St. Louis, MO Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Definition
- § 26.68.020(27): within 3 ft of window
- Area cap (A-E districts)
- 30 sq ft total, all signage combined
- Height limit
- Building's roof line
- Permit
- Required from Building Commissioner (§26.68.060)
- Window-specific coverage cap
- None: counts toward district total
Summary
St. Louis treats window signs as a standard permitted sign type, not a separately capped category, so they count toward each zoning district's overall on-premises sign-area limit: 30 square feet total combined signage in the "A" through "E" residential and two-family districts.
C.Permitted Sign Types. Wall, window and ground. ... E.Permitted Maximum Sign Area. ... 2.All other uses. Total signage shall not exceed thirty (30) square feet.F.Permitted Maximum Height.1.Wall and Window Signs. The roof line of the building to which the sign is attached.
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
The Zoning Code defines a window sign as one applied to, or located within three feet of, a window's interior and visible through it from outside (§26.68.020(27)). In the "A" Single-Family through "E" Multiple-Family districts, window signs are one of three permitted types, wall, window and ground, and must fit inside the district's combined 30-square-foot sign-area ceiling; there is no separate percentage-of-glass cap. Height for wall and window signs is limited to the building's roof line. Other districts (F, G-H, I-L, J-K) apply their own combined sign-area formulas instead of a window-specific limit. A Building Commissioner permit is required before any window sign is installed (§26.68.060).
Violations & Fines
Installing an unpermitted or oversized window sign violates the Zoning Code and is an infraction punished under the general penalty provisions of Chapter 1.12 (§26.100.010); the City Counselor may also sue to enjoin the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does St. Louis cap window signs by percent of window glass?
Do I need a permit for a window sign in St. Louis?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis
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