[Ord. No. 25-056, 7-1-2025]
A. 
Districts Allowed. Billboards and electronic billboards are allowed as conditional uses in the zoning districts listed in Table Section 400.1570.1.
B. 
Approval Required. Billboards and electronic billboards require conditional use approval by the City Council following a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
C. 
Dimension Standards. All billboards must comply with the billboard allowances listed in Table Section 400.1570.1.
Table Section 400.1570.1: Billboard Allowances
Standard
Allowance
Districts Allowed
"I-1," "I-2," "PD-C," "PD-MU," "C-3," "C-3"
Permit Required?
Yes
Number
1
Sign Area
672 s.f.
Sign Face Height
20 ft.
Sign Face Width
50 ft.
Total Height
45 ft.
Features
Illumination
Indirect
Message Board
No
EMS
Yes
Key: ft. = feet | s.f. = square feet
1. 
Measurement Standards.
a. 
All dimension standards are measured inclusive of border, cutouts, extensions, projections, and trim but excluding the base, apron, supports, and other structural members.
b. 
The area shall be measured by the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle, or combination of those shapes that will encompass the entire billboard.
2. 
Cutouts, extensions, and projections shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the area of the sign.
3. 
The maximum area limitation shall apply to each side of a billboard structure. Allowable billboard configurations are placed back-to-back, double-faced, or in V-type construction with no more than two (2) displays to each facing. A billboard structure with multiple facings or panels is considered as one (1) billboard.
4. 
The total height of the billboard is measured from the natural grade where the billboard is installed or the grade level of the centerline of the highway to which the sign is oriented, whichever is higher.
5. 
Billboards with EMS features must comply with the brightness and operation standards in Section 400.1440(C)(4): Sign Features.
[Ord. No. 25-056, 7-1-2025]
A. 
Location. Billboards and electronic billboards are only allowed within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the edge of the pavement of the following highways:
1. 
Interstate Highway 70;
2. 
Missouri State Highways 94, 370, and 364.
B. 
Spacing And Separation Requirements.
1. 
Separation From Other Billboards.
a. 
The separation distance for a billboard is ten thousand (10,000) feet from an existing billboard on either side of the highway.
b. 
However, the separation distance for a billboard on lots in the southeast quadrant of the intersection of two (2) Missouri State highways located in the "C-2" Zoning District is four thousand (4,000) feet on the same side of the State highway.
c. 
The separation distance for a billboard with electronic message features is two thousand six hundred forty (2,640) feet from an existing billboard with electronic message features on either side of the highway.
d. 
The separation distance is measured along the nearest edge of the pavement at points directly opposite the billboard along each side of the highway and applies to billboards located on either side of the highway in computing the distance between billboards.
2. 
Separation From Intersections.
a. 
The general separation distance for a billboard is five hundred (500) feet from an interchange or intersection between the highway and another highway or street.
b. 
However, the separation distance for lots in the southeast quadrant of the intersection of two (2) Missouri State highways located in the "C-2" Zoning District is one hundred twenty-five (125) feet from an intersection or interchange.
c. 
A billboard is allowed within five hundred (500) feet of an interchange or intersection if it is affixed to or located adjacent to a building so that the billboard does not cause any greater obstruction of vision than caused by the building itself.
3. 
Separation From Residential Uses. The separation distance for a billboard is:
a. 
Two hundred fifty (250) feet from any structure within a residential zoning district; or
b. 
One hundred (100) feet from any structure used primarily as a dwelling unit in any other zoning district.
4. 
Separation From Historic Resources. The separation distance for a billboard is three hundred (300) feet from any property or district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, any National Historic Landmark, or any location officially designated by the City as a historic landmark or historic district.
5. 
Separation From Buildings.
a. 
The separation distance for a billboard is fifty (50) feet from any point of a building.
b. 
However, the separation distance for lots in the southeast quadrant of the intersection of two (2) Missouri State highways located in the "C-2" Zoning District is twenty-five (25) feet from any point of a building.
6. 
Separation From On-Premises Signs. The separation distance for electronic billboards is two hundred fifty (250) feet from an existing freestanding on-premises electronic message sign.
C. 
Other Location Standards.
1. 
Billboards are not allowed on rocks, trees, or poles maintained by a public utility.
2. 
Billboards are exempt from front, side, and rear yard building setbacks for the district. However, Billboards require a thirty (30) foot minimum setback from a road right-of-way.
3. 
Billboards are not allowed in the right-of-way of any road or on any slope or drainage easement for a road.
[Ord. No. 25-056, 7-1-2025]
A. 
Conversion Of Billboard To Electronic Billboard. The owner of a billboard along the I-70 Corridor may apply for approval of a conditional use permit to relocate the billboard structure for conversion to an electronic billboard. The following conditions apply:
1. 
The property where the billboard is located is directly adjacent to the Interstate 70 right-of-way;
2. 
All existing billboards and freestanding on-premises electronic message signs and their supporting structures are permanently removed from the property where the electronic billboard is proposed before the issuance of a building permit for the electronic billboard;
3. 
No freestanding on-premises electronic message signs or billboards are allowed on the property upon which an electronic billboard is located;
4. 
The electronic billboard is proposed on the same lot as the existing billboard and is no further than two hundred fifty (250) feet from the existing billboard being replaced;
5. 
The lot where the electronic billboard is proposed is at least five (5) acres;
6. 
The electronic billboard complies with all provisions of this Article, except for the separation distance from other billboards in Section 400.1580(B)(1); and
7. 
The maximum number of sign faces or surfaces permitted on the electronic billboard is two (2).
B. 
Transfer Of Electronic Billboard Conversion. The owner of a billboard who has received conditional use approval to replace a billboard with an electronic billboard and has not installed the electronic billboard may apply for approval of a conditional use permit to transfer the right to install the electronic billboard at a different location on a new billboard support structure. The following conditions apply:
1. 
The property where the originally approved billboard is located and the property where the relocated billboard is proposed are both adjacent to Interstate 70 right-of-way between the eastern limit of the City of St. Charles and the Interstate 70/Highway 94 interchange;
2. 
All existing billboards and freestanding on-premises electronic message signs and their supporting structures are permanently removed from the lot where the electronic billboard is proposed before the issuance of a building permit for the electronic billboard;
3. 
Additional billboards and additional freestanding on-premises electronic message signs are not allowed on the lot after the electronic billboard is constructed;
4. 
The lot where the electronic billboard is proposed is at least three (3) acres;
5. 
The maximum sign area of the relocated billboard does exceed the lesser of the maximum sign area of the originally approved billboard or six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet;
6. 
Upon approval of a conditional use permit for an I-70 corridor electronic billboard relocation, the original conditional use approval for an electronic billboard becomes null and void;
7. 
The new billboard structure and electronic billboard must comply with all provisions of this Article, except for:
a. 
The separation distance requirements of Section 400.1580(B)(1);
b. 
The separation distance requirements of Section 400.1580(B)(2); and
c. 
The height limitations of Section 400.1570(C);
8. 
The maximum number of sign faces or surfaces permitted on a new billboard structure is two (2). If a conditional use approval to install only one (1) electronic billboard face is being transferred, a new billboard structure may only support one (1) electronic billboard face and one (1) additional face that is not considered to be electronic; and
9. 
The maximum total height of the new billboard structure does not exceed sixty-five (65) feet above the natural grade where the billboard is installed or the grade level of the centerline of the highway to which the sign is oriented, whichever is higher.