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ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS
Where not inconsistent with the language or intent herein, the additional definitions set forth in Section 400.030: Definitions are incorporated herein and shall apply.
BANNER
A Sign other than a Flag that is made of lightweight material either enclosed or not enclosed in a rigid frame and secured or mounted to allow motion caused by the atmosphere. This definition includes pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similarly moving devises.
BILLBOARD
A Sign which directs the attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment not necessarily sold or offered:
(a) elsewhere than upon the same Lot where such Sign is displayed;
b) not for the Principal Use of such Lot upon the premises where such Sign is located or to which it is attached; or
(c) any other outdoor advertising subject to regulation pursuant to Sections 226.500 through 226.600 and Section 71.288, RSMo., as amended.
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BUSINESS USE
Use of land or Buildings for office (including medical), office/warehouse, Financial Institution, Convention Center, Hotel, or similar uses.
CHANGEABLE COPY PANEL
A device designed so that characters, letters, or illustrations can be changed or rearranged instantaneously, either manually or electronically.
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COMMERCIAL USE
Any use wherein goods and services are purchased or sold to either the consuming public (retail) or to other businesses (wholesale). Commercial Use includes Business Use and Industrial Use but does not include Public/Semi-Public Use.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, affix, or locate.
FLAG
A generally rectangular piece of fabric of distinctive design traditionally raised on a Flagpole.
FLAGPOLE
A pole mounted to the ground and used for flying a Flag.
GRAFFITI
A hand-painted work of visual art that is either affixed to or painted directly on the Facade or other exterior surface without the permission of the Property Owner.
GROUND FLOOR
That floor of a Building which is approximately level with the ground around the Building and which contains the Building's primary ingress and egress; first floor.
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HOLIDAY DISPLAYS
A display for decorative purposes during any nationally recognized holiday period.
ILLUMINATED
A source of any artificial or reflected light, either directly from a source of light incorporated in or indirectly from an artificial source, so shielded that no direct illumination from it is visible elsewhere than on and in the immediate vicinity of the Sign.
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INDUSTRIAL USE
Use of land or Buildings for manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, warehousing, distribution, freight terminal, wholesale sales, and other uses of similar intensity.
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MULTI-FAMILY COMPLEX
One (1) or more Buildings containing a minimum of three (3) or more Dwelling Units per Building.
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ORIGINAL ART DISPLAY
A form of non-commercial speech wherein a hand-painted work of visual art is either affixed to or painted directly on the Facade of a Structure with the permission of the Property Owner. An Original Art Display does not include: mechanically produced or computer generated prints or images, including but not limited to digitally printed vinyl; electrical or mechanical components; or Changeable Copy Panel.
PREMISES
That portion of a Lot or Building occupied by one (1) or more occupants, exclusive of common areas shared with adjacent occupants, if any.
PROPERTY OWNER
An individual or entity who has the right to possess, use, and convey the Property, Premises, Building, Sign, or Sign Structure. For the purposes of this Article, the tenant of a Property or Premises is considered the Property Owner as to the Property the tenant holds a right to use exclusive of others (or the sole right to occupy). If there are multiple tenants of a Property or Premises, then each tenant shall have the same rights and duties as the Property Owner as to the Property or Premises the tenant leases and has the sole right to occupy, and the size of the Property or Premises shall be deemed to be the Property that the tenant has the sole right to occupy under the lease.
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PUBLIC/SEMI-PUBLIC USE
An Educational Facility, Church, Community Center, cultural facility, library, hospital, or similar place that serves the public for its educational, cultural, and/or recreational benefit.
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RESIDENTIAL USE
Any use wherein individuals or families utilize Single-Family, Two-Family, and Multi-Family Complex for private housing purposes. Residential Use does not include Public/Semi-Public Use.
SIGN
A name, identification, description, display, or illustration, which is affixed to, painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon a Building, or other outdoor surface which directs attention to or is designed or intended to direct attention to the Sign Face or to an object, product, place, activity, person, Institution, organization, or business. Signs located completely within an enclosed Building, and not exposed to view from a Street or sidewalk, shall not be considered a Sign. A Flag shall not be considered a Sign. This definition includes Holiday Displays.
SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY
A Sign that is made up of or incorporates a Changeable Copy Panel.
SIGN, DOUBLE-FACED
A Sign with two (2) Sign Faces of the same shape designed to be seen from two (2) opposite directions, supported on the same support, and at the same elevation.
SIGN, FACE
The entire area within a square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that encompasses the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the Sign from the backdrop or Structure against which it is placed, but not including the Sign Structure or Facade that is clearly incidental to the display itself.
SIGN, FLASHING
Any Illuminated Sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary or constant in intensity or color at all times when such Sign is in use. For the purpose of this Article, any moving Illuminated Sign or Signs that fluctuate in light intensity or use intermittent strobe or moving light or light that changes in intensity in sudden transitory bursts, streams, zooms, twinkles, sparkles, or that in any manner creates the illusion of movement shall also be considered a Flashing Sign.
SIGN, GOVERNMENT
A Sign that is constructed, placed, or maintained by the federal, state, or local government or a Sign that is required to be constructed, placed, or maintained by the federal, state, or local government either directly or to enforce or protect a Property Owner's rights.
SIGN, INTEGRAL
A Sign that is embedded, extruded, or carved into the material of a Building Facade and customarily made of bronze, brushed stainless steel or aluminum, stone, or similar material attached to the Building Facade.
SIGN, INTERIOR WINDOW/DOOR
A Sign located inside a Building on a window or door and exposed to view from a Street or sidewalk. An Interior Window/Door Sign may be a Temporary or Permanent Sign.
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SIGN, MONUMENT
A Sign having the appearance of a solid base of landscape construction materials such as masonry, stucco, stonework, textured wood, tile, anodized metal, or textured concrete materials. The base of a Monument Sign shall be architectural in nature, with a concealed means of support, and utilize materials consistent with the design of the Building in which it is associated.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES
Commercial speech in the form of a Permanent Sign that does not relate to a use of the Premises on which it is located.
SIGN, ON-PREMISES
Commercial speech in the form of a Permanent Sign that relates to a use of the Premises on which it is located.
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SIGN, PERMANENT
Any Sign affixed or attached to the ground or a Structure and which cannot be removed without special handling. Any Sign that is not a Temporary Sign is deemed to be a Permanent Sign and shall be governed by the regulations for a Permanent Sign.
SIGN, POLE
Any detached Permanent Sign which is supported by one (1) or more stationary poles extending more than two (2) feet above the mean grade line of the ground at its base, provided that this shall not include a permitted Monument Sign as set forth herein.
SIGN, PUBLIC INTEREST
Any Sign intended to convey a legal right or restriction on a Property; a Sign intended to warn the public of a bona fide danger on the Property; or a Sign placed by order of a court or by a government official in the normal course of their duties. Public Interest Signs shall include Signs identifying a Structure or an area as a historic Structure or place. These Signs are considered government speech.
SIGN, SMALL POLE
A Pole Sign of not more than six (6) square feet in area per Sign Face and not more than three and one-half (3.5) feet in height.
SIGN, SMALL WALL
A Wall Sign not exceeding two (2) square feet in size.
SIGN, STRUCTURE
The support, poles, upright bracing or brackets, and framework for any Sign that is mounted on or affixed to a Building, Structure, or the ground. A Sign Structure may be a single pole and may or may not be an integral part of the Building.
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SIGN, TEMPORARY
A non-Permanent Sign constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, plastic sheet, vinyl, cardboard, fiberboard, plywood, or other like materials and that by design, installation, materials, and/or appearance is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time.
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SIGN, VEHICLE
A Sign that uses a vehicle or trailers in such a way as to function primarily as a Sign, including but not limited to vehicles that are not operational and parked to display a Sign. Vehicles and trailers associated with the function of the business on the Premises shall not be considered a Vehicle Sign.
SIGN, WALL
A Sign affixed directly to a Facade of a Building and confined within the limits of such Facade. An Integral Sign is considered a Wall Sign for the purposes of this Article.
SUBDIVISION
A development of land for which there is a duly recorded Plat approved by the City.
Computations.
A. The following principles shall control the computation of Sign Face and Sign height:
1. Computation Of Sign Face Of Individual Signs. The area of a Sign Face shall be computed by measuring the area of the smallest circle, square, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the Sign or used to differentiate the Sign from the back drop or Sign Structure against which it is placed, but not including the Sign Structure or Facade that is clearly incidental to the display itself.
2. Computation Of Multi-Face Signs.
a. A Double-Faced Sign with two (2) Sign Faces shall be considered one (1) Sign. Provided, however, to the extent a Double-Faced Temporary Sign has two (2) Sign Faces that are not identical, each Sign Face shall be considered a separate Sign and the area shall be computed by adding together the area of each non-identical Sign Face.
b. The Sign area for a Sign with more than two (2) Sign Faces shall be computed by adding together the area of all Sign Faces on the Sign.
3. Computation Of Height. The height of a Sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the Sign Structure at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the Sign. Sign height of a Wall Sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the Sign to the top of the Sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lowest of: (a) existing grade prior to construction or (b) the newly established grade, after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the Sign. In cases in which normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, Sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the Sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a Street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the Principal Structure on the zoned Lot, whichever is lower.


Illumination Standards. All Illuminated Signs shall be subject to the following standards:
1. External lighting, such as floodlights, thin line and gooseneck reflectors, are permitted, provided the light source is directed upon the Sign Face and is effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed into any portion of an adjacent Street or Residential Dwellings or Uses, and the lights are not of such intensity so as to cause glare, impair the vision of a driver of a motor vehicle, or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
2. If a Sign or Flag is externally lighted, the light source shall be completely concealed and not visible to pedestrians, motor vehicles, or persons located on adjacent Property or Lot.
3. All Signs with internal illumination shall require an electrical permit and meet all requirements of the City's Electrical Code and other applicable Codes.
4. Pole Signs and Monument Signs within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a Residential Dwelling shall only be Illuminated by an external light source. All Illuminated Signs within one hundred and fifty (150) feet of a Residential Dwelling shall be extinguished at the time of business closing or 11:00 p.m., whichever is later, provided that this shall not prohibit continuous illumination of Flags and Monument Signs for Subdivisions for Residential Use and Multi-Family Complexes.
5. No revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light that simulates an emergency light or device shall be permitted as part of any Sign. No illumination shall be allowed that converts the Sign to a Flashing Sign except if reasonably necessary to convey public service information.
6. A Sign may only include an electric Changeable Copy Panel when expressly so stated within Sections 430.300 — 430.320.
7. Notwithstanding the above lighting requirements, no Illuminated Sign shall be of such brightness or intensity so as to cause glare, impair the vision of the driver of a motor vehicle or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of a motor vehicle, obscure or interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic control device, Sign or signal or prevent or interfere with the quiet use or enjoyment of any Lot which is used or zoned residential, or otherwise be maintained as a nuisance.
Unimproved Land.
A. Residential Unimproved Land. A Property Owner may have the following signs for unimproved land in a Residential District, subject to the following standards:
1. Lots Under Three (3) Acres In Area. The following regulations apply:
a. Temporary Signs are permitted on a Lot subject to the following standards:
(1) No more than one (1) Temporary Sign along a Frontage at any time.
(2) The total Sign Face of Temporary Sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet.
(3) May be Illuminated only pursuant to an approved Sign plan and in accordance with Section 430.360.
b. No Off-Premises Signs are permitted.
2. Lots Three (3) Acres Or More In Area. The following regulations apply:
a. Temporary Signs are permitted on a Lot subject to the following standards:
(1) No more than one (1) Temporary Sign along a Frontage at any time.
(2) The total Sign Face of a Temporary Sign shall not exceed nine (9) square feet.
(3) May be Illuminated only pursuant to an approved Sign plan and in accordance with Section 430.360.
b. No Off-Premises Signs are permitted.
B. All Other Unimproved Land. A Property Owner may have the following signs for unimproved land in a Non-Residential District, subject to the following standards:
1. Temporary Signs.
a. No more than one (1) Temporary Sign at any time for each Frontage.
b. The total Sign Face of the Temporary Sign shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet.
c. May be Illuminated only pursuant to an approved Sign plan and in accordance with Section 430.360.
2. No Off-Premises Signs are permitted.

 
Prohibited Signs.
A. Applicable Permits. Signs are prohibited unless constructed pursuant to a valid building permit and electrical permit when required under the City Code and authorized under this Article.
B. Prohibitions. The following signs are prohibited which:
1. Are of a size, location, movement, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device or which hide from view any traffic or Street Sign or signal.
2. Contain or consist of Banners.
3. Are Flashing Signs, except for Holiday Displays as permitted pursuant to this Article.
4. Are Graffiti.
5. Are a Vehicle Sign located within one hundred and fifty (150) feet of a Street.
Non-Conformity And Modification.
A. Amortization. For the purpose of amortization, non-conforming Signs may be continued after November 21, 2016, for a period not to exceed ten (10) years unless under a previous regulation the Signs were to be amortized and in that case the amortization period shall be as previously required or ten (10) years, whichever is less.
B. Changes And Modifications. A non-conforming Sign shall be brought into conformity with this Article if it is substantially altered or reconstructed or replaced or relocated. An alteration or reconstruction shall be considered substantial when such alteration or reconstruction affects fifty percent (50%) or greater of the non-conforming Sign and/or Support Structure. Any non-conforming Sign that is damaged through no fault of the owner may, upon issuance of a permit, be reconstructed to its original condition without bringing the Sign into compliance with this Article; provided such change and reconstruction shall not modify any existing amortization period.
Electric Changeable Copy Panels. Electric Copy Changeable Signs shall be subject to the general illumination standards of Subsection (A) of this Section and the following additional regulations:
1. Duration Of Message Intervals. Messages must be displayed for a minimum of fifteen (15) seconds for each item shown or information displayed in the Changeable Copy Sign.
2. Transition And Display. Message changes shall be instantaneous without dissolving, growing, melting, traveling up or down, scrolling, or fading. Messages shall have a static display and shall not be Illuminated so as to be a Flashing Sign or that in any manner creates the illusion of movement.
3. Brightness. The brightness of a Changeable Copy Sign shall automatically adjust via photocell for use during daylight hours and non-daylight hours. No Sign may be Illuminated to a degree of brightness that is greater than necessary for adequate visibility. The maximum permitted brightness for a Changeable Copy Sign during daylight hours is five thousand (5,000) NIT (candela per square meter) and five hundred (500) NIT during non-daylight hours as measured from the Sign's Face perpendicular to the rays of the source at maximum brightness. The lighting and other specifications for a proposed Changeable Copy Sign shall be submitted with the application proposing to incorporate a Changeable Copy Sign.
4. Story Advertising. Electric Copy Changeable Signs shall not display consecutive messages facing the same traveled way, which constitute a substantially similar theme or story and is a continuation of any immediately preceding message, thereby creating a story-boarding effect when viewed by persons operating a motor vehicle. Nothing contained in this Subsection shall prohibit the display of identical consecutive messages.
5. Malfunction And Non-Compliance. Electric Changeable Copy Signs shall be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one (1) position if a malfunction occurs. The electric Changeable Copy Signs shall be equipped with a means to promptly discontinue the display if it malfunctions, and the Sign owner shall immediately stop the dynamic display when notified by the City that it is not complying with standards of this Code.
6. Conversion. Conversions of an existing Sign to a Changeable Copy Sign is authorized when the Sign is permitted to be a Changeable Copy Panel by this Article and the Sign complies with current Code requirements.

 
General Regulations.
A. Notwithstanding anything else in this Article or the City Code, the following restrictions shall govern all Signs displayed in the City:
1. Code Compliance. Signs may only be displayed in accordance with this Article.
2. Maintained. All Signs shall be of sound structural quality, be maintained in good repair and condition, have a clean and neat appearance and, as appropriate, abide by all Building, Electrical and other Codes.
3. Permitted Signs. The following Signs are permitted in all Zoning Districts:
a. Government Signs.
b. Traffic control devices provided such complies with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Comment: The Federal Highway Administration has established uniform standards for Signs that regulate traffic or that are erected and maintained within road rights-of-way or adjacent Property. These uniform standards are intended to be used by owners of private Property that is open to the public to reduce confusion and limit the risk of accident. While these regulations are content specific, they serve an extraordinarily important public function.
c. Any Sign necessary for public safety Erected by utility companies within their respective easements.
d. Holiday Displays provided that said display does not traverse any Street or create any traffic problem, congestion, or safety hazard.
4. Location. No Flag or Sign shall be permitted or displayed:
a. In the public Street or other City property, except as expressly provided for by this Article or other City ordinance.
b. So that its location might obstruct the view of or be confused with any Street markers, traffic Signs or signals, other regulatory devices or warnings, or any other Signs Erected by any governmental body or agency.
c. So that it is located within a sight triangle or interferes with the view reasonably necessary for motorists to proceed safely through Streets and Intersections, or to enter or exit from Streets.
5. Temporary Signs. Unless otherwise provided for specific uses, Temporary Signs:
a. Shall not exceed three (3) feet in height.
b. Shall not be placed on any utility pole, streetlight pole, tree, fence, or similar object.
c. Shall not exceed the applicable size limits allowed for the use type.
d. Shall be secured or mounted as to not allow any motion.
e. Shall be securely attached and flush at all points when attached to a Facade.
6. Permanent Sign Materials. All Permanent Signs shall be constructed of durable, outdoor, and weather-resistant materials and shall not be primarily constructed with impermanent materials such as paper, cloth, canvas, plastic, plastic sheet, vinyl, cardboard, fiberboard, plywood, or other like materials.
7. Wall Signs. Wall Signs shall be attached firmly, parallel, and adjacent to the Facade in which the Wall Sign is attached.
8. Original Art Displays. Original Art Displays are allowed provided that they meet the following requirements:
a. Located in public or semi-public spaces in any Zoning District.
b. Shall not extend more than six (6) inches from the Facade upon which it is painted or to which it is affixed.
c. Shall be no more than sixty-four (64) square feet in size per Lot or Premises.
9. No Permit Required. The following Signs meeting the requirements of this Article shall not require a Sign permit:
a. Flags.
b. Holiday Displays.
c. Interior Window/Door Signs.
d. Temporary Signs.
e. Original Art Displays.
f. Government Sign.
g. Public Interest Signs.