# Sign Regulations in Alma, Colorado

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Alma, Colorado, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Alma, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/alma
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Alma/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CH16ZO_ART15SIOUCOADDE)

## At a glance

Alma, Colorado regulates 33 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Temporary Political Signs in the Residential (R) District zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 6 sq ft per face, with a ≥3 ft from property or street line, not w/in 15-ft triangle at corners setback (Sec. Sec. 16-15-50(9)(a), Sec. 16-15-80(l)). Most commercial signs in Alma require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential (R) District | 13 | 25 ft | 15 sq ft per flag | — |
| Mixed Use (MU) District | 23 | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial (C) District, Light Industrial (LI) District | 23 | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential (R) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Premises of public, religious, or charitable institution | — | Sec. 16-15-50(a)(1), Sec. 16-15-80(p) |
| Church Sign - Wall Sign Option | Letters max 12 inches in height | — | — | — | 1 wall sign | On wall | — | Sec. 16-15-50(a)(2), Sec. 16-15-80(q)(1), (q)(2) |
| Church Sign - Detached Sign Option | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 detached sign | Detached (ground) | — | Sec. 16-15-50(a)(2), Sec. 16-15-80(q)(1), (q)(2) |
| Community Event Poster | — | — | — | — | 1 per event per property | — | — | Sec. 16-15-50(b)(1), Sec. 16-15-80(a) |
| Flag (≤15 sq ft) | 25 ft | 15 sq ft per flag | — | — | max as above | Flown in conjunction with US/State flag | — | Sec. 16-15-50(b)(2), Sec. 16-15-80(b) |
| Subdivision Sign | 8 ft | — | — | — | — | At entrance to subdivision, landscaped, not blocking sight | — | Sec. 16-15-50(b)(8), Sec. 16-15-80(k) |
| Temporary Political Sign | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | ≥3 ft from property or street line, not w/in 15-ft triangle at corners | 2 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 16-15-50(9)(a), Sec. 16-15-80(l) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 8 ft (if detached) | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Wall or detached. If wall: not above roof (1-story) or above 2nd floor window (multi-story) | — | Sec. 16-15-50(9)(b), Sec. 16-15-80(m) |

### Mixed Use (MU) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Apartment Complex Identification Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per face (double-sided) or 32 sq ft (single-sided) | — | ≥5 ft from public ROW | 1 per street frontage | Detached, landscaped, 1 per street frontage, not within 15 ft of sight triangle | — | Sec. 16-15-60(a)(1), Sec. 16-15-80(n) |
| Church Sign - Detached Sign Option | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 detached sign | Detached | — | Sec. 16-15-60(a)(3), Sec. 16-15-80(q) |
| Flag (>15 sq ft) | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 3 per property | Flown with US/State flag, fraternal/religious/civic/corporate orgs | — | Sec. 16-15-60(a)(4), Sec. 16-15-80(s) |
| Projecting Object Sign | 4 ft | — | 4 ft | — | 1 per storefront | First-story businesses with building frontage | — | Sec. 16-15-60(a)(5), Sec. 16-15-80(u) |
| Flag (≤15 sq ft) | 25 ft | 15 sq ft per flag | — | — | per frontage | Flown with US/State flag, fraternal/religious/orgs | — | Sec. 16-15-60(b)(2), Sec. 16-15-80(b) |
| Instructional Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per message | Wall, projecting, window, or detached | — | Sec. 16-15-60(b)(4), Sec. 16-15-80(d) |
| Parking or Private Traffic Directional Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line | — | ≥5 ft from property line | — | Sec. 16-15-60(b)(6), Sec. 16-15-80(g) |
| Temporary Political Sign | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | ≥3 ft from front/side property, not within 15-ft triangle | 2 per street | — | — | Sec. 16-15-60(b)(7), Sec. 16-15-80(l) |

### Commercial (C) District, Light Industrial (LI) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On premises of public, religious, or charitable institution | — | Sec. 16-15-70(a)(1), Sec. 16-15-80(p) |
| Flag (>15 sq ft) | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 3 per property | Flown with US/State flags; orgs | — | Sec. 16-15-70(a)(2), Sec. 16-15-80(s) |
| Individual Detached Sign | 15 ft or height of building (whichever is less) | 25 sq ft per face, 50 sq ft total. Can exceed up to 25% (max 62.5 sq ft) for low-profile planter w/Board approval | — | ≥5 ft from ROW. ≥25 ft from other detached signs. | 1 per business | ≥5 ft from ROW. Not closer to another detached sign than 25 ft. | — | Sec. 16-15-70(a)(3), Sec. 16-15-80(y) |
| Projecting Object Sign | 4 ft | — | 4 ft | — | 1 per distinguishable storefront | First-story businesses with building frontage | — | Sec. 16-15-70(a)(5), Sec. 16-15-80(u) |
| Temporary Banner | 16 ft above grade | 32 sq ft per property or use | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | Sec. 16-15-70(a)(6)a, Sec. 16-15-80(v) |
| Instructional Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per message | Wall, projecting, window or detached | — | Sec. 16-15-70(b)(3), Sec. 16-15-80(d) |
| Parking or Private Traffic Directional Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from property line | — | ≥5 ft from property line | — | Sec. 16-15-70(b)(7), Sec. 16-15-80(g) |
| Temporary Political Sign | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | ≥3 ft from line, not in 15-ft triangle | 2 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 16-15-70(b)(8), Sec. 16-15-80(l) |

## Prohibited signs in Alma

- No sign shall be erected or continued unless it is in full compliance with this Chapter and all applicable laws of the Town and the State.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter, construct, reconstruct or remove any sign without first obtaining a permit from the Town, unless specifically permitted by another section of this Article.
- Signs are prohibited and shall not be erected or maintained if they are animated or mechanically agitated or designed to move or make any motion.
- Signs exhibiting changing light effects or moving/changing copy are prohibited, except scoreboards, time and temperature signs, and theater signs and marquees (limited to info directly related to current theater performances).
- Signs which exhibit changing color effects are prohibited, except barber poles or other nostalgic signs approved by the Building Inspector.
- Signs that by their light or focus cause a nuisance by disturbing surrounding property uses or causing a traffic hazard are prohibited.
- Signs using any sound- or noise-making or transmitting device separately for advertising purposes beyond the confines of a building or lot are prohibited.
- Signs that block any window, doorway or opening required for ventilation, light or exit as per the building code are prohibited.
- Signs or posters on or projecting into any public right-of-way are prohibited, except public signs.
- Balloons exceeding three cubic feet of air, pennants, or wind-powered devices are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Searchlights are prohibited.
- Strings of light bulbs, other than traditional holiday decorations, are prohibited.
- Signs with the optical illusion of movement via reversible perspective are prohibited.
- Signs which project from the corners of buildings are prohibited.
- Off-premises advertising signs or billboards are prohibited.
- Internally lit signs are prohibited.
- Signs that are not permitted by this Article are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Alma

- Flags of any fraternal, religious, corporate or civic organization, if flown with the American and State flags, and limited to fifteen square feet per flag and twenty-five feet in height, are not considered signs.
- Merchandise, pictures or models of products or services in a window display are not considered signs.
- Governmental, religious, fraternal or civic logos or crests are not considered signs.
- Works of art which in no way identify a product, service or business are not considered signs.
- Scoreboards located on athletic fields which do not identify a product, service or business are not considered signs.
- Temporary decoration or displays customarily associated with national, local or religious celebration, and not exceeding sixty-four square feet, are not considered signs.
- Small temporary placards in or affixed to windows announcing events of nonprofit groups are not considered signs.
- Public signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by the Town or statute may be of any type, number, area, height, location or illumination as authorized.
- Maintenance of a sign (repairing, repainting, basic care) does not require a new permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for installation, display, alteration, reconstruction or removal of any sign, unless the sign is specifically allowed without a permit by the ordinance.
- Permit applications must be submitted with plans including address, contractor name, building elevation and dimensions, proposed sign location, size and type, content, wording, colors, and artwork.
- Subdivision signs must be approved by the Board of Trustees as part of the comprehensive sign plan during the site plan review process for the project.
- Signs within PUD Districts are subject to review along with the entire PUD plan.
- Variances to sign regulations may be granted by the Board of Adjustment (BOA) based on specific criteria, but variances for off-premises signs or billboards are not allowed.
- Wall art must be approved by the Board of Trustees prior to installation.
- If the use of property with nonconforming signs changes or expands by 25% or more, all signs must be brought into conformance with the ordinance.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Alma — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Alma+CO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-alma

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