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Jefferson County, MO Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)

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

Key Facts

Eligible routes
I-55, US 61, US 67, State Hwy 30, 141, 231
Eligible districts
PC, PB, NPI, PI, PM only
Size cap
672 sq ft per side, 20 ft height
Spacing
1,400 feet from another billboard, same side
Setback
500 ft from a residence

Summary

Jefferson County confines new billboards to parcels touching a short list of major routes: Interstate 55, U.S. Highways 61 and 67, and State Highways 30, 141 and 231. A billboard proposed anywhere else in the unincorporated county does not qualify under Section 400.4310.

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

Billboards may be located only on parcels contiguous to the rights-of-way of Interstate 55, U.S. Highways 61 and 67 and State Highways 30, 141 and 231 in unincorporated Jefferson County.

Full Breakdown

4310(A)(3) of the Unified Development Ordinance, adopted April 2, 2008 and amended by Ordinance No. S. Highways 61 and 67, and State Highways 30, 141 and 231, all within unincorporated Jefferson County. A parcel that does not physically touch one of those rights-of-way cannot host a billboard regardless of its zoning district. The corridor limit works alongside the section's other standards: billboards are capped at 672 square feet per side, 20 feet in height and 50 feet in length excluding the base and supports, with no more than two faces and no stacking one billboard above another; they must sit at least 500 feet from a residence, 250 feet from a vacant residential zone district, or 50 feet from any non-residential structure; and no new billboard may be built within 1,400 feet of an existing billboard on the same side of the street.

Billboards are only allowed in the county's 'PC', 'PB', 'NPI', 'PI' and 'PM' zone districts to begin with, so the highway-frontage test in (A)(3) applies on top of that underlying district limitation. 4310(A)(8), since the UDO treats a billboard as a structure subject to the district's setback and intensity rules.

Violations & Fines

A billboard erected on a parcel that does not front one of the six listed highway corridors, or one that violates the district, size, height or spacing standards elsewhere in Section 400.4310, is unpermittable and subject to removal and prosecution under the UDO's general enforcement provisions, Sections 400.4470 and 400.140, carrying a misdemeanor fine of up to $1,000, up to a year in jail, or both, per day of violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a billboard on my property along a random county road?
Only if that property is zoned PC, PB, NPI, PI or PM and is contiguous to the right-of-way of Interstate 55, U.S. Highways 61 or 67, or State Highways 30, 141 or 231. Section 400.4310(A)(3) excludes every other road frontage in unincorporated Jefferson County.
Why does Highway M not qualify for billboards under this rule?
Section 400.4310(A)(3) names a specific, closed list of routes, I-55, US 61, US 67, and State Highways 30, 141 and 231, and Highway M is not one of them, so a parcel fronting Highway M cannot host a billboard under this section.
Do I need more than one permit to build a billboard?
Yes. Section 400.4310(A)(8) treats a billboard as a structure, so construction, reconstruction or structural repair requires both a sign permit and a building permit, on top of meeting the corridor, size, spacing and setback standards in the rest of Section 400.4310.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Jefferson County

All Jefferson County rules

Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Missouri sign regulations overview

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