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St. Charles County, MO Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Per-sign limit
4 sq ft
Residential total cap
16 sq ft per lot
Non-residential total cap
32 sq ft per lot
Permit required
No, within size limits
Enforcing agency
Division of Planning and Zoning
Violation penalty
Up to $500/day or 6 months jail

Summary

Political yard signs in unincorporated St. Charles County need no permit but are capped by size. Code § 405.480(C)(6) limits each sign to four square feet, with total political-sign area on a lot held to sixteen square feet in single-family residential districts and thirty-two square feet everywhere else, enforced by the Division of Planning and Zoning under the Unified Development Ordinance.

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

6. Political signs not to exceed four (4) square feet per sign and a total sign area of sixteen (16) square feet in single-family residential districts and thirty-two (32) square feet in districts other than single-family residential.

View official code

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

' Unlike several of its neighbors on that list, the political-sign exemption carries no built-in removal deadline. 480(C)(2)). Political signs are capped by area and district, not by a calendar. 490(A), (B), (F)). A political sign at a busy corner sight triangle can be ordered removed on that basis alone, independent of its square footage. Signs exceeding the (C)(6) thresholds lose their no-permit status and must be reduced or obtain a permit through the Division of Planning and Zoning like any other sign under Part 3, Article III of the UDO.

Violations & Fines

Sign violations run through the UDO's general enforcement chapter. The Director of the Division of Planning and Zoning can inspect the property and issue a written order to correct; ignoring that order is a misdemeanor under § 405.645(C), punishable by a fine of up to $500 per day or up to six months in the County Jail, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. Property owners, agents, and tenants can all be held liable under § 405.655.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big can a political sign be on my property in unincorporated St. Charles County?
Each individual political sign is capped at four square feet under § 405.480(C)(6). The total area of all political signs on a single-family residential lot cannot exceed sixteen square feet; on other properties, the combined cap rises to thirty-two square feet.
Do I need a sign permit to put up a political sign?
No. Political signs are listed among the temporary signs that don't require a permit under § 405.480(C), as long as they stay within the four-square-foot per-sign and sixteen- or thirty-two-square-foot aggregate limits. Go over those numbers and the sign needs a standard sign permit instead.
Is there a deadline to remove political signs after an election?
The code sets no removal deadline for political signs specifically, unlike real estate signs (ten days after closing) or garage-sale signs (twenty-four hours after the sale). Political signs are regulated only by size and district, not by a calendar date tied to an election.
Can I put a political sign near a street corner?
Only if it doesn't block sightlines. Section 405.490(F) prohibits any sign, political or otherwise, that obstructs a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic, and the county can order it removed regardless of its square footage.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Charles County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsDigital BillboardsSignificant RestrictionsHoliday DisplaysFew RestrictionsGarage Sale SignsSome RestrictionsWindow SignsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Store RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome Restrictions

All St. Charles County rules

Compare St. Charles County to another location·View the Missouri sign regulations overview

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