St. Charles County, MO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- newsracks in public right-of-way
- Issuing office
- Division of Planning and Zoning
- Initial fee
- $5.00 per location
- Permit term
- 2 years, $3.00 to renew
- Correction window
- 5 working days before removal
Summary
St. Charles County requires a permit before placing a newsrack on any public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way, under Section 220.040 of the county code.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, place, maintain or operate on any public street or sidewalk, or in any other public way or place, in the County of St. Charles any newsrack without first having obtained a permit from the St. Charles County Division of Planning and Zoning of the Department of Community Development specifying the exact location of such newsrack.
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
Under Section 220.040, no person may erect, place, maintain, or operate a newsrack on a public street, sidewalk, or other public way in unincorporated St. Charles County without first obtaining a permit from the County's Division of Planning and Zoning within the Department of Community Development. The written application must state the exact proposed location; a single permit can cover multiple newsracks. The initial fee is $5.00 per location, permits run two years, and renewal costs $3.00 per location. Section 220.030 separately bars newsracks that block sidewalks, impede traffic, or attach to hydrants, stop signs, or parking meters.
Violations & Fines
A newsrack installed, used, or maintained in violation gets a correction order to the distributor; failure to fix it within five working days means the County summarily removes the newsrack and processes it as unclaimed property, plus an impound fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a newsrack on a St. Charles County sidewalk?
What happens if a newsrack in the right-of-way isn't permitted or compliant?
How much does the newsrack right-of-way permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Charles County
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