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City of Bonne Terre, MO
St. Francois County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (46) Index Notes (1)
[CC 2001 §17.62.010; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
The purposes of these sign regulations are: to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication in the City; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the City's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property; and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign restrictions. This sign ordinance is adopted under the zoning authority of the City in furtherance of the more general purposes set forth in the zoning ordinance.
[CC 2001 §17.62.020; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained in the City only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this Chapter.
B. 
The effect of this Article as more specifically set forth herein is:
1. 
To establish a permit system to allow a variety of types of signs in commercial and industrial zones and a limited variety of signs in other zones, subject to the standards and the permit procedures of this Chapter;
2. 
To allow certain signs that are small, unobtrusive and incidental to the principal use of the respective lots on which they are located, subject to the substantive requirements of this Article, but without a requirement for permits;
3. 
To provide for temporary signs without commercial messages in limited circumstances in the public right-of-way;
4. 
To prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this Chapter; and
5. 
To provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this Article.
[CC 2001 §17.62.030; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
Words and phrases used in this Article shall have the meanings set forth in this Section. Words and phrases not defined in this Section, but defined in the zoning ordinance of the City, shall be given the meanings set forth in such ordinance. Principles for computing sign area and sign height are contained in Section 405.490 "Computations". All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings or captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Article.
BANNER
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is permanently mounted to a pole or a building by a permanent frame at one (1) or more edges. National flags, State or municipal flags or the official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered banners.
BUILDING MARKER
Any sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
BUILDING SIGN
Any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted to a freestanding sign.
CANOPY SIGN
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision or other entity.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on or anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the zone lot on which it is located, such as "no parking", "entrance", "loading only", "telephone" and other similar directives. No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the zone lot on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental.
MARQUEE
Any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than six (6) inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
RESIDENTIAL SIGN
Any sign located in a district zoned for residential uses that contains no commercial message except advertising for goods or services legally offered on the premises where the sign is located, if offering such service at such location conforms with all requirements of the zoning ordinance.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected or constructed wholly on or over the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
ROOF SIGN, INTEGRAL
Any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than six (6) inches.
SIGN
Any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of or identify the purpose of a person or entity or to communicate information of any kind to the public.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.
WALL SIGN
Any sign attached parallel to, but within six (6) inches of, a wall, painted on the wall surface of or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building and which displays only one (1) sign surface.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign, pictures, symbol or combination thereof designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service, that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
[CC 2001 §17.62.040; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height.
1. 
Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one (1) face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, 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 display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets zoning ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
2. 
Computation of area of multi-faced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one (1) face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one (1) point. When two (2) identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than forty-two (42) inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one (1) of the faces.
3. 
Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of:
a. 
Existing grade prior to construction of,
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 the 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 elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street.
4. 
Computation of maximum total permitted sign area for a zone lot. The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs on a zone lot shall be computed by applying the formula contained in Section 405.500(B), Table 1.5B "Numbers, Dimensions, And Locations Of Signs" to the lot frontage, building frontage or wall area, as appropriate, for the zoning district in which the lot is located. Lots fronting on two (2) or more streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each street frontage. However, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular street may not exceed the portion of the lot's total sign area allocation that is derived from the lot, building or wall area frontage on that street.
[CC 2001 §17.62.050; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
Signs shall be allowed on private property in the City in accordance with, and only in accordance with, Table 1.5A "Permitted Signs By Type And Zoning District" according to the following types:
Table 1.5A
Permitted Signs By Type And Zoning District
Sign Type
"R-1"
"R-3"
"INS"
"RMH"
"C-1"
"C-2"
"C-3"
"HWY"
"I-1"
"I-2"
Freestanding
Residential
N
N
N
P
N
N
N
N
N
N
Other
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Incidental
N
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Building
Banner
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Building Marker
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Canopy
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Identification
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Incidental
N
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Marquee
N
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
N
N
Projecting
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Residential
P
P
N
P
N
N
N
N
N
N
Roof
N
N
N
N
N
N
S
N
N
N
Roof, Integral
N
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
N
N
Temporary
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Wall
N
P
P
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Window
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Miscellaneous
Banner
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
S
N
N
Flag
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Portable
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
S
N
N
P - Sign is allowed without prior permit approval in the designated zoning district.
S - Sign is allowed only with prior permit approval in the designated zoning district.
N - Sign is not allowed in the designated zoning district under any circumstances.
B. 
Permitted signs shall be allowed only if they meet all other requirements as to maximum allowable sign area, maximum allowable sign size and maximum number of signs allowed, according to the following tables:
Table 1.5B
Numbers, Dimensions And Location Of Signs
Sign Type
"R-1"
"R-3"
"INS"
"RMH"
"C-1"
"C-2"
"C-3"
"HWY"
"I-1"
"I-2"
Freestanding
Area (sq. ft.)
NA
12
40
12
40
80
40
160
80
80
Height (ft.)
NA
5
12
5
12
24
12
36
12
12
Setback (sq. ft.)
NA
2
5
2
5
5
2
10
10
10
# Permitted
Per zone lot
NA
NA
1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Per street length
NA
1/200
NA
1/200
1/100
1/200
1/100
1/200
1/200
1/200
Total sq. ft.
8
200
100
200
100
200
800
1000
400
200
Building
Area (max sq. ft.)
2
2
10
2
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Wall area (%)
NA
NA
NA
NA
10%
15%
10%
20%
5%
10%
Number And Dimensions Of Certain Individual Signs
Number Allowed
Max Sign Area
Vertical Clearance
Freestanding
Residential
See Table
See Table
NA
Other
See Table
See Table
NA
Building
Banner
NA
NA
9' Private 12' Public
Building marker
1 per building
4 sq. ft.
NA
Canopy
1 per building
25% of vertical surface
9' Private 12' Public
Identification
1 per building
NA
NA
Incidental
NA
NA
NA
Marquee
1 per building
NA
9' Private 12' Public
Projecting
1 per building
40 sq. ft.
9' Private 12' Public
Residential
1 per zone lot
NA
NA
Roof
1 per principal building
NA
NA
Roof, integral
2 per principal building
NA
NA
Temporary
See Section 1.14
NA
NA
Wall
NA
NA
NA
Window
NA
25% of total window area
NA
Miscellaneous
Banner
NA
NA
9' Private 12' Public
Flag
NA
60 sq. ft.
9' Private 12' Public
Portable
1 where allowed
20 sq. ft.
NA
[CC 2001 §17.62.060; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
If a sign requiring a permit under the provision of this Chapter is to be placed, constructed, erected or modified on a zone lot, the owner of the lot shall secure a sign permit prior to the construction, placement, erection or modification of such a sign in accordance with the requirements of Section 405.570 "Permits To Construct Or Modify Signs".
B. 
Furthermore, the property owner shall maintain in force, at all times, a sign permit for such sign in accordance with Section 405.580 "Sign Permits — Continuing".
C. 
No signs shall be erected in the public right-of-way except in accordance with Section 405.530 "Signs In The Public Right-Of-Way" and the permit requirements of Section 405.600 "Permits For Signs In The Public Right-Of-Way".
D. 
No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of this Chapter.
[CC 2001 §17.62.070; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
All signs shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards:
1. 
Except for banners, flags, temporary signs and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this Chapter, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.
2. 
All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes and in conformance with this Chapter at all times.
[CC 2001 §17.62.080; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way, except for the following:
1. 
Permanent signs.
a. 
Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
b. 
Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company;
c. 
Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes or facilities; and
d. 
Awning, projecting and suspended signs projecting over a public right-of-way in conformity with the conditions of Section 405.500(A), Table 1.5A "Permitted Signs By Type And Zoning District" of this Chapter.
2. 
Temporary signs. Temporary signs for which a permit has been issued in accordance with Section 405.600 "Permits For Signs In The Public Right-Of-Way" which shall be issued only for signs meeting the following requirements:
a. 
Such signs shall contain no commercial message; and
b. 
Such signs shall be no more than twenty (20) square feet in area each.
3. 
Emergency signs. Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.
4. 
Other signs forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this Section, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the City shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.
[CC 2001 §17.62.090; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this Chapter:
1. 
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal, State or local law, regulation or ordinance;
2. 
Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which such sign is located;
3. 
Works of art that do not include a commercial message;
4. 
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only between November fifteenth (15th) and January fifteenth (15th); and
5. 
Traffic control signs on private property, such as stop, yield and similar signs, the face of which meet Department of Transportation standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort.
[CC 2001 §17.62.100; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
All signs not expressly permitted under this Article or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with the previous Section are prohibited in the City. Such signs include, but are not limited to:
1. 
Beacons;
2. 
Pennants;
3. 
Strings of light not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under the previous Section; or
4. 
Inflatable signs and tethered balloons.
[CC 2001 §17.62.110; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
The following procedures shall govern the application for and issuance of all sign permits under this Chapter.
1. 
Applications. All application for sign permits of any kind shall be submitted to the Administrative Officer on an application form or in accordance with application specifications published by the Administrative Officer.
2. 
Fees. Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by the applicable fees which shall be established by the City Council from time to time by resolution.
3. 
Completeness. Within five (5) days of receiving an application for a sign permit, the Administrative Officer shall review it for completeness. If the Administrative Officer finds that it is complete, the application shall then be processed. If the Administrative Officer finds that it is incomplete, the Administrative Officer shall, within such five (5) day period, send to the applicant a notice of the specific ways in which the application is deficient, with appropriate references to the applicable Sections of this Chapter.
4. 
Action. Within seven (7) days of the submission of a complete application for a sign permit, the Administrative Officer shall either:
a. 
Issue the sign permit, if the sign(s) that is the subject of the application conforms in every respect with the requirements of this Chapter;
b. 
Reject the sign permit if the sign(s) that is the subject of the application fails in any way to conform with the requirements of this Chapter. In case of a rejection, the Administrative Officer shall specify in the rejection the Section of the Chapter with which the sign(s) is inconsistent.
[CC 2001 §17.62.120; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
Signs identified as "P" or "S" in Section 405.500(A), Table 1.5A "Permitted Signs By Type And Zoning District" shall be erected, installed or created only in accordance with a duly issued and valid sign construction permit from the Administrative Officer. Such permits shall be issued only in accordance with the following requirements and procedures.
1. 
Permit for new sign or for sign modification. An application for construction, creation or installation of a new sign or for modification of an existing sign shall be accompanied by detailed drawing to show the dimensions, design, structure and location of each particular sign. One (1) application and permit may include multiple signs on the same zone lot.
2. 
Inspection. The Administrative Officer shall cause an inspection of the zone lot for which each permit for a new sign or for modification of an existing sign is issued, prior to expiration of the sign permit. If the construction is complete and in full compliance with this Chapter and with the building and electrical codes, the Administrative Officer shall affix to the premises a permanent symbol identifying the sign(s) and the applicable permit by reference. If the construction is substantially complete but not in full compliance with this Chapter and applicable codes, the Administrative Officer shall give the owner or applicant notice of the deficiencies and shall allow an additional thirty (30) days from the date of inspection for the deficiencies to be corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected by such date, the permit shall lapse. If the construction is then complete, the Administrative Officer shall affix to the premises the permanent symbol described above.
[CC 2001 §17.62.130; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
The owner of a zone lot containing signs requiring a permit under this Article shall at all times maintain in force a sign permit for such property. Sign permits shall be issued for individual zone lots.
1. 
Initial sign permit. An initial sign permit shall be automatically issued by the Administrative Officer covering the period from the date of the inspection of the completed sign installation, construction or modification through the last day of that calendar year.
2. 
Sign permits, subsequent. Sign permits shall be issued for twelve (12) months. Except as provided herein, sign permits shall be renewable annually upon submission of a renewal application form and the applicable fees. Renewal applications shall contain a representation by the applicant that no change in signage under the permit has been made or shall contain dimensions, drawings and photos of any changes.
3. 
Lapse of sign permit. A continuing sign permit shall lapse automatically if not renewed or if the business license for the premises lapses, is revoked or is not renewed. A sign permit shall also lapse if the business activity on the premises is discontinued for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days.
4. 
Assignment of sign permits. A current and valid sign permit shall be freely assignable to a successor as owner of the property or holder of a business license for the same premises, subject only to filing such application as the Administrative Officer may require and paying any applicable fee. The assignment shall be accomplished by filing and shall not require separate approval.
[CC 2001 §17.62.140; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
Temporary signs on private property shall be allowed only upon the issuance of a temporary sign permit, which shall be subject to the following requirements:
1. 
Term. A temporary sign permit shall allow the use of a temporary sign for a specified thirty (30) day period.
2. 
Number. A maximum of three (3) temporary sign permit(s) shall be issued to the same business license holder on the same zone lot in any calendar year.
3. 
Other conditions. A temporary sign shall be allowed only in districts with a letter "S" for "Temporary Signs" in Section 405.500(A), Table 1.5A "Permitted Signs By Type And Zoning District" and subject to all of the requirements for temporary signs as noted therein.
[CC 2001 §17.62.150; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
Temporary private signs in the public right-of-way shall not be allowed.
[CC 2001 §17.62.160; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
Except as otherwise provided herein, the owner of any zone lot or other premises on which exists a sign that does not conform with the requirements of this Chapter or for which there is no current and valid sign permit shall be obligated to remove such sign or, in the case of a non-conforming sign, to bring it into conformity with the requirements of this Article.
1. 
Signs existing on effective date. For any sign existing in the City on the effective date of this Article, an application for a sign permit must be submitted to the Administrative Officer within six (6) months. For any sign on property annexed at a later date, application for sign permits shall be submitted within six (6) months of the effective date of the annexation or within such period as may be established in an annexation agreement between the City and the landowner. Signs that are the subject of applications received after the applicable date set forth in this Section shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Article and shall not be entitled to the protection of Subsection (2) of this Section. Application for permits for existing signs submitted before within the first six (6) months of the effective date of this Article shall be exempt from the initial fees adopted under authority of this Article, but not from renewal and subsequent fees.
2. 
Non-conforming existing signs, permits and terms. A sign that would be permitted under this Article only with a sign permit, but which was in existence prior to this Article or upon annexation to the City and which was constructed in accordance with the ordinances and other applicable laws in effect on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size, height, location, design or construction is not in conformance with the requirement of this Article, shall be issued a non-conforming sign permit if an application in accordance with Subsection (1) of this Section is timely filed.
Such permit shall allow the sign(s) subject to such permit, which were made non-conforming by the adoption of this Article, to remain in place and be maintained for a period ending no later than three (3) years from the effective date of this Article, provided that no action is taken which increases the degree or extent of the non-conformity. Such signs are also subject to the provision of Subsection (3). A change in the information on the face of an existing non-conforming sign is allowed. However, any non-conforming sign shall either be eliminated or made to conform with the requirements of this Section when any proposed change, repair or maintenance would constitute an expense of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the lesser of the original value or replacement value of the sign.
3. 
Lapse of non-conforming sign permit. A non-conforming sign permit shall lapse and become void under the same circumstances as those under which any other sign permit may lapse and become void.
4. 
Sign removal required. A sign that was constructed, painted, installed or maintained in conformance with a permit under this Chapter, but for which the permit has lapsed or not been renewed or for which the time allowed for the continuance of a non-conforming sign has expired, shall be forthwith removed without notice or action from the City.
[CC 2001 §17.62.170; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
Any of the following shall be a violation of this Article and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties provided by this Chapter, by the zoning ordinance and by State law:
1. 
To install, create, erect or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the zone lot on which the sign is located;
2. 
To install, create, erect or maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a permit;
3. 
To install, create, erect or maintain any sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such sign or the zone lot on which sign is located;
4. 
To fail to remove any sign that is installed, created, erected or maintained in violation of this Chapter or for which the sign permit has lapsed; or
5. 
To continue any such violation.
Each such day of a continued violation shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this Article.
[CC 2001 §17.62.180; Ord. No. 2001-13 §1, 4-10-2001]
A. 
Any violation or attempted violation of this Article or of any condition or requirement adopted pursuant hereto may be restrained, corrected or abated, as the case may be, by injunction or other appropriate proceedings pursuant to State law. A violation of this Article shall be considered a violation of the zoning ordinance of the City. The remedies of the City shall include the following:
1. 
Issuing a stop work order for any and all work on any signs on the same zone lot;
2. 
Seeking an injunction or other order of restraint or abatement that requires the removal of the sign(s) or the correction of the non-conformity;
3. 
Imposing any penalties that can be imposed directly by the City under the zoning ordinance;
4. 
Seeking in court the imposition of any penalties that can be imposed by such court under the zoning ordinance; and
5. 
In the case of a sign that poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety, taking such measures as are available to the City under the applicable provisions of the zoning ordinance and building code for such circumstances.
The City shall have such other remedies as are and as may from time to time be provided for or allowed by State law for the violation of the zoning ordinance. All such remedies provided herein shall be cumulative. To the extent that State law may limit the availability of a particular remedy set forth herein for a certain violation or a part thereof, such remedy shall remain available for other violations or other parts of the same violation.