# Sign Regulations in Black Hawk, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Black Hawk, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/black-hawk
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Black_Hawk/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CO_CH15SICO)

## At a glance

Black Hawk, Colorado regulates 26 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and See formula, with a 5 ft min from ROW setback (Sec. Sec. 15-43(a)(2)). Most commercial signs in Black Hawk require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 9 | Pole: 20 ft (for 1-2 story); 25 ft (for 3-4 stories); Outrigger pole: 10 ft max length | 32 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 15 | Ground pole: 75 ft; if on building: 10 ft length, max pole height 25 ft if on top | 32 sq ft | — |
| History Appreciation Recreation Destination District (HARD District) | 16 | Ground pole: 75 ft; on building: outrigger max 10 ft; rooftop: max 25 ft pole height | 48 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | Pole: 20 ft (for 1-2 story); 25 ft (for 3-4 stories); Outrigger pole: 10 ft max length | 4'×6' (24 sq ft) or 4'×8' (32 sq ft), depending on building height | 4 ft | — | Max 6 ground-mounted poles; additional via sign plan | Front of buildings (outrigger pole, not roof/parapet); Ground-mounted | — | Sec. 15-33(a) |
| Wall Sign | 10 ft above grade (adjacent to wall) | 2 sq ft | — | — | Combined: Max 2 permanent signs per property | Mounted to wall of principal building | — | Sec. 15-31(b)(1); 15-33(b) |
| Home Occupation Sign / Identification Sign / Street Address Sign | 10 ft above grade | 2 sq ft | — | — | Combined: Max 2 permanent signs per property | Wall of principal building | — | Sec. 15-31(b)(1); 15-33(b) |
| Temporary Sign - Community Event | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per site per event | Designated community event sign locations (as approved) | — | Sec. 15-34(a)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Large Temporary | 12 ft above street grade | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 4 per property | Only on property to which they pertain | — | Sec. 15-34(a)(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Election Season | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 1 per ballot/candidate per parcel | Private property; not on public ROW | — | Sec. 15-34(b)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Limited Duration | 4 ft if freestanding | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 2 per property | Private property for which sign is used (not public property) | — | Sec. 15-34(b)(3) |
| Temporary Sign - Small Temporary | 10 ft above street grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 2 per property | Only on property to which they pertain | — | Sec. 15-34(b)(6) |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | See formula | — | 5 ft min from ROW | 1 per frontage, max 2 per site | 5 ft min from ROW; 1 per street frontage, max 2 per site (min 10 ft apart, 50 ft if 2 on a site) | — | Sec. 15-43(a)(2) |
| Joint Identification Sign | 20 ft | — | — | 5 ft min from ROW | 1 per frontage, max 2 per site | 5 ft min from ROW; 1 per street frontage, max 2 per site | — | Sec. 15-43(a)(4) |
| Marquee/Awning/Canopy Sign | Marquee: roofline; Canopy/Awning: first floor elevation | Any advertising counts toward wall sign area | — | See above | — | Marquee must be on building (not project more than 6 ft) | — | Sec. 15-43(a)(5) |
| Flag | Ground pole: 75 ft; if on building: 10 ft length, max pole height 25 ft if on top | 6'×8' (max, 48 sq ft) | 6 ft | — | — | Outrigger pole, ground-mounted; may not be on parapet | — | Sec. 15-43(a)(9)(c) |
| Temporary Sign - Community Event | 8 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 5 per event | Designated locations, with Council approval | — | Sec. 15-44(b)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Large Temporary | 12 ft above street grade | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 4 per property | On property it pertains to | — | Sec. 15-44(c)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Election Season | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 1 per ballot/candidate per parcel | On private property | — | Sec. 15-44(d)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Small Temporary | 10 ft above street grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 2 per property | On property it pertains to | — | Sec. 15-44(d)(5) |

### History Appreciation Recreation Destination District (HARD District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | Marquee: limited to roofline; Awning/Canopy: first floor elevation | Only portion with text counted towards wall sign area | — | Committee review | — | Building (no rooftop signs) | — | Sec. 15-53(b)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | — | — | Min 5 ft from ROW | — | Min 5 ft from ROW; not within 10 ft of another freestanding sign | — | Sec. 15-53(b)(3) |
| Sandwich Board | — | 24 in x 36 in (6 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per tenant | Within 30 ft of business door; may not block/safety | — | Sec. 15-53(b)(6) |
| Window Sign | First floor only | Max 25% of any glass area per window/door | — | — | — | Window/door; legible within 50 ft from exterior | — | Sec. 15-53(b)(7) |
| Flag | Ground pole: 75 ft; on building: outrigger max 10 ft; rooftop: max 25 ft pole height | 6'×8' (max 48 sq ft) | 6 ft | — | — | Front of bldgs or ground; not on parapet | — | Sec. 15-53(b)(8)(a) |
| Temporary Sign - Community Event or Banner | 8 ft if freestanding | 48 sq ft | — | — | — | Approved locations, on fence or wall if approved | — | Sec. 15-54(b)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Election Season | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | Max = # of ballot questions/candidates | On private property | — | Sec. 15-54(c)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Small Temporary | 10 ft above street grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | Max 2 per property | On property to which it pertains | — | Sec. 15-54(c)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Black Hawk

- Permanent signs shall not be made of flexible cardboard, vinyl, fabric (excluding awnings), or similar non-rigid material.
- Temporary paper advertisements (8.5 x 11) are not allowed except as posted inside bulletin boards (nonresidential) or as noted for election/temporary signs.
- No sign illumination may conflict with any traffic signal.
- Signs shall not be illuminated by direct illumination such that light spills over onto adjacent properties.
- The use of fully illuminated plastic sign boxes with internal light sources is discouraged.
- Projecting or blade signs may require a license agreement if proposed over a City right-of-way.
- Rooftop signs are prohibited in the HARD District.
- Temporary signs may not be permanently mounted.
- Temporary signs must not exceed the size limitations provided in each Section.
- For electronic message centers (EMCs), live video is not allowed; streaming recorded video or static images only. Messages must be static for at least 8 seconds.
- For electronic message centers (EMCs), the display cannot flash, scintillate, or otherwise vary in a manner that produces the appearance of movement.
- Flags may not be mounted on a roof or parapet (residential). Flagpoles may not be mounted on a parapet (nonresidential and HARD).
- Holiday/seasonal decorations: Flashing lights are discouraged but not prohibited.
- Multi-tenant building signs must be consistent in color, size, material, and letter size with all tenants.
- No sign, or sign illumination, may produce hazardous glare for motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists.
- Electronic message centers (EMCs) must default to a non-flashing mode to prevent malfunction.
- Neon, if used, requires City Council approval and is subject to review in nonresidential zones.
- Window signs using paper are not permitted in the HARD District, and must be high-quality professional grade material.
- Rooftop signs are prohibited in all districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Black Hawk

- American, Colorado, and City of Black Hawk flags flown in accordance with the United States Flag Code do not count towards allowed sign area.
- Signs two (2) square feet or smaller (ex: open/closed, store hours, address info) are exempt from total sign area calculations (in nonresidential and HARD Districts).
- Temporary signs placed inside bulletin boards do not count toward temporary sign area (nonresidential and HARD District).
- Signs announcing City or State approved building permits on the property are exempt from permit requirements, provided they are visible to inspectors (all districts).
- Election season signs are allowed without a permit if complying with specified timing, size, and location limits.
- Holiday and seasonal decorations/lighting are allowed without permit if installed and removed within designated timeframes and according to the National Electrical Code.
- Landscape lighting is allowed year-round on public property and on private property with an approved certificate of architectural compatibility.
- Small temporary signs (subject to quantity and size restrictions) are allowed without a permit in all districts.
- Instructional or way-finding signs up to 4 square feet are allowed in addition to other permanent signs and do not count toward total sign area, provided criteria are met (nonresidential).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan and a certificate of architectural compatibility are required before issuance of a sign permit for any building with 5,000 square feet or more in nonresidential districts.
- City Council approval of a standard sign plan or comprehensive sign plan and certificate of architectural compatibility are required for any sign installation for buildings with less than 5,000 square feet in nonresidential districts.
- All multi-tenant buildings in nonresidential districts require a comprehensive sign plan for anchor and individual tenant signage.
- Owners of buildings, groups of buildings, public areas, or recreational sites/trails in the HARD District must submit a comprehensive sign plan and certificate of architectural compatibility prior to any sign installation, major modification (more than 10% change of plan area), or installation of electronic message centers.
- Tenant Sign Plans are required for tenants of City property in the HARD District and must be approved by the HARD District Sign Committee.
- More than six (6) flagpoles or desire for larger flags than specified requires inclusion and approval as part of a standard or comprehensive sign plan.
- Major modifications (changes exceeding 10% of the approved sign plan area) require submittal and approval of an updated (comprehensive/standard/tenant) sign plan.
- Requests for variances from established standards (e.g., size, height, number beyond code limits) require City Council approval through the sign plan process.
- Comprehensive sign plan regulations are specified in Section 15-13 and certificate of architectural compatibility in Section 16-368 of the Black Hawk Municipal Code.
- All signs in the HARD District must be reviewed by the HARD District Sign Committee before City Council consideration.
- A comprehensive sign plan shall be prepared and approved for properties in the HARD District along Gregory Street.
- Signs for permitted secondary uses (e.g., secondary tenants sharing space with principal use) must be included in sign plans and subordinate to principal use signage.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Black Hawk, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Black+Hawk+CO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-black-hawk

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