[R.O. 2011 § 400.1370; R.O. 2009 § 156.610; Ord. No. 02-172, 7-10-2002; Ord. No. 10-142 § 1, 7-8-2010]
These sign regulations are designed to encourage the effective and efficient use of signs as a communications tool; to create a cityscape that is free of overly distracting visual clutter and nuisance signage; and to enhance traffic safety and protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating the location, type, size, height, number, design, construction, installation, maintenance and removal of signs within the City of St. Charles.
[R.O. 2011 § 400.1380; R.O. 2009 § 156.620; Ord. No. 02-172, 7-10-2002; Ord. No. 02-276, 11-22-2002; Ord. No. 10-142 § 2, 7-8-2010]
A. 
The following types of signs are exempted from all the provisions of this Article, unless otherwise noted in this Section:
1. 
Public Signs. Signs erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of his/her public duty, such as safety signs, danger signs and traffic signs.
2. 
Historical Markers. Historical markers as recognized by local, State or Federal authorities.
3. 
Signs located within any officially recognized historic district, including, but not limited to, the Historic Downtown District, the South Main Preservation District and the Frenchtown Historic District. Signs within these districts shall only be subject to the sign regulations set forth in Divisions 1 "General Sign Regulations"; 6, 7 and 8 of this Article.
4. 
Institutional, including church, non-commercial school and civic organization signs. Requirements are as follows:
a. 
If such signs are part of a group sign structure, they shall only be located within one-fourth (1/4) mile of the City limits and require approval of the City Council;
b. 
No sign permit is required except as noted above.
5. 
Signs for temporary public interest events such as neighborhood garage sales, fund raisers, church fairs, carnivals, festivals, concerts, parades or similar events, provided such signs: are not placed more than thirty (30) days prior to the event; are removed within five (5) days following the event; and are not located to interfere with traffic safety or in rights-of-way without the approval of the Public Works Department.
[R.O. 2011 § 400.1390; R.O. 2009 § 156.630; Ord. No. 02-172, 7-10-2002; Ord. No. 08-191, 9-17-2008; Ord. No. 10-142 § 3, 7-8-2010]
When used in this Article, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign which includes advertising copy or graphics relating to any service, product, person, business, place, activity or organization in addition to simple identification.
AREA OF SIGN
The area of the largest single face of the sign within a perimeter which forms the outside shape, including any frame, forming an integral part of the display, but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign consists of more than one (1) section or module, all areas will be totaled.
BILLBOARD
Shall have the meaning set out in "outdoor advertising."
COMPLEXES/CENTERS
Any number of businesses greater than one which share the same site using common points of ingress and egress and common parking facilities.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN
A sign with two (2) surfaces placed back-to-back or V-shaped with the common angle not greater than ninety degrees (90°).
ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD
Any structure or portion thereof upon which alphanumeric characters, graphics or symbols defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area, including computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic displays and projected images or messages with these characteristics are utilized to advertise a person, thing, product or service not located or sold on the lot upon which the electronic billboard is placed.
EXPLICIT SEXUAL ACTS
Depictions or descriptions, whether being performed alone or between members of the same or opposite sex or between humans and animals, of:
1. 
Sexual intercourse, oral copulation, anal intercourse, oral-anal contact, bestiality, direct physical stimulation of genitals, flagellation or torture in the context of a sexual relationship or any of the following depicted sexually oriented acts or conduct: anilingus, buggery, coprolagnia, coprophagy, coprophilia, cunnilingus, fellatio, necrophilia, pederasty, pedophilia, piquerism, sapphism, zooerasty, zoophilia; or
2. 
Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, arousal or tumescence; or
3. 
The use of human or animal masturbation, sodomy, oral copulation, coitus, ejaculation; or
4. 
Fondling or touching of human genitals, pubic regions, buttock or female breast; or
5. 
Masochism, erotic or sexually oriented torture, beating or the infliction of pain; or
6. 
Erotic or lewd touching, fondling or other contact with an animal by a human being; or
7. 
Human excretion, urination, menstruation, vaginal or anal irrigation; or
8. 
Other acts of sexual arousal involving any physical contact with a person's genitals, pubic hair, perineum, anus or anal region.
FASCIA SIGN
A sign which is permanently affixed to the horizontal piece covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves of the roof.
FLAG-MOUNTED SIGN
A sign which projects from the roof or wall of a building perpendicular to a wall surface.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign which is erected or mounted on its own self-supporting permanent structure or base detached from any supporting elements of building.
HLPARB
The Historic Landmarks Preservation and Architectural Review Board of the City of Saint Charles, Missouri.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign that includes as copy only the name of the business, place, organization, building or person it identifies.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign whose surface is lit, internally or externally, and which identifies, advertises or attracts attention to a use or activity on the premises.
ITEM OF INFORMATION
A word, initial or series of initials, logo, abbreviation, number, telephone number, street address, business name, symbol, graphic or geometric shape contained within a sign.
MULTI-TENANT SIGN
A sign that includes as copy only the names of two (2) or more businesses, places, organizations, buildings or persons it identifies.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN
See Section 400.1820.
NUDITY or STATE OF NUDITY
Material which depicts one (1) of the following:
1. 
The showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or anal cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering;
2. 
The showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple;
3. 
The showing of the covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state;
4. 
A mother in the act of nursing her baby shall not be included within this definition, nor shall any child under the age of seven (7).
OBSCENE
Material which depicts or describes sexual conduct that is objectionable or offensive to accepted standards of decency which the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interests or material which depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable State laws and, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
OFF-PREMISES/OFF-SITE SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, product, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold, offered or existing elsewhere than upon the same lot where such sign is displayed. "Off-premises/off-site sign" shall include an outdoor advertising sign (billboard) on which space is leased, rented or donated by the owner thereof to others for the purpose of conveying a commercial or non-commercial message.
ON-PREMISES/ON-SITE SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, product, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold, offered or existing upon the same lot where such sign is displayed.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
An outdoor sign, display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard, or other thing designed, intended or used to advertise or inform, any part of the advertising or information contents of which is visible from any point of the traveled ways of the interstate or primary systems
PERSON
Any person or persons or entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or joint venture.
PICTORIAL MATERIAL
Any material suggesting or conveying a visual image and includes, but is not limited to, a photograph, painting or drawing. Any pictorial matter is "obscene" if all of the following apply:
1. 
The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that it appeals to prurient interests when the publication or material is considered as a whole; and
2. 
It depicts, describes or represents in a patently offensive manner sexual behavior as defined in this Section; and
3. 
It lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value when the publication or material is considered as a whole.
PORTABLE SIGN (SANDWICH SIGN)
Any sign which is not permanently affixed to any structure on a site or permanently ground-mounted.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any location not enclosed and within view of the public or any location frequented by the public or where the public is present or likely to be present. Public places include, but are not limited to, streets, roadways, alleys, sidewalks, parks, beaches, yards, parking lots, boats, barges, business and commercial establishments (whether for profit or not-for-profit and whether open to the public at large or where entrance is limited by a cover charge or membership requirement), bottle clubs, hotels, motels, restaurants, nightclubs, country clubs, cabarets and meeting facilities utilized by any religious, social, fraternal or similar organizations.
ROOF-MOUNTED SIGN
A sign which projects above the highest point of the roof line, parapet or fascia of a building.
SEXUAL AROUSAL, GRATIFICATION OR AFFRONT
The purpose or effect of statements, words, pictures or illustrations depicting explicit sexual acts as defined in this Section.
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
The patently offensive representation depiction or description of any of the following:
1. 
Ultimate sexual acts, actual or simulated, including vaginal intercourse between a male and a female and anal intercourse, fellatio and cunnilingus between persons regardless of gender; or
2. 
Masturbation, excretory functions and lewd exhibition of the genitals; or
3. 
The actual or simulated infliction of pain by one individual upon another or by an individual upon himself or herself for the purpose of sexual gratification or release of either individual, as a result of flagellation, beating, striking or touching of an erogenous zone, including, without limitation, the thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic region or, if such person is a female, a breast.
SIGN
Any device providing identification, advertising or directional information for a specific business, service, product, person, organization, place or building for commercial purposes. "Sign" includes graphic devices such as logos and attention-attracting objects such as logo sculpture and obtrusive colored fascia or architectural elements, banners, balloons, streamers, strobe lights, flags, inflatable structures, projected picture signs, holographic projection signs and other attention-attracting media and devices.
SIGN PACKAGE
A detailed description, including, but not limited to, type, size, color and location of all signage.
SOFFIT SIGN
A sign which is suspended from the underside of a lintel, arch or other overhead spanning member and is hung perpendicular to a vertical wall surface.
WALL-MOUNTED SIGN
A sign which is permanently affixed to any vertical portion of a building for which the sign is intended to identify or advertise.
[R.O. 2011 § 400.1400; R.O. 2009 § 156.640; Ord. No. 02-172, 7-10-2002]
A. 
Sign height measurements are as follows:
1. 
Freestanding Sign. Height shall be the distance from the top of the sign structure to the top of curb or crown of roadway where no curb exists. The height of any monument base or other structure erected to support or ornament the sign shall be measured as part of the sign height; and
2. 
Wall- Or Fascia-Mounted Signs. Height shall be the distance from the top of the sign structure to the top of curb or crown of road where no curb exists.
[R.O. 2011 § 400.1410; R.O. 2009 § 156.650; Ord. No. 02-172, 7-10-2002; Ord. No. 11-252 § 1, 12-21-2011]
A. 
Sign area measurements are as follows:
1. 
Sign area will include the areas of all permitted signs. The only exceptions are directional signs assisting in the flow of traffic, street addresses or signs necessary for safety (e.g., stop engine, no smoking) that do not exceed two (2) square feet in area;
2. 
A sign having more than one (1) component, e.g., a service station identification/price sign combination on a monument base, mounted on the same surface, the sign area will be the area of the smallest rectangle that encompasses the several components of the sign;
3. 
Sign copy mounted or painted on a background panel or area distinctively painted, textured or constructed as a background for the sign copy, shall be measured as the area contained within the outside dimensions of the background panel or surface;
4. 
Sign copy mounted as individual letters against a wall or fascia of a building or other structure that has not been painted, textured or otherwise altered to provide a distinctive background for the sign copy, shall be measured as the area enclosed by the smallest single rectangle that will enclose all sign copy. Graphics or logos accompanying letters shall be measured separately and measured as the area enclosed by the smallest single rectangle that will enclose all sign graphics or logos;
5. 
Sign copy mounted or painted on an illuminated surface or illuminated architectural element of a building, shall be measured as the entire illuminated surface or illuminated architectural element which contains sign copy; and
6. 
Where there are a number of sign faces:
a. 
One Face. Area of the single face only;
b. 
Two Faces. If the interior angle between the two (2) faces is forty-five degrees (45°) or less, the area will be the area of one (1) face only; if the angle between the two (2) sign faces is greater than forty-five degrees (45°), the sign area will be the sum of the areas of the two (2) faces;
c. 
Three Or More Sides. The sign area will be the sum of the areas of each of the faces; and
d. 
Spherical, Free-Form, Sculptural, Other Non-Planar Signs. Sign area will be the sum of the areas using only the four (4) vertical sides of the smallest cube that will encompass the sign.
[R.O. 2011 § 400.1420; R.O. 2009 § 156.660; Ord. No. 02-172, 7-10-2002; Ord. No. 02-276, 11-22-2002]
A. 
Signs may be illuminated as provided by this Article and specified by approved sign criteria, if applicable, in accordance with the following regulations:
1. 
Externally illuminated, building-mounted signage may be illuminated by either ground-mounted lights or building-mounted light bars. In either situation, the light source shall be totally screened from view;
2. 
Externally illuminated, freestanding signage shall be illuminated by ground-mounted lights with the light source being totally screened from view;
3. 
Internally illuminated, freestanding and building-mounted signage shall be lighted by light sources totally screened from view;
4. 
Flashing or intermittent forms of illumination are prohibited; and
5. 
All illuminated signs shall require a sign permit and shall comply with all provisions of the electrical code.
[1]
Cross Reference: As to penalty, § 400.1890.
[R.O. 2011 § 400.1430; R.O. 2009 § 156.670; Ord. No. 02-172, 7-10-2002; Ord. No. 02-276, 11-22-2002]
A. 
Any signage that has been approved or that has been issued a permit shall be maintained by the owner or person in possession of the property on which the sign is located. Maintenance shall be such that the signage continues to conform to the conditions imposed by the sign permit and that the sign shall substantially conform to its original condition without cracking, peeling or fading.
B. 
Any damaged sign or sign base shall be repaired within sixty (60) days.
C. 
Any metal portions of any sign shall be kept free of rust and rust stains.
D. 
Any internally illuminated sign cabinets or sign panels which have been damaged shall remain unilluminated until repaired.
E. 
Any signage which has been damaged to such extent that it may pose a hazard to passersby shall be repaired or removed immediately.
F. 
Legal non-conforming signage which has been damaged to the extent of more than fifty percent (50%) of its reproduction value shall be removed or altered so as to conform to the provisions of this Article.
G. 
Failure to comply with these sign maintenance requirements shall constitute a violation of this Article.
[1]
Cross Reference: As to penalty, § 400.1890.