St. Louis, MO Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- New LED/digital billboards
- Banned outright
- Grandfather cutoff
- April 16, 2010
- Covered zone
- Within 660 ft of highway
- Enforcement
- Building Commissioner
- Removal deadline
- 7 days after status lost
Summary
New LED and digital billboards near interstate and primary highways are banned in St. Louis; only devices permitted before April 16, 2010 may keep operating as nonconforming signs.
Signs or devices may not have message surfaces made entirely or partly of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or similar lighting technology. Any sign or general outdoor advertising device with one or more LED message surfaces, trivision display or projection display that was permitted prior to April 16, 2010, shall be considered a nonconforming general outdoor advertising device and shall be allowed to continue in operation and be maintained in accordance with the provisions herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11).
Full Breakdown
St. Louis Revised Code § 26.68.130 regulates outdoor general advertising devices (billboards) within 660 feet of an interstate or primary highway in commercial or industrial districts. Subsection B.10.b bars message surfaces made of LEDs, trivision or projection technology outright: no permit will issue for a new digital billboard. A billboard with an LED, trivision or projection display already permitted as of April 16, 2010 is grandfathered as a nonconforming device and may keep operating, but any nonconforming billboard that is damaged over 60 percent, relocated, or discontinued for 60 days loses that status and must be removed.
Violations & Fines
Building Commissioner enforcement; an unlawful or discontinued nonconforming billboard must be removed within seven days of losing nonconforming status, or the City may remove it, bill the owner, and place a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a new digital billboard in St. Louis?
What happens to an existing digital billboard if it's damaged?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis
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