Independence, MO Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Divided highway max
- 750 sq ft
- Highway/arterial-major max
- 350 sq ft
- Max dimensions
- 60 ft x 30 ft
- Permit trigger
- Special use permit over 32 sq ft
- Eligible zones
- C-2, C-3, I-1 only
Summary
Off-premise billboards facing Independence's divided highways can run up to 750 square feet, while signs on ordinary highways and major arterials top out at 350 square feet, both capped at 60 feet long and 30 feet wide.
Billboards adjacent to a 'divided highway' shall not exceed 750 square feet in area. Billboards adjacent to 'highway' and 'arterial-major' streets shall not exceed 350 square feet in area. Billboards shall have a maximum length of 60 feet, and a width of 30 feet, inclusive of border and trim but excluding the base or apron, supports, and other structural members. The maximum size limitations shall apply to each side of a billboard structure, and billboards may be placed back to back, double faced, or in V-type construction with not more than two displays to each facing, but sign structure shall be considered as one billboard
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
Independence's Unified Development Ordinance caps billboard area based on the road it faces: 750 square feet for signs adjacent to a 'divided highway' on the Thoroughfare Plan, 350 square feet for 'highway' and 'arterial-major' streets. Every billboard is also limited to a 60-foot maximum length and 30-foot maximum width, measured inclusive of border and trim but excluding structural supports. The cap applies per face, though back-to-back, double-faced, or V-type structures count as one billboard. Off-premise signs over 32 square feet require special use permit approval and are confined to the C-2, C-3, and I-1 zoning districts under § 14-406-01.
Violations & Fines
Billboards exceeding these size caps, or built without the required special use permit, violate the UDO; the City withholds building permits within a billboard's setback zone and treats abandoned or noncompliant billboards as abatable nuisances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large can a billboard be along a divided highway in Independence, MO?
Do freeway-facing billboards need a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Independence
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