Directional and Other Official Signs

PURPOSE: This rule provides standards for the selection, erection, and maintenance of directional and other official signs and notices authorized by section 226.520(1), RSMo, which are consistent with federal regulations, 23 CFR 750.151, implemented under 23 U.S.C. 131(c)(1). This rule does not apply to signs erected by the Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission on highway right-of-way under sections 226.525 and 226.535, RSMo, or to signs, displays, or devices providing directional information about goods and services in the interest of the traveling public under section 226.520(5), RSMo, and 7 CSR 10-6.060(2)(D). (1) Definitions (see 7 CSR 10-6.015). (2) Categories of Directional and Other Official Signs. Directional and other official signs include the following five (5) classes of signs: (A) Official signs and notices are signs and notices erected and maintained by public officers or public agencies within their territorial or zoning jurisdiction and pursuant to and in accordance with direction or authorization contained in federal, state, or local law for the purpose of carrying out an official duty or responsibility. Historical markers authorized by state law and erected by state or local government agencies or nonprofit historical societies may be considered official signs; (B) Public utility signs are warning signs, informational signs, notices, or markers which are customarily erected and maintained by publicly- or privately-owned public utilities, as essential to their operations; (C) Service club and religious notices are signs and notices, where erection is authorized by law, relating to meetings of nonprofit service clubs, charitable associations, or religious services; (D) Public service signs are signs located on school bus stop shelters that identify the donor, sponsor, or contributor of the shelters; contain public service messages occupying not less than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the sign; contain no other message; and are located on school bus shelters which are authorized or approved by city, county, or state law, regulation, or ordinance and at places approved by the city, county, or state agency controlling the highway involved; and (E) Directional signs are signs containing directional messages about public places owned or operated by federal, state, or local governments or their agencies; publicly- or privately-owned natural phenomena, historic, cultural, scientific, educational, and religious sites; and areas of natural scenic beauty or naturally suited for outdoor recreation, deemed by the commission to be in the interest of the traveling public. (3) Standards for Official Signs and Notices. (A) General. These signs do not include official traffic signs such as street name signs, speed limit signs, or other directional or regulatory signs. (B) Size. There are no size limitations. (C) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated subject to the restrictions of subsection (7)(C) of this rule. (D) Spacing. There are no spacing limitations. (4) Standards for Public Utility Signs. (A) Size. There are no size limitations. (B) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated subject to the restrictions of subsection (7)(C) of this rule. (C) Spacing. There are no spacing limitations. (5) Standards for Service Club and Religious Notices. (A) Size. Any number of displays or emblems may be secured to a single structure. Each display or emblem will not exceed eight (8) square feet in area. Note: For multiple emblem signs to be considered fee exempt, the total outdoor advertising display area on each side must be less than seventy-six (76) square feet. (B) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated subject to the restrictions of subsection (7)(C) of this rule. (C) Spacing. There are no spacing limitations. (6) Standards for Public Service Signs. (A) Size. Each sign may not exceed thirtytwo (32) square feet in area. (B) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated subject to the restrictions of subsection (7)(C) of this rule. (C) Spacing. There are no spacing limitations except that not more than one (1) sign on each shelter shall face in any one (1) direction. (7) Standards for Directional Signs. The following standards apply only to directional signs: Transportation Commission (A) General. The following directional signs are not allowed: signs advertising activities that are illegal under federal or state laws or regulations in effect at the location of those signs or at the location of those activities; signs which obstruct or interfere with the driver’s view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic; signs which move or have any animated or moving parts; signs located in rest areas, parklands, or scenic areas; and signs not lawfully existing under section 226.550.2., RSMo, or unlawful signs under section 226.580, RSMo; (B) Size. No sign may exceed the following limits: maximum area—one hundred and fifty (150) square feet; maximum height—twenty feet (20'); and maximum length—twenty feet (20'). All dimensions include border and trim but exclude supports; (C) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following restrictions: signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving lights are not allowed; signs which are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed to any portion of the traveled way of an interstate or primary highway or which are of an intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or which otherwise interfere with any driver’s operation of a motor vehicle are not allowed; and no sign may be so illuminated as to interfere with the effectiveness of or obscure an official traffic sign, device, or signal; (D) Spacing. No directional sign may be located within two thousand feet (2,000') of an interchange or intersection at grade along the interstate system or freeway primary highway (measured along the interstate or freeway primary highway from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main traveled way). No directional sign may be located within two thousand feet (2,000') of a rest area, parkland, or scenic area; no two (2) directional signs facing the same direction of travel may be spaced less than one (1) mile apart. Not more than three (3) directional signs facing the same direction of travel may be erected along a single route approaching the activity or attraction. Signs located adjacent to the interstate system will be within seventy-five (75) air miles of the activity or attraction. Signs located adjacent to the primary system will be within fifty (50) air miles of the activity or attraction; (E) Message Content. The message on directional signs is limited to the identification of the attraction or activity and directional messages useful to the traveler in locating the attraction or activity, such as mileage, route numbers, or exit numbers. Descriptive words or phrases and pictorial or photographic representations of the activity or attraction, or its environs are not authorized and will disqualify the sign from being maintained as a directional sign; and (F) Selection Method and Criteria. 1. Criteria. Activities and attractions qualifying for directional signing are limited to—public places owned or operated by federal, state, or local governments or their agencies; publicly- or privately-owned natural phenomena, historic, cultural, scientific, educational, and religious sites; and areas of natural scenic beauty or naturally suited for outdoor recreation. 2. Selection. To promote highway safety, the commission determines those public and private activities and attractions that are nationally or regionally known and of outstanding interest to the traveling public, which qualify for directional signing. After filing an application for a directional sign permit, the applicant may petition the commission to determine whether or not a specific public or private activity or attraction is eligible for directional signing. The petition may be in letter form and will include: a statement by the owner of the activity or attraction describing the activity or attraction and evidence that the activity or attraction is nationally or regionally known and is of outstanding interest to the traveling public. In the case of any publiclyowned activity or attraction, the petition will also have the written consent or approval of the federal, state, or local political subdivision having legal authority or control over the activity or attraction where the authority is not the applicant requesting that the activity or attraction be designated as eligible for directional signing. The commission may grant the applicant, upon request, a public hearing to aid the commission in reaching a decision of whether or not the activity or attraction qualifies for directional signing. This hearing would be informal and would not be subject to the procedural requirements of Chapter 536, RSMo. The commission may require review and concurrence by the United States Secretary of Transportation before reaching a decision. Petitions and requests for public hearing will be in writing and addressed to the department’s authorized representative. (8) Permits. See 7 CSR 10-6.070 for state permit requirements. AUTHORITY: sections 226.150, and 226.500– 226.600, RSMo 2016 and RSMo Supp. 2017.* Original rule filed May 16, 1977, effective Oct. 15, 1977. Amended: Filed Jan. 16, 1990, effective June 11, 1990. Amended: Filed June 15, 1993, effective Jan. 31, 1994. Amended: Filed April 15, 2003, effective Nov. 30, 2003. Amended: Filed Oct. 3, 2013, effective May 30, 2014. Amended: Filed Sept. 8, 2017, effective April 30, 2018. *Original authority: 226.150, RSMo 1939, amended 1977 and 226.500–226.600, see Missouri Revised Statutes 2016 and Supp. 2017.