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St. Charles County, MO Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Sign size cap
2 square feet
Illumination
Not allowed
Mounting
Must attach to a structure
Content limit
Name + occupation/business name only
2015 change
Detached sign option repealed

Summary

A home-based business in unincorporated St. Charles County may advertise itself with only a small, unlit sign attached to the house. Section 405.495(A)(4) ties home-occupation signage back to § 405.480(A)(2), which caps the sign at two square feet, bars illumination, and limits its wording to the occupant's name and occupation or business name.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Charles County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Section 405.495(A) 4. Signage for home occupations shall be in conformance with Section 405.480. ... Section 405.480(A) Permanent (the sign must be attached to a structure). 2. Non-illuminated signs for home occupations indicating only the name of the persons and their occupation or their business name, not to exceed two (2) square feet.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4863880; v61 updated 2026-05-11; through 05-11-2026).

Full Breakdown

480,' which is the county's list of signs allowed without a permit. 480(A)(2), covering signs 'attached to a structure': a home occupation sign may show only the name of the persons and their occupation or their business name, capped at two square feet, and it must be non-illuminated, no exceptions for soft or indirect lighting. 480(A)(1), which permits up to two square feet lit with non-intermittent light for identifying a private residence: a home business sign gets the same two-square-foot ceiling but loses the lighting option entirely.

480(B)(2), but the County Council repealed that provision on September 28, 2015 by Ordinance No. 15-097 §5, leaving the attached two-square-foot sign as the only permit-free signage option today. 495(A)(9)'s bar on exterior alterations that change the residential character of the house.

Violations & Fines

A sign that exceeds the two-square-foot cap, is illuminated, or stands detached from the house is treated as an unpermitted sign under the UDO's general sign enforcement. The Division of Planning and Zoning can order it removed, and ignoring that order is a misdemeanor under § 405.645(C) carrying a fine of up to $500 per day or up to six months in the County Jail, with owners and tenants both liable under § 405.655.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big can my home business sign be?
Two square feet, and no bigger, under § 405.480(A)(2). It must be attached to the house or another structure on the property rather than freestanding, and it can show only your name and your occupation or business name.
Can I light up my home occupation sign at night?
No. Section 405.480(A)(2) requires home occupation signs to be non-illuminated, unlike the general residence nameplate allowance in § 405.480(A)(1), which permits up to two square feet with non-intermittent light. A lit sign for a home business falls outside the no-permit category entirely.
Can I put a yard sign in my lawn for my home business?
Not for free; the county repealed the detached home-occupation sign option in 2015 (Ord. No. 15-097 §5, removing former § 405.480(B)(2)). Today the only no-permit option is a small sign attached to a structure, so a freestanding lawn sign requires a standard sign permit.
Can I put my phone number or logo on the sign?
The rule limits content to 'only the name of the persons and their occupation or their business name.' A phone number, logo, or additional text takes the sign outside § 405.480(A)(2)'s no-permit category and would require a standard permitted sign instead.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Charles County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsZoning & Home Occupation PermitsSome RestrictionsHome DaycareSignificant RestrictionsCustomer Traffic RestrictionsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Store RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome Restrictions

All St. Charles County rules

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