell will require all not-for-profit organizations to secure sign permits. However, a fee will not be charged for these permits.
N. 
Alteration And Maintenance Of Non-Conforming Signs. Any non-conforming sign shall be brought into conformity when the following occurs:
1. 
Damage to a sign that requires repairs that will exceed fifty percent (50%) of the replacement value of the sign.
2. 
Required maintenance that exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the replacement value of the sign.
3. 
A change in ownership of tenancy that requires a change in the signs message or advertisement of product or service.
4. 
Relocation of a sign.
5. 
Remodeling that encompasses more than fifty percent (50%) of the display frontage of the business to which the sign relates.
6. 
No non-conforming sign shall be enlarged, expanded or extended to occupy a greater square footage or height.
7. 
If the business or service advertised or identified by a non-conforming sign ceases to be conducted for a period exceeding thirty (30) calendar days, the non-conforming sign shall be classified as an abandoned sign and removed.
O. 
Permit Applications. Applications for both temporary and permanent sign permits shall be submitted to the Administrative Officer and/or their designee and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
1. 
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the applicant, the owner of the property on which the sign is to be erected or affixed, the owner of the sign and the person to be erecting or affixing the sign.
2. 
The location of the building, structure or zoning lot on which the sign is to be erected and/or affixed.
3. 
A site plan, to scale, of the property involved showing accurate placement of the sign as well as the distances of the sign from any buildings on the property, other signs and the location of property boundary and right-of-way lines.
4. 
Two (2) sets of blueprints or ink drawings of the plans and specifications of the sign to be erected or affixed and method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground. Such plans and specifications shall include details of dimensions, materials, color, weight, etc.
5. 
The Building Official may require a set of plans, to scale, approved and sealed by a licensed engineer in the State of Missouri, providing all necessary construction and electrical details of the sign and sign structure, including height.
6. 
Construction of any signs and sign structures and the material used shall comply with the most current Section 903 of the Missouri Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, as applicable, and must meet the structural requirements of the City's Building Code.
7. 
No sign will be allowed to have an adverse effect on any existing residences.
8. 
All sign permits will be reviewed within ten (10) working days from application date.
9. 
No sign will be allowed to visually block an adjacent business.
P. 
Severability. If any sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Article is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Article.
[Ord. No. 289 §5, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 406 §§1 — 2, 10-16-2000; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
As listed in Appendix A of the City Code.
[Ord. No. 289 §6, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 538 §1, 4-7-2003; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
Any aggrieved person, firm, corporation or any governmental officer, department, board or bureau may appeal a decision of the Administrative Officer or his designate or, in the instance of a conditional use permit, appeal the findings of the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Aldermen before the Board of Adjustment.
B. 
Grounds For Granting A Variance. The Board of Adjustment may grant variances from this Chapter for any permitted form of signage where it is found that because of the limitations on character, size or dimensions of a sign, or regulations controlling the erection or installation of a sign, the applicant would be subject to undue hardship. Unnecessary hardship is not considered the loss of possible advantage, economic loss or gain or mere inconvenience to the applicant and shall be determined under the Board of Adjustment regulations as governed by Section 89.090(3), RSMo.
C. 
Appeals from decisions of the Board of Adjustment shall be in conformance with the provisions of Section 400.090 of this Code.
[Ord. No. 289 §7, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
Any sign erected in any location where, by reason of its location, it will obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal or other traffic control device. Nor may any sign, by reason of its shape, position or color, interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic signal, sign or device. Further, no sign shall be erected in a location where it will obstruct vision of the public right-of-way to a vehicle operator.
B. 
Permanent signs which do not meet the flammability test or approved combustible plastic.
C. 
Any sign erected in a location prohibited by this Article.
D. 
Any sign erected so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any passageway or any other exit way required by the Building or Fire Codes of the City.
E. 
Any sign attached to any public utility pole, fire hydrant, curb, sidewalk, tree or other surface located on public property.
F. 
Any on-premise sign advertising an article or product not manufactured, assembled, processed, repaired or sold or a service not rendered upon the premises upon which the sign is located.
G. 
Any sign or advertising device such as banners and pennants affixed on poles, wires, ropes or streamers, wind-operated devices, fluttering signs, pinwheels, streamers, banners, street banners, commander boards and "A" frames or other portable signs of like nature, and other similar contraptions or techniques except that these devices may be used for a period of thirty (30) days in any twelve (12) month period by permit from the Administrative Officer.
H. 
Roof signs unless approved by a conditional use permit.
I. 
Signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal, or which are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
1. 
Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property, unless said vehicle or trailer is approved as a storage unit for an approved temporary business. However, this is not in any way intended to prohibit signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and trailers, such as permanent lettering on motor vehicles, where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer.
J. 
Signs which contain characters, cartoons or contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent, prurient or immoral character.
K. 
Signs containing flashers, animators, electronic or mechanical movement or contrivances of any kind except for those signs classified as changeable copy sign (automatic). This shall also apply to the interior of a building where flashing lights or other mechanical or electronic contrivances are used in conjunction with window signs or other advertisements which can be viewed from the outside of the building.
L. 
Home Occupation Signs. Signs relating to a business activity or enterprise in the home are prohibited in all residential districts.
M. 
Any sign, signboard or billboard erected nearer than twenty (20) feet to the curb of two (2) intersection streets built to a greater height than eighteen (18) inches above the crown of the street at the point of intersection.
N. 
Electronic message centers (EMC) or animated sign, except as allowed by the Code.
O. 
Audio in association with a sign.
P. 
Direct paint signs unless approved by a conditional use permit.
[Ord. No. 289 §8, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
The following types of signs are exempt from the permit requirements of this Article except as noted:
1. 
Property real estate signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in area, which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the property, on which said signs are located only. These signs shall be removed no later than ten (10) days after the property is sold, rented or leased.
2. 
Bulletin boards not over thirty-two (32) square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions that are located on the premises of said institutions.
3. 
Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other non-combustible materials.
4. 
Traffic or other government or municipal signs, including directional signs and public venue identifications sign whether on or off premise, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and such temporary, emergency or non-advertising signs as may be approved by the Administrative Officer or their designee.
5. 
Political signs shall be erected no more than thirty (30) days prior to an election and removed no later than ten (10) days after the election. All political signs must be registered with the Administrative Officer or their designee with information as to who is putting the sign up and who is responsible for its removal if erected on other than private property.
a. 
Political signs shall be no greater than thirty-two (32) square feet in sign area per sign face unless posted on billboards.
b. 
Political signs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height above grade at its base unless posted on a billboard.
c. 
It shall be the responsibility of all candidates and their committees to assure that political signs are maintained in good repair.
d. 
Political signs cited as violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be removed by the owner of that sign within two (2) working days after notice of the violation. The failure to remove the sign or correct the violation will result in a summons being issued to the candidate or his/her committee. Additionally, the City may remove those signs after the notice period.
6. 
Professional nameplates, non-illuminated, not exceeding two (2) square feet in area.
7. 
Occupational signs, non-illuminated, not over two (2) square feet in area.
8. 
Yard and garage sale signs. All signs must be removed no later than two (2) days after the conclusion of the sale. Yard and garage sale signs shall be freestanding and not attached to any utility pole, road sign, traffic signal or other approved or permitted sign.
9. 
Signs erected inside a building and not visible through windows or doors which are intended solely for information relating to the interior operation of the building in which they are located.
10. 
Official Federal, State, County, City or corporate flags, emblems and insignia of political, professional, religious, educational or corporate organizations providing that such flags are used for non-commercial purposes and adhere to proper flag etiquette.
11. 
Directional signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in area and three and one-half (3½) feet above the surrounding grade, which provide instruction or direction and are located entirely on the property to which they pertain, to identify restrooms, public telephones, walkways, parking lot entrances and exits and features of a similar nature.
12. 
Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in size per side nor a height of four (4) feet from the ground which prohibit trespassing or indicates privacy of premises, driveways or streets.
[Ord. No. 289 §9, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
These regulations shall only apply to an agricultural business advertising agricultural products which are sold from the premises on which the sign is erected.
1. 
All exempt signs.
2. 
Permanent agricultural signs. There shall be no more than one (1) ground sign per street face containing only the name of the business or enterprise on the premises. Said sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet per facing or sixty-four (64) square feet for the aggregate sign area. Signs shall not be higher than fifteen (15) feet above average grade. Manual changeable copy signs shall be allowed in addition to a ground sign provided individual permits are obtained.
[Ord. No. 289 §10, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
The following regulations apply in all "R" Residential Districts:
1. 
Exempt signs as listed in Section 405.080 with the following exceptions.
a. 
Occupational signs are not allowed in any residential zoning category.
2. 
Permanent subdivision identification signs.
a. 
Residential subdivisions of ten (10) lots/units or more shall be permitted a subdivision identification sign at each main entrance to the subdivision and may include the name and logo or both of the subdivision. Such sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in outline area per face nor extend more than six (6) feet above the average existing finished grade at the base of the sign or elevation of the adjacent street, whichever is higher.
b. 
All subdivision identification signs shall be monument style ground signs constructed of a fifty percent (50%) brick or masonry product.
c. 
An area equal to two (2) square feet for each square foot of sign area shall be landscaped around the base of the sign.
d. 
Subdivision signs may be located in any required yard but shall not extend nearer than ten (10) feet to a public right-of-way.
3. 
Residential project or construction signs.
a. 
Signs identifying mechanics, painters, architects, engineers, construction companies, remodeling companies, siding companies, home repair companies and similar artisans and workmen which are attached to or on trailers or placed on the lot of the construction site shall be permitted provided that upon completion of the project the trailer or sign must be removed within five (5) working days. The trailers or signs shall not be located closer than ten (10) feet to the street right-of-way, if visible from the street, and/or ten (10) feet from all property lines.
b. 
Not more than one (1) sign per street frontage not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in size per face. No sign shall exceed eight (8) feet in height from the surrounding grade.
c. 
Directional signs. Signs not exceeding eight (8) square feet per face. Developers may include directions to the development and pertinent information concerning the developer, but shall not include promotional information.
4. 
Political signs. All signs shall be erected no more than thirty (30) days prior to an election and removed not later than ten (10) days after the election. All political signs must be registered with the Administrative Officer or their designee with information as to who is putting the sign up and who is responsible for removing the sign if erected on other than private property.
a. 
All regulations and terms governing "political signs" under exempt signs apply to signs in this district.
5. 
Memorial or tablet signs.
6. 
Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in size per side nor a height of four (4) feet from the ground that prohibits trespassing or indicates privacy of premises, driveways or streets.
7. 
Property real estate signs. One (1) sign per lot frontage not exceeding six (6) square feet. No sign shall exceed six (6) feet in height from the surrounding grade. All signs shall be removed ten (10) days after the property is sold, rented or leased.
8. 
Directional signs. One (1) sign per entry/exit not exceeding six (6) square feet in size per face. No sign shall exceed three and one-half (3½) feet above the surrounding grade.
9. 
No sign shall exceed eight (8) feet in height.
10. 
No sign shall obstruct vision of traffic in any direction.
11. 
No sign shall obstruct any other sign.
[Ord. No. 289 §11, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
The following regulations apply in all commercial districts: Design criteria shall consist of race way and signage colors that complement or blend in with the primary color of the face of the building or mansard. All signs shall be square, plumb and level and shall be maintained as such. Multiple-tenant buildings should be designed with a theme in mind, having all signs located at the same level and/or centered over each business. Canopies and lettering should be consistent in color and design. Promotional or sale signage painted on a window shall cover no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of each window pane. All signs attached to a building in a commercial district shall be three dimensional as defined in this Chapter.
1. 
All exempt signs.
2. 
Each building or property shall be allowed a maximum of two (2) signs, which may be an attached sign, a ground, monument or a pole sign, but the total number shall not include more than one (1) sign each of these types. Window signs and directional signs as regulated by this Chapter are excluded from this maximum of two (2) signs. Signs for fuel service stations are regulated under special use signage.
3. 
Buildings with multiple occupancy. For buildings and/or property containing more than one (1) business or tenant, each business or tenant may have a three-dimensional attached wall sign conforming to the requirements of this Chapter. For the purposes of determining the total square footage of the attached sign, only the face of each representative lease unit to which the respective sign will be attached shall be counted. Each sign must be attached to the lease unit containing the business or tenant identified. New construction and/or remodeled/refurbished property should consider a "theme" for the type of signage used on each unit of the building.
4. 
Directory signs. For buildings with multiple occupancies, a directory sign may be substituted in lieu of the allowable pole sign by obtaining a conditional use permit through the Planning and Zoning Commission.
5. 
Electronic message center (EMC).
a. 
The EMC will serve a use within a development consisting of a minimum of one (1) acre.
b. 
The EMC may not be placed on buildings or within buildings to be viewed from the public right-of-way.
c. 
The maximum size for the EMC portion of any such ground sign is twenty (20) square feet (per face).
d. 
One (1) EMC may be placed on each side of a multi-faced ground sign.
e. 
An EMC will be permitted at only one (1) location on any one (1) lot within the development.
f. 
EMC signs may be used to advertise only those goods and services offered on site or for display of information specifically related to City-sponsored events or activities with the permission of the City.
g. 
EMC messages must be displayed for a minimum of one (1) minute for each item shown or information displayed in the EMC. Message changes shall be instantaneous without dissolving, growing, melting, traveling up or down scrolling, fading or any other movement in text.
h. 
The lighting color of text on EMC signs is limited to amber, white or red pixel on black background only.
i. 
The brightness of EMC signs shall automatically adjust via photo cell for use during daylight hours and non-daylight hours. No sign may be illuminated to a degree of brightness that is greater than necessary for adequate visibility. The maximum permitted brightness for electronic message boards is five thousand (5,000) NIT (candela per square meter) as measured from the signs face perpendicular to the rays of the source at maximum brightness during daylight hours and five hundred (500) NIT during non-daylight hours. The lighting and other specifications for a proposed EMC directory sign shall be submitted with the application for directory sign proposing to incorporate an EMC.
j. 
Audio speakers are prohibited in association with any electronic sign.
6. 
Political signs. All signs shall be erected no more than thirty (30) days prior to an election and removed not later than ten (10) days after the election. All political signs must be registered with the Administrative Officer or their designee with information as to who is putting the sign up and who is responsible for removing the sign if erected on other than private property.
a. 
All regulations and terms governing "political signs" under exempt signs apply to signs in this district.
7. 
Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other non-combustible materials.
8. 
Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in size per side nor a height of four (4) feet from the ground that prohibits trespassing or indicates privacy of premises, driveways or streets.
9. 
Property real estate signs. One (1) sign per lot frontage not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet per face. No sign shall exceed eight (8) feet in height from the surrounding grade. All signs shall be removed ten (10) days after the property is sold, rented or leased.
10. 
Permanent interior window signs. Permanent window signs may be affixed to a window advertising goods or services sold on the premises, provided that the total of all signs, including those temporarily mounted in that window, occupy no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the window's area. No flashing or other mechanical contrivances shall be permitted in conjunction with such advertising.
11. 
Flashing or revolving signs are expressly prohibited with the exception of time and temperature signs that serve the public interest.
12. 
Attached or wall signs. These signs shall be face-mounted on the building wall, must be three dimensional, a minimum of two (2) square feet and project no more than nine (9) inches from the face of the building. Such signs shall not project above the parapet wall, mansard or other roof line. No more than one (l) attached sign not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the building face upon which it is to be placed shall be allowed. In the instance of corner lots, an additional attached sign will be permitted on each street frontage of the building not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the respective building face upon which it is placed. A separate permit is required for each sign.
13. 
Ground-mounted or monument signs. One (1) ground-mounted or monument sign per lot not exceeding forty (40) square feet per face. Such signs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height from the surrounding grade to the highest point on the sign and shall not be located so as to obstruct vision at a vehicular entry or exit from the property. All such signs must be at least ten (10) feet from any property or right-of-way line. Landscaping equal to two (2) square feet for each square foot of sign area is required for all ground-mounted or monument signs.
14. 
Pole signs. One (1) pole sign per lot not exceeding seventy (70) feet per face. Such signs shall not exceed forty (40) feet in height from the surrounding grade to the highest point on the sign and shall not be located so as to obstruct vision at a vehicular entry or exit from the property. More than one (1) sign on a pole (whether a single pedestal or multiple pedestal pole) will require a conditional use permit. These signs shall not block signs of adjacent businesses and be at least ten (10) feet from any commercial property or right-of-way line. The bottom of the sign shall be at least ten (10) feet above the surrounding grade. Landscaping equal to two (2) square feet for each square foot of sign area is required for all pole signs. Pole signs on property adjoining or adjacent to residential property will require a conditional use permit and may be required to have a greater setback from adjoining residential property lines.
15. 
Pole signs not exceeding eighty (80) feet in height may be allowed on property adjacent to the Interstate 70 corridor subject to a conditional use permit granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Aldermen. The size of the face of the sign to be determined subject to review and approval of the conditional use process. Landscaping equal to two (2) square feet for each square foot of sign area is required for all pole signs.
16. 
All ground and pole signs must be at least fifteen (15) feet from any building or structure.
17. 
Changeable copy signs may be permitted in conjunction with the ground and/or pole or monument signs provided they are permanently mounted or affixed to the structure and advertise only goods and/or services available on the premises. When used in conjunction with a ground and/or pole sign, changeable copy signs must be located on the same sign supports. Said sign shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet per sign facing or forty-eight (48) square feet for the total aggregate sign area. In no case shall the sign flash or contain any other mechanical or electronic contrivance.
[Ord. No. 289 §13, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 420 §1, 12-18-2000; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
Intent And Purpose. The only allowable off-premise signs will be billboards along the I-70 corridor and must meet the billboard requirements as defined in the Code.
B. 
Permit And Business License. A sign permit and business license must be obtained from the City.
C. 
Billboards.
1. 
Billboards will be allowed in "M-1", "M-2" and "M-3" industrial zoned districts. Billboards may be allowed in "C-2" or "C-3" commercial zoned districts adjacent to Interstate 70 if approved through a conditional use permit.
2. 
Two (2) sets of drawings approved and sealed by a registered engineer of the State of Missouri must accompany all applications. These plans shall include at least the following:
a. 
A set of plans, to scale, providing all necessary construction and electrical details of the sign and sign structure including height. Maximum height will be sixty (60) feet above building grade, or highway grade, whichever is higher.
b. 
The proposed location of the sign upon the property, including a legal description and site map.
c. 
The distance from the proposed sign location to any buildings upon the property, adjoining street right-of-way lines and property lines and driveway entrances.
d. 
The distance from the proposed sign location to the next nearest billboard sign on the same side of the street in either direction. No billboard will be erected within two thousand eight hundred (2,800) linear feet of any existing billboard on the same side of the highway.
e. 
The distance from the proposed sign location to the nearest street intersection in either direction.
f. 
A representation of the proposed sign, to scale, including the width and length of the sign faces.
g. 
Before any City sign permit is valid, billboards or other outdoor advertising must comply with all State and Federal laws.
3. 
The Administrative Official may require any additional information as deemed necessary to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public.
4. 
Any billboard erected under this Chapter shall be documented by a State of Missouri registered engineer and construction of the sign and material specifications shall comply with Section 903 of the Missouri Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, as applicable, and must meet the structural requirements of the City's Building Code.
5. 
All billboard signs must be a minimum of fifty (50) feet from all non-residential structures and cannot extend over any structure.
6. 
All billboards must be a minimum of fifty (50) feet from all property lines.
7. 
All billboards must be at least five hundred (500) lineal feet from a residence, regardless of the zoning district.
8. 
All signs must be erected within the first one hundred (100) feet of depth from the adjoining street frontage of the property upon which the sign is to be located.
9. 
No sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise physically interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device or obstruct or physically interfere with a motor vehicle operator's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
10. 
No sign shall be placed closer than one thousand (1,000) feet to an intersection on a dual or proposed dual highway. No such sign shall be so located to obstruct the vision of traffic using entranceways, driveways or any public intersection.
11. 
No sign shall be located on the right-of-way of any road or any slope or drainage easement for such road.
12. 
No billboard in the City of Foristell will be approved that advertises a sexually orientated product, business or service.
D. 
Electronic Billboards. Any structure or portion thereof upon which alphanumeric characters, graphics or symbols defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs) fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area, including computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic displays and projected images or messages with these characteristics, are utilized to advertise a person, thing, product or service not located or sold on the lot upon which the electronic billboard is placed.
1. 
Location. Electronic billboards shall only be permitted along Interstate Highway 70.
2. 
No electronic billboard shall be erected, located or placed within two thousand eight hundred (2,800) feet of another electronic billboard on either side of Interstate Highway 70. This distance shall be measured along the nearest edge of the pavement at points directly opposite the electronic billboard along each side of the highway and shall apply to electronic billboards located on either side of the highway in computing the distance between electronic billboards.
3. 
No electronic billboard shall be located within two hundred fifty (250) feet of an existing freestanding on-premises electronic message sign.
4. 
Duration of message. The electronic billboard image or any portion thereof shall have a minimum duration of at least ten (10) seconds and shall be a static display. No portion of the image may flash, scroll, twirl, change color, or in any manner imitate movement.
5. 
Transition of message. Where the electronic billboard image or any portion thereof changes, the change sequence shall only be accomplished by means of instantaneous repixelization.
6. 
Video display prohibited. No portion of any electronic billboard may change its message or background in a manner or by a method of display characterized by motion or pictorial imagery, or depict action or a special effect to imitate movement, or the presentation of pictorials or graphics displayed in a progression of frames that give the illusion of motion or the illusion of moving objects, moving patterns or bands of light or expanding or contracting shapes.
a. 
Brightness. The electronic billboard sign shall not exceed a maximum of five thousand (5,000) nits (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours and a maximum illumination of five hundred (500) nits (candelas per square meter) between sundown and sunrise measured from the sign's face at maximum brightness.
b. 
Fluctuating or flashing illumination. No portion of any electronic billboard may fluctuate in light intensity or use intermittent strobe or moving light or light that changes in intensity in sudden transitory bursts, streams, zooms, twinkles, sparkles or that in any manner creates the illusion of movement.
c. 
Dimmer control. Electronic billboards shall be equipped with an automatic dimmer control to produce a distinct illumination change from a higher illumination level to a lower level for the time period between sundown and sunrise.
d. 
Audio speakers are prohibited in association with an electronic billboard.
e. 
Text size requirements. Every line of copy and graphics displayed on an electronic billboard shall be at least twelve (12) inches in height on a road with a speed limit of fifty-five (55) miles per hour or greater.
f. 
Malfunction and non-compliance. Electronic billboards shall be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one (1) position if a malfunction occurs. The electronic billboards shall be equipped with a means to immediately discontinue the display if it malfunctions, and the sign owner shall immediately stop the dynamic display when notified by the City that it is not complying with standards of this Code.
g. 
Provision of community and public service messaging. The owner of an electronic billboard shall enter into an agreement with the City to provide the City no less than five (5) hours (one thousand eight hundred (1,800) ten-second spots) per month per electronic billboard in the City for community and public service messages at such times as shall be determined by the City.
h. 
I-70 corridor billboard replacement. The owner of a billboard existing on the effective date of the adoption of this Code may, by application for and approval of a conditional use permit, relocate the billboard structure for the purpose of installing an electronic billboard; provided all of the following conditions are satisfied.
(1) 
The property upon which the billboard is located shall be directly adjacent to Interstate 70 right-of-way.
(2) 
All existing billboards and freestanding on-premise electronic message signs and their supporting structures shall be permanently removed from the property upon which the electronic billboard is to be located prior to the issuance of a building permit for the electronic billboard.
(3) 
No freestanding on-premise electronic message signs or billboards shall be located on the property upon which an electronic billboard is located.
(4) 
The electronic billboard shall be located on the same property within the property boundaries existing upon the effective date of this Article and within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the existing billboard being replaced.
(5) 
The maximum number of sign faces or surfaces permitted on the electronic billboard shall not exceed two (2).
[Ord. No. 289 §14, 4-20-1998; Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009]
A. 
Automobile And Truck Service Stations — Convenience Stores With Gasoline And Fuel Pumps.
1. 
Allowable signs.
a. 
Brand identification signs.
(1) 
One (1) pole-mounted sign not exceeding seventy (70) square feet per face. Multiple signs on a pole sign will require a conditional use permit.
(2) 
One (1) ground-mounted sign not exceeding forty (40) square feet in size per face.
(3) 
One (1) attached sign not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the building face upon which it is placed. An additional attached sign will be permitted on each street frontage of building not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the respective building face upon which it is placed.
(4) 
One (1) attached company logo not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the building per street frontage. In the instance of more than one (1) business housed in the same building, each will be allowed an attached company logo.
b. 
Signs placed on service station pumps or vending machines advertising products sold or services offered are permitted. However, no vertical or horizontal projection greater than six (6) inches from the service of the pump is permitted.
c. 
Federal and State stamps, octane ratings, pump use directions, no smoking signs as required by Federal, State and local authorities. No permit required.
d. 
Other requirements.
(1) 
Canopy use. An attached or detached canopy may be used in lieu of the permitted pole sign for the location of brand identification or company logos.
(2) 
Special occasion or event or temporary signs must meet all requirements of this Chapter. The Administrative Officer or their designee may approve or disapprove of any sign that is not particularly covered by the regulations of this Section.
[Ord. No. 743 §1, 6-15-2009; Ord. No. 762 §1, 5-17-2010]
A. 
Temporary Business Signs For Promotional Events. "Promotional events signs" as herein defined, are temporary business signs used for going out of business sales, grand openings, and other out of the ordinary, unique sales and promotional events such as sidewalk sales or sales including outdoor entertainment, are permitted as follows:
1. 
Number. Any one (1) business is limited to a maximum of two (2) event sign displays per promotion.
2. 
Duration. Any one (1) business is permitted to display no more than two (2) promotional event sign(s) for up to two (2) weeks in any quarter of the year. Said signs will be allowed for a maximum of two (2) quarters per year and are subject to the Sign Code requirements as to size and design criteria. Said promotional event sign(s) shall be in good repair at all times, anchored in such a way that the sign is not dangerous or distracting to the motoring public, torn or disfigured making the sign illegible. No off-premise signs or banners will be permitted unless exempted herein.
3. 
Size. Promotional event signs, such as wall signs, mansard signs, freestanding signs, signs on hot and cold air balloons and banners shall not exceed forty-eight (48) square feet. The area of streamers, balloons and similar displays shall not be limited or included within this maximum square footage.
4. 
Type. Promotional event signs may be wall signs, mansard signs, freestanding signs, banners, pennants, streamers, flags or similar displays. No flashing signs, changeable items of information signs, electronic message signs, portable signs and sandwich boards of similar signs are permitted.
5. 
Inflatable aids, such as cold air balloons, are permitted at a height not to exceed forty-eight (48) feet. Each business is permitted two (2) such advertising devices per calendar year for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days within any calendar year. Hot and cold air balloons must remain securely affixed to the ground or the rooftop of a permanent building. A permit is required.
a. 
Height and location. Freestanding promotional event signs including hot and cold air balloons must remain securely affixed to the ground or rooftop of a permanent building.
6. 
Promotional event signs in the form of wall signs, mansard signs, banners, pennants or similar displays shall also not exceed the height of the principal structure nor be erected upon or above the roof including when hung from poles or other accessory structures, although promotional event signs may be attached to or suspended from the roof's edge.
a. 
Permit required. A permit is required for all promotional event signs.
B. 
Temporary Non-Business Special Event Signs.
1. 
On-site identification sign. For a temporary event of public interest such as a neighborhood garage sale, fund raiser, church fair, carnival, festival, concert, parade or similar event, two (2) wall, mansard, banner or freestanding signs, not over fifty (50) square feet in area for each such sign nor over eight (8) feet in height, located upon the site of the event, shall be permitted. Such sign shall not be erected more than thirty (30) days before the event and shall be removed not more than five (5) days after the event.
2. 
Off-premise directional signs. A maximum of four (4) off-premise directional signs located outside the public right-of-way and four (4) square feet in area or less shall be permitted to be erected a maximum of seventy-two (72) hours before the event and shall be removed within twenty-four (24) hours after the event. Such signs shall be either wall signs, mansard signs, banners or freestanding signs a maximum of eight (8) feet in height. Additional signs may be granted through a conditional use permit. No permit required.
C. 
Subdivision Development Project Signs.
1. 
On-site signs. Such signs shall be removed either at such time as the permanent subdivision entrance sign is erected or when eighty percent (80%) of the lots and/or dwelling units have been sold, whichever occurs first.
2. 
Off-site signs. Such signs shall be removed either within two (2) years from the date of issuance of the sign permit or when eighty percent (80%) of the lots and/or dwelling units have been sold.
3. 
Off-premise directional signs.
a. 
These signs are for the purpose of directing potential home buyers to an individual subdivision. These signs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height and thirty-two (32) square feet in sign face size. Such signs shall be allowed to have two (2) faces if placed back-to-back. The only permitted information allowed on off-premise directional signs shall be the name of the subdivision, price range, builder(s) names and an arrow or similar directional aid.
b. 
These signs shall be out of any applicable rights-of-way, out of the applicable sight triangles and shall require the approval of the property owner. These signs shall be allotted by the total number of lots in the subdivision as follows:
Lots in Subdivision
Off-Site Directional Signs Allowed:
1 — 100
2
101 — 250
4
251 — 500
6
More than 500
8
D. 
Weekend Directional Signs.
1. 
Shall not be placed as to interfere in any way with public health or safety.
2. 
Shall not be placed or displayed before sunset on Friday and shall be completely removed, including all support structures, no later than sunrise on Monday of the same week.
3. 
Shall be freestanding and shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area nor four (4) feet in height from the adjacent finished grade.
4. 
Placement of such signs shall be prohibited on private property without the express permission of the property owner. Such signs within State right-of-way are further subject to the rules and regulations of the Missouri Department of Transportation.
5. 
The maximum number of signs to be placed or displayed for any one (1) development shall not exceed one (l) sign for every two hundred (200) feet.
6. 
No such sign shall be attached to any utility structure, tree, fence or any public or existing private sign standard.
7. 
An annual permit shall be required for each development requesting to place signs with the City. An annual permit fee for each sign will be required as listed in Appendix A of the City Code. Failure to pay the fee prior to placement of signs shall result in a citation. Each sign shall be considered a separate violation.
8. 
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Section shall result in a citation being issued to the applicant for said sign permit or, in the absence of a permit, the owner of the development being advertised. Any and all illegal signs are subject to immediate removal by the City.
9. 
Weekend directional signs shall not be placed outside a three (3) mile map radius of the subdivision. Any signs placed outside this radius shall be subject to removal and citations issued to the applicant for said sign permit or, in the absence of a permit, the owners of the development being advertised.
E. 
Public venues, events or promotions that are co-sponsored by the City of Foristell will be allowed to erect off-premise advertising signs for the duration of their event or venue for a period not to exceed six (6) months. Sign permit applications will be reviewed by City staff and presented to the Board of Aldermen for approval. All signage must meet the Sign Code requirements as to size and design criteria and placement.
F. 
Locally grown products may be advertised on no more than two (2) off-site premises for up to ninety (90) days a year, but only with an approved permit. All signage must meet the Sign Code requirements as to size, design criteria and placement.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995]
The purpose of this Article is to establish regulations concerning fences in the City of Foristell, Missouri.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995; Ord. No. 720 §1, 12-3-2007]
The following words, when used in this Article, shall have meanings set out herein:
CONSTRUCTION SITE BARRIER
A structure erected on a temporary basis to protect a construction site from vandalism and unauthorized entry.
FENCE
A structure, partition, privacy screen or wall erected at grade as a dividing marker or barrier, for the purpose of enclosing a piece of land, separating contiguous pieces of land, or marking off a piece of land, used as a means of protection or confinement, but not including hedges, shrubs, trees, or other natural growth.
FENCE HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the side of the fence that is exterior to the property and/or from the lowest adjacent ground level to the top of the fence material.
PRIVACY SCREEN
A decorative structure, often site-obscuring, erected adjacent to or around a patio, deck, courtyard, or swimming pool designed to screen the area behind it or within its confines from observation by persons outside its perimeter.
SITE-OBSCURING
Opaque or having such qualities as to constitute a complete visual barrier to persons outside the perimeter of the site-obscuring object. A fence which partially obscures a site shall not be considered site-obscuring if the distance between boards, slats, rails, stanchions, or balusters equals or exceeds three (3) inches.
WIRE FENCE
A fence whose principal material is wire. This includes, but is not limited to, chain link fences.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995]
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to construct, or cause to be constructed, any fence or privacy screen upon any property within the City of Foristell without first having obtained a permit. The owner, renter, or lessee of the property shall be responsible for obtaining the permit, unless it can be demonstrated that he/she has hired a contractor to erect the fence or privacy screen. If a contractor has been hired to erect a fence or privacy screen, then such person, firm or corporation shall be responsible for obtaining the permit.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995]
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to erect, build or construct or cause to be erected, or constructed a fence or privacy screen upon property in the City of Foristell shall first apply to the Building Commissioner for a permit and shall pay a fee as established in Appendix A to Chapter 400 hereof. A permit shall be issued only after the Building Commissioner has reviewed the application and has determined that the proposed fence or privacy screen complies with this Article.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995; Ord. No. 720 §2, 12-3-2007]
All fences and privacy screens shall be constructed of standard residential materials made of chain link, wrought iron, metal, plastic, masonry, vinyl or wood. Other material types including wire would require a conditional use permit. A fence constructed of any of the preceding materials shall be permitted providing the Building Official determines that the proposed fence is of structurally sound construction and is compatible with the surrounding properties. All supporting post, cross-members and protruding bolts, screws and/or hardware of any fence and/or privacy screen shall be inside the lot and face toward the interior of the lot of the person, firm or corporation who erects, constructs or causes to have erected or constructed the site-obscuring fence or privacy screen. Masonry pillars used in conjunction with a fence made of approved materials shall be permitted upon the same terms and conditions as the fence itself.
[1]
Editor's Note — Ord. no. 720 §3, adopted December 3, 2007, repealed section 405.200 "landscape treatment" in its entirety. Former section 405.200 derived from ord. no. 226 §2, 12-11-1995. At the editor's discretion, this section has been reserved for the city's future use.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995; Ord. No. 720 §4, 12-3-2007]
Fence or privacy screens are only permitted in the side and rear yards and cannot exceed six (6) feet in height.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995; Ord. No. 720 §6, 12-3-2007]
A. 
Barbed wire, sharp points, affixed spikes, projecting nails or other dangerous objects of any kind or description shall not be permitted as fencing material in "R-1", "R-2", "R-3", "R-4" and "PD" zoning districts.
B. 
Residential fences shall not exceed six (6) feet in height.
C. 
Rear And Side Yards. All fences shall be located entirely upon the property and may be located on the property line of the respective properties.
D. 
Front Yard. No fence or privacy screen of any type shall be built forward of the front line of the primary structure.
E. 
Street Side Yards. All fences or privacy screen of any type are required to have at least one (1) three (3) foot gate on the street side. No fence or privacy screen shall be placed in a City, County, or State right-of-way without a City, County, or State permit being issued. Any fence or privacy screen erected in an easement location can be removed without permission.
F. 
(Reserved)
G. 
Temporary fences may be erected in conjunction with "display homes" in subdivisions so long as the fences are removed within thirty (30) days following the sale or transfer of the ownership of the home.
H. 
Ornamental dividers, plastic chains, post or like materials erected along driveways or sidewalks shall not be considered a fence.
I. 
There shall be no fences consisting of one (1) or more strand wires constructed in residential districts.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995; Ord. No. 720 §7, 12-3-2007]
A. 
Fences higher than six (6) feet may be permitted for security and/or screening purposes through a conditional use permit.
B. 
Fences are permitted on any lot or paved area so long as they do not extend beyond the front building line, unless Planning and Zoning recommendation is granted by a conditional use permit as set forth by Section 400.110.
C. 
Where a fence is constructed to comply with screening requirements, all fencing regulations regarding maintenance, material and height shall apply.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995]
All fences shall be built by the party desiring the same so as not to have any part of the fence encroaching upon adjoining property, unless the owner of the property adjoining agrees, in writing, that such fence may be erected on the division line of the respective properties. All fences cannot be placed in a City, County, or State right-of-way without a City, County, or State permit being issued. Any fence erected in an easement location can be removed without compensation.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995]
The City of Foristell shall not be responsible for the enforcement of any agreement relative to mutual or separate payment for the cost of construction of fences, nor shall the City be responsible for the determination of the location of any fence to be erected, built or constructed on a lot line.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995]
A. 
Any person who erects, builds or constructs any fence or privacy screen upon property which said persons owns or leases, or rents shall be responsible for the repair, upkeep and maintenance of the fence and privacy screen and any area adjacent thereto.
B. 
Any person who contracts with another or causes another to erect, build or construct a fence or privacy screen shall be responsible for the repair, upkeep and maintenance of that fence or privacy screen and any area adjacent thereto.
C. 
Any person who owns property upon which a fence or privacy screen has been constructed by a previous owner shall be responsible for the care, upkeep and maintenance of the fence or privacy screen. If a previously constructed fence is located upon a lot line, each successive owner of the fence or privacy screen shall be responsible for its care, upkeep and maintenance. If ownership of the fence located upon a lot line is joint or cannot be determined, then each party owning property adjacent to the fence shall be responsible for the care, upkeep and maintenance of the fence facing their property. For the purpose of this Subsection, the owner of a fence shall be deemed to be any person, persons or their successors who purchase or otherwise acquire the property from the person who originally erected or caused a fence to be erected thereon.
D. 
The Building Commissioner or his/her designated personnel may inspect any fence to determine whether it conforms with the provisions of this Article. Any person who erects, constructs, builds or causes to erect, construct or build a fence or has property upon which a fence is located shall permit the Building Commissioner or his/her designated personnel access to inspect said fence to determine whether it complies with the provisions of this Article. When the Building Commissioner or his/her designated personnel receives a complaint that a fence has not been constructed, maintained or repaired as required by this Article, the Building Commissioner or his/her designated personnel shall give written notice at least five (5) days in advance of the date of an intended inspection, to the parties interested, advising them of the time and place that the fence will be inspected. The Building Commissioner or his/her designated personnel shall then inspect said fence at the arranged time and place and determine in writing if the fence is required to be repaired or rebuilt. Written notification of the results of said inspection shall be sent to the owner or person responsible for the maintenance of the fence. If any person so notified neglects or refuses to comply with the requirements of such determination for a period of fifteen (15) days, then the Building Commissioner or his/her designated personnel shall have the authority to cause a complaint to be filed in court against the responsible party or parties.
E. 
All fences erected prior to enactment of this Article shall be considered non-conforming and as such shall be allowed to remain in place. However, at such time when the parcel or lot in question is sold, transferred or leased to another party, the fence will be either brought into conformity or removed.
[Ord. No. 226 §2, 12-11-1995]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Article is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Section 400.120 of this Title of the Municipal Code of Foristell.