St. Louis County, MO Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- SLCRO § 1003.169, Zoning Ordinance
- Exempt category
- Temporary decorative seasonal lighting
- Flicker/flash ban
- Waived for seasonal lighting
- Duration limit
- None set in the ordinance
- Permit required
- No
Summary
St. Louis County's zoning lighting rules exempt temporary decorative seasonal lighting entirely, including its ban on flickering or flashing fixtures.
4. Lighting exemptions. The following types of lighting are exempt from the requirements of this section. ... (5) Temporary decorative seasonal lighting; ... 6. General lighting standards. ... (1) No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted, except for temporary decorative seasonal lighting.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Section 1003.169 of the Zoning Ordinance sets outdoor lighting standards for cutoff angles, footcandle limits, pole heights, and automatic shutoff controls, but it carves out an exemption for "temporary decorative seasonal lighting" from those requirements. That same exemption also frees holiday lights from the county's general ban on flickering or flashing fixtures, which applies to every other type of outdoor lighting. No permit, photometric plan, or duration limit attaches to a seasonal light display under this section.
Violations & Fines
Not applicable: the exemption means the standard outdoor lighting rules (glare limits, flicker ban, lighting plans) simply don't apply to holiday displays, so there's no violation exposure under Section 1003.169 for putting up seasonal lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for holiday lights in St. Louis County?
Can my holiday lights flash or twinkle?
Is there a limit on how long I can leave holiday lights up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Missouri sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.