# Sign Regulations in Florence, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Florence, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/florence
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Florence/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT5BULIRE_CH5.34SEORBU_5.34.150SISEORBU)

## At a glance

Florence, Colorado regulates 8 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Commercial (C-1) zoning district are capped at Not above eave/parapet line tall, Included in aggregate sign area (see wall sign), and May not extend more than 4 ft 6 in from wall wide (Sec. 17.64.190.04(L), Table 1, Table 2). Most commercial signs in Florence require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-E, MH) | 4 | 5 feet | 9 sq. ft. per dwelling unit | — |
| Commercial Use in a Residential Zone | 1 | — | 9 sq. ft. per dwelling unit, or as otherwise permitted by special use | — |
| Commercial Historic Business Zone (CHB) | 3 | Not above roofline | 50 sq. ft. (or less, if building frontage is less than 50 ft.) | — |
| Commercial (C-1) | 5 | 20 feet | First floor: up to 100 sq. ft. per frontage; Secondary street frontage: half sq. ft. of primary frontage with total max 200 sq. ft. per property | — |
| Industrial | 5 | 20 feet | First floor: up to 100 sq. ft. per frontage; Secondary street: half sq. ft. of primary frontage, total max 200 sq. ft. per property | — |
| All other Commercial and Industrial Zones | 5 | 20 feet | First floor: up to 100 sq. ft. per frontage; Secondary street: half sq. ft. of primary frontage; total max 200 sq. ft. per property | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 16 sq. ft. in commercial zones | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Commercial (C-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above eave line or parapet wall | First floor: up to 100 sq. ft. per frontage; Secondary street frontage: half sq. ft. of primary frontage with total max 200 sq. ft. per property | — | — | — | On building wall, below eave/parapet | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.04(P), 17.64.190.05(D), 17.64.190.04(G) |
| Pole Sign | 20 feet | Each not to exceed 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.04(K), 17.64.190.04(G) |
| Ground Sign | 8 feet | Each not to exceed 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.04(F), 17.64.190.04(G) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above eave/parapet line | Included in aggregate sign area (see wall sign) | May not extend more than 4 ft 6 in from wall | — | — | Projecting from building wall | — | 17.64.190.04(L), Table 1, Table 2 |
| Electronic Variable Message Sign (EVM) | — | 40 sq. ft.; 60 sq. ft. along Highway 50 | — | — | — | — | — | Table 2, 17.64.190.05(D) |

### Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above eave line or parapet wall | First floor: up to 100 sq. ft. per frontage; Secondary street: half sq. ft. of primary frontage, total max 200 sq. ft. per property | — | — | — | On building wall, below eave/parapet | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.05(D), 17.64.190.04(P), 17.64.190.04(G) |
| Pole Sign | 20 feet | Each not to exceed 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.04(G), 17.64.190.04(K) |
| Ground Sign | 8 feet | Each not to exceed 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.04(G), 17.64.190.04(F) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above eave/parapet line | Included in aggregate sign area (see wall sign) | May not extend more than 4 ft 6 in from wall | — | — | Projecting from building wall | — | 17.64.190.04(L), Table 1, Table 2 |
| Electronic Variable Message Sign (EVM) | — | 40 sq. ft.; 60 sq. ft. along Highway 50 | — | — | — | — | — | Table 2, 17.64.190.05(D) |

### All other Commercial and Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above eave or parapet wall | First floor: up to 100 sq. ft. per frontage; Secondary street: half sq. ft. of primary frontage; total max 200 sq. ft. per property | — | — | — | On building wall, below eave/parapet | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.05(D), 17.64.190.04(P) |
| Pole Sign | 20 feet | Each not to exceed 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.04(G), 17.64.190.04(K) |
| Ground Sign | 8 feet | Each not to exceed 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Table 1, Table 2, 17.64.190.04(F), 17.64.190.04(G) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above eave/parapet line | Included in aggregate sign area (see wall sign) | May not extend more than 4 ft 6 in from wall | — | — | Projecting from building wall | — | 17.64.190.04(L), Table 1, Table 2 |
| Electronic Variable Message Sign (EVM) | — | 40 sq. ft.; 60 sq. ft. along Highway 50 | — | — | — | — | — | Table 2, 17.64.190.05(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Florence

- Off-premises signs are prohibited in all zoning districts, except as allowed by City Council for public interest (public safety, traffic safety, wayfinding, etc.).
- No sign shall be displayed on public property or within the right-of-way of any road or highway without written approval from the City Council, except as specifically provided otherwise.
- Moving, flashing, rotating, blinking, or animated signs, signs with moving, rotating, or flashing lights, or signs that create the illusion of movement are prohibited, except for time and temperature devices.
- No sign shall be displayed that causes visual obstruction or interference with motor vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic or traffic-control devices, including any sign that obstructs clear vision in any direction from any street intersection or driveway.
- No sign shall be displayed that poses a danger due to poor design, construction, installation, or maintenance.
- No sign shall be displayed that is in a state of disrepair, wear, or ruin due to age or neglect. All signs shall be maintained in good condition and in compliance with all building and electrical codes.
- Roof signs (erected/placed/maintained upon, against, or directly above the roof, or which project above the eaves/parapet) are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs (advertising an activity, product, or business no longer occupying the premises) must be removed by the property owner within ninety (90) days after the business, product, or service is no longer on the premises (with some historic exceptions).
- Attention-attracting devices are prohibited unless otherwise approved under the chapter.
- Signs or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character, as will offend morals or decency, are prohibited.
- Signs may not be illuminated in residential zones, except for special nonresidential uses such as churches with special use permits.
- Signs in commercial districts must be turned off by 11:00 p.m.; signs on property adjacent to residential uses must be turned off by 10:00 p.m.
- In no case may murals or signs be painted over unpainted brick or stone on any contributing building in the Florence Downtown National Register of Historic Places Historic District.

## Signs exempt from permit in Florence

- A sign permit is not required for the display of a sign or group of signs, whose total square footage equals nine (9) square feet or less per property.
- Window signs do not require a permit and do not count toward total area allowed, though they must meet other requirements.
- Temporary signs (in commercial zones): One per business, up to sixteen (16) square feet, not exceeding sixty (60) days total per calendar year, do not require a sign permit and do not count toward total area allowed.
- Ghost signs (historic painted signs related to historic tenants or products not sold at the site) may be restored and repainted to existing dimension.
- Signs not requiring a permit under this chapter are still permitted in a development with a comprehensive sign plan unless stated otherwise in the plan.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan is required for every multi-tenant building or coordinated development (office parks, shopping centers, business parks, planned developments, recreational vehicle parks, civic uses, etc.).
- Any multiple-tenant nonresidential building or development existing at the time of code adoption without a comprehensive sign plan must create one at the time of application for a new sign at the site.
- Planned developments shall include a comprehensive sign plan at the final development plan stage.
- Applications for final subdivision plat shall include a comprehensive sign plan application.
- Where a comprehensive sign plan is required for an existing development with multiple owners, all such owners shall be given notice and a chance to participate or provide written approval; after fifteen (15) days following notice, non-participation counts as consent.
- In developments with an approved comprehensive sign plan, a separate permit is required for each business entity's signs.

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

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