# Sign Regulations in Berthoud, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Berthoud, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/berthoud
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Berthoud/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH30BEDECO_S7SI)

## At a glance

Berthoud, Colorado regulates 10 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the R4, C1, C2, M1, M2, SC, UC, PUD zoning district are capped at 12 feet tall and Residential Use: 35 sq. ft.; Non-Residential Use: 100 sq. ft., with a 8 ft from curbline; 4 ft from building; 25 ft from any property line adjacent to residential zone (for business or industrial district) setback (Sec. Table 7.3, Section 30-7-109.E).

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R4, C1, C2, M1, M2, SC, UC, PUD | 5 | No higher than building eave or 25 feet above grade | 38 square feet | — |
| C1, C2, SC, UC, M1, M2 | 2 | 48 inches | 25% of any individual window area | — |
| Mountain Avenue Overlay District - Berthoud West | 2 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Mountain Avenue Overlay District - Residential Conversion | 2 | 5 feet | 35 square feet | — |
| Mountain Avenue Overlay District - Downtown Commercial | 1 | — | 60 square feet | — |
| Mountain Avenue Overlay District - Berthoud East | 2 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Mountain Avenue Overlay District - Agriculture | 2 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Mountain Avenue Overlay District - New Berthoud | 2 | 12 feet | 135 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 60 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### R4, C1, C2, M1, M2, SC, UC, PUD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | Within sign allowance | Width of window | — | One per window | First and second-story frontages, including those fronting a parking lot or pedestrian way | — | Table 7.1, Section 30-7-109.C |
| Canopy Sign | 18 inches | 38 square feet | 25 feet | — | One per canopy face | — | — | Table 7.2, Section 30-7-109.D |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per façade; two max | Ground floor façade; may be higher if direct exterior pedestrian access | — | Table 7.5, Section 30-7-109.F |
| Wall Sign | No higher than building eave or 25 feet above grade | Within sign allowance (see sign allowance formula) | — | — | One per street frontage per unit, plus three accessory wall signs | Not to obstruct windows, doors, or architectural features; first floor level allowed for upper floor businesses with principal entrances | — | Table 7.6, Section 30-7-109.G |
| Monument Sign | 12 feet | Residential Use: 35 sq. ft.; Non-Residential Use: 100 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft from curbline; 4 ft from building; 25 ft from any property line adjacent to residential zone (for business or industrial district) | One per project entrance | Site frontage adjoining a public street | — | Table 7.3, Section 30-7-109.E |

### C1, C2, SC, UC, M1, M2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | Top of ground floor window | 25% of any individual window area | — | — | Unlimited within maximum area | Only in windows of unit/space occupied by business; not above ground floor | — | Table 7.8, Section 30-7-109.H |
| Sidewalk Sign | 48 inches | 8 square feet | 24 inches | — | One | On property of business or adjacent sidewalk, off street right-of-way unless specifically permitted | — | Table 7.10, Section 30-7-110.D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner Sign (Temporary) | — | 60 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Affixed to wall, or light poles, or ground mount on private property | — | Table 7.9, Section 30-7-110.C |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | — | Residential: 8 sq ft; Non-Residential: 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | On property with active for-sale/rent listing or active building permit; not for built-out uses | — | Table 7.11, Section 30-7-110.E |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | — | Residential: 8 sq ft; Non-Residential: 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage; see Additional | On premises; not allowed in parks, alleys, public ROW | — | Table 7.12, Section 30-7-110.F |

## Prohibited signs in Berthoud

- Flashing, rotating, blinking or moving signs, animated signs, signs with moving, rotating or flashing lights or signs that create the illusion of movement.
- Electronic messaging signs, except signs which convey a static digital message such as a price sign at fueling stations or a time and temperature device.
- Any sign that is erected in such a location as to cause visual obstruction or interference with motor vehicle traffic, bicycle traffic or traffic-control devices including any sign that obstructs clear vision in any direction from any street intersection or driveway.
- Mechanical or electrical appurtenances, such as "revolving beacons", that are designed to compel attention.
- Roof signs.
- Internally illuminated signs, except as specifically allowed (e.g., neon tubing and LED light ropes in commercial/industrial zones, halo-lit text).
- Pole signs.
- Any sign other than traffic control signs erected, constructed, or maintained within, over or upon the right-of-way of any road or highway, except with permit.
- Off-premises signs, except for temporary sidewalk signs as regulated.
- Any sign which interferes with free passage from or obstructs any fire escape, downspout, window, door, stairway, ladder or opening intended as a means of ingress or egress or providing light or air.
- Any sign located in such a way as to intentionally deny visual access to an adjoining property owner's existing sign.
- Vehicular signs that are on stationary or immobile vehicles or trailers for over seven days, including signs painted on or attached to semi-trailers or cargo containers when exhibited on public property or private property adjacent to public right-of-way (exceptions for special events and construction trailers).
- Searchlights.
- Signs with optical illusion of movement by means of a design which presents a pattern capable of reversible perspective, giving the illusion of motion or changing of copy.
- Abandoned signs, as defined (together with supporting structure).
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation, is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shocks.
- Any sign or sign structure which in any way obstructs the view of, may be confused with or purports to be an official traffic sign, signal or device or any other official sign; creates an unsafe distraction for motor vehicle or bicycle operators; or obstructs the view of motor vehicle or bicycle operators entering a public roadway from any parking area, service drive, private driveway, alley or other thoroughfare.

## Signs exempt from permit in Berthoud

- Signs that are not visible from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way, subject to building, electrical and other safety codes.
- Bulletin board signs not exceeding 12 square feet in gross surface area accessory to a religious institution, school, or other public or nonprofit institution.
- Site signs as defined and subject to temporary sign standards.
- On-premises directional and instructional signs not exceeding six square feet in area each.
- Incidental signs as defined which do not exceed three square feet in area.
- Flags (up to 2 flagpoles, max height and area defined for residential and commercial properties; additional flag installations require permit and count toward permitted sign area).
- Yard signs as defined and subject to temporary sign standards.
- Temporary window signs limited to 25 percent or less of any individual window area.
- Text or copy changes to signs with no structural changes.
- Signs displaying only time and temperature, not to exceed six square feet.
- Public signs as defined.
- Vehicular signs provided the primary purpose of such vehicles is not for the display of signs, and provided that they are parked or stored in areas appropriate to their use as vehicles (with further restrictions on projection and primary purpose; see also prohibitions).
- Handheld signs as defined, not exceeding 20 square feet in area, so long as they do not obstruct or create hazards in public ways.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan is required as part of the development review process for commercial projects with multiple lots, buildings or multiple tenants.
- Comprehensive sign plans are also required for all new signs on multiple tenant buildings or centers with multiple lots.
- For any multi-tenant center, industrial park or unified commercial development or redevelopment, the applicant must submit a comprehensive sign plan with the sign permit application that includes coordinated/shared signage for the entire development.
- The Manager may approve up to a twenty-percent change in one or more dimensional or numerical standards based on a comprehensive sign plan which represents exceptional design.
- Requests for a single permanent sign larger than 288 square feet require review by the Planning Commission as a variance.

## 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 9 zoning districts in Berthoud — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Berthoud+CO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-berthoud

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