St. Louis's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In St. Louis, Missouri, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Holiday Displays

Temporary holiday decorations and lighting are generally allowed on residential property in St. Louis without a permit. Displays cannot obstruct sidewalks, create traffic hazards, or include electrical cords across public rights-of-way.

Key details: Permit: Not required for typical displays. Electrical: Permit for new circuits. Sidewalk: Cannot obstruct. Noise: Quiet hours apply to music. Historic Districts: May need CRO review.

Typical enforcement is complaint-driven. Sidewalk obstructions or hazards may be cited under Title 11 with fines around $50-$100 per occurrence. Electrical work without a permit is a separate Building Division violation.

St. Louis is more permissive than most cities when it comes to holiday displays. That said, there are still limits.

Political Signs

Political signs in St. Louis are permitted in residential yards as non-commercial speech with size limits similar to other temporary signs. First Amendment protections and Reed v. Town of Gilbert require content-neutral treatment. Signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited.

Key details: Residential Yard: Up to ~6 sq ft typical. Right-of-Way: Prohibited, subject to removal. Content: Neutral treatment (Reed v. Gilbert). Owner Consent: Required. Duration: Temporary, not permanent.

Signs in the public right-of-way are removed and typically not returned. Oversized yard signs can trigger a sign code notice with fines starting around $100.

St. Louis is more permissive than most cities when it comes to political signs. That said, there are still limits.

Garage Sale Signs

Garage sale signs in St. Louis must be placed on private property with permission and removed promptly after the sale ends. Signs on utility poles, traffic signs, street trees, or in the public right-of-way are prohibited and subject to removal and fines.

Key details: Location: Private property only. Size: Typically under 6 sq ft. Removal: Within 24 hours after sale. Prohibited: Poles, signs, trees, right-of-way. Fine: ~$100 per illegal sign.

Illegally posted signs are removed; a first violation often results in a warning, then fines of approximately $100 per sign per offense traceable to the contact on the sign.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, St. Louis gives residents more room on sign regulations. 2 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from St. Louis's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.