# Sign Regulations in Buena Vista, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Buena Vista, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/buena-vista
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Buena_Vista/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CH8VETR_ARTIIVEWELI_S8-23SI)

## At a glance

Buena Vista, Colorado regulates 11 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Site Construction Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 32 square feet (Sec. 4.7.2.C.8.). Most commercial signs in Buena Vista require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 6 feet | 50% of window panel | No |
| Residential Zoning Districts | 1 | — | Limited to the height of the subject wall | Yes |
| Mixed-Use (MU) Districts | 2 | Minimum 8 feet; Maximum 14 feet | 15% of the primary building façade or 150 square feet | Yes |
| Highway Commercial (HC) and Light Industrial (I-1) | 3 | 16 feet | 60 square feet | Yes |
| Commercial Districts | 2 | 16 feet | 60 square feet | Yes |
| Industrial Districts | 2 | 16 feet | 60 square feet | Yes |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Signage | — | 50% of window panel | — | — | — | On windows or door glass panels | No | 4.7.2.C.2. |
| Banner | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | — | No | 4.7.2.C.3. |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | 3 per property | Affixed to permanent flagpoles | No | 4.7.2.C.4. |
| Public Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | No | 4.7.2.C.5. |
| Sign Located Inside Building | — | — | — | — | — | Inside buildings | No | 4.7.2.C.6. |
| Yard Sign - Residential | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 2 per property, 5 during election periods | On private property with owner's permission | No | 4.7.2.C.7. |
| Yard Sign - Non-Residential | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 2 per property, 5 during election periods | On private property with owner's permission | No | 4.7.2.C.7. |
| Site Construction Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per site | On construction site | No | 4.7.2.C.8. |

### Mixed-Use (MU) Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of the primary building façade or 150 square feet | — | — | No limit | On building wall | Yes | 4.7.5.B.1. |
| Projecting Sign | Minimum 8 feet; Maximum 14 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per tenant | Extending from building wall | Yes | 4.7.5.B.3. |

### Highway Commercial (HC) and Light Industrial (I-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of the primary building façade or 150 square feet | — | — | No limit | On building wall | Yes | 4.7.5.B.1. |
| Projecting Sign | Minimum 8 feet; Maximum 14 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per tenant | Extending from building wall | Yes | 4.7.5.B.3. |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — | — | 1 per street | Inside property line | Yes | 4.7.5.B.6. |

## Prohibited signs in Buena Vista

- Glaring Signs: Signs with light sources or that reflect brightness to constitute a hazard or nuisance.
- Obstructive Signs or Signs in the Public Right-of-Way: Any sign that obstructs free and clear vision of an intersection or traffic approaching the intersection or a roadway.
- Posters and Handbills: Any exterior sign affixed to any structure, fence, tree, pole, or natural vegetation except in designated community areas.
- Vehicle Signs: Any sign displayed on a parked vehicle or trailer, unless the vehicle or trailer is functional with current registration and parked in a parking space or behind a principal building.
- Abandoned Signs: Any unused abandoned sign, including any pole or structure supporting such sign, shall be removed within six months after becoming abandoned.
- Backlit and Internally-Illuminated Signs in the MU-MS district: Any backlit or internally-illuminated sign is prohibited except for within the HC and I-1 zoning districts.
- Feather Flags: Feather flags and similar devices shall only be allowed with a special event permit and shall be limited to a maximum of two weeks.
- Streamers: No sign shall contain or consist of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving, fluttering, or revolving devices.
- Permanent Banners: Banners shall only be allowed as a temporary sign.
- Roof-Mounted Signs: No sign shall be permitted to be mounted on the roof of a building.
- Animated or Moving Signs: Animated or moving signs are not permitted unless approved through a Comprehensive Sign Plan.
- Inflatable Signs and Objects: Signs and other objects that are inflated, including, but not limited to, balloons are prohibited.
- Obscene Signs: Signs containing obscenity are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Buena Vista

- Signs Required by Building Code: All signs required by building code shall be exempt from these standards provided they do not exceed two square feet in area.
- Window Signage: Signs and decals affixed or painted on windows or door glass panels, provided window signage does not cover more than fifty percent of any one window panel.
- Banners: A banner shall not require a permit provided it does not exceed sixteen square feet, no more than one banner is displayed on a property at one time, it is professionally printed and installed safely, and it is not displayed for more than two weeks every calendar quarter.
- Flags: Up to three flags allowed per property, affixed to permanent flagpoles, with a minimum pedestrian clearance of seven feet above a sidewalk or walkway.
- Public Signs: Signs required by the local and/or state government, or signs erected by government agencies, utilities, or special districts.
- Signs Located Inside Buildings: Signs located inside a building, except those within five feet of any window with flashing or moving lights.
- Yard Signs: Yard signs are permitted on a property provided they comply with specific conditions.
- Site Construction Signs: One temporary sign may be allowed after the commencement of construction on a site, not exceeding thirty-two square feet in area and six feet in height.

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

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