St. Charles County, MO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Ch. 220, Newsracks
- Permit required
- Yes, before placement
- Correction window
- 5 working days
- Enforcing office
- Division of Planning and Zoning
- Non-compliance result
- Summary removal + impound fee
Summary
St. Charles County bans newsracks that block a public sidewalk, parkway, or street, or that impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and requires a permit before one is placed in the right-of-way.
No person shall install, use or maintain any newsrack which projects onto, into, or over, or which rests, wholly or in part, upon the roadway of any public street. No person shall install, use or maintain any newsrack which in whole or in part rests upon, in, or over any public sidewalk or parkway ... [when] such newsrack unreasonably interferes with or impedes the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including parked or stopped vehicles; the ingress in or egress from any residence or place of business.
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 Chapter 220 of the County Code, no one may install, use, or maintain a newsrack that projects onto or over a public street's roadway, or that rests on a sidewalk or parkway in a way that endangers safety, blocks utility or transit access, or unreasonably interferes with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including access to homes and businesses. A permit from the Division of Planning and Zoning is required before placement, and newsracks cannot be chained to signs, hydrants, or parking meters without separate written permission.
Violations & Fines
The County orders the distributor to correct the offending newsrack within five working days; failure to comply means the newsrack is summarily removed as unclaimed property and an impound fee covering the County's removal costs is assessed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business put a newsrack on the sidewalk in front of its store?
What happens if a newsrack blocks the sidewalk illegally?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Charles County
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