# Sign Regulations in Fort Morgan, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fort Morgan, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/fort-morgan
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Fort_Morgan/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CH20LAUSCO_ART9SIRE)

## At a glance

Fort Morgan, Colorado regulates 38 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Primary Freestanding Signs in the Interstate Interchange (II) zoning district are capped at 80 feet tall and Not more than 480 square feet in the aggregate, with a 6 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings setback (Sec. Sec. 20-9-80, Table 20-9-80). Most commercial signs in Fort Morgan require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Interstate Interchange (II) | 21 | 80 feet | Not more than 480 square feet in the aggregate | — |
| Business and Industrial (BI), T (Transitional), B-1 (Mixed Use Business), B-2, BP, I | 21 | 30 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| Residential (RE), ER-1 (Estate Residential), R-1 (Low Density Residential), R-2 (Medium Density Residential), R-3 (High Density Residential), R-4 (Mobile Home Residential) | 19 | 20 feet | 45 square feet | — |
| Agricultural (AG), UA (Urban Agricultural) | 12 | 20 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| PUD (Planned Unit Development) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 70% of total sign area (and subject to other sign size rules) | — |

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

### Interstate Interchange (II)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Freestanding Sign | 80 feet | Not more than 480 square feet in the aggregate | — | 6 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | For each frontage, 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | For each frontage, 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-80, Table 20-9-80 |
| Secondary Freestanding Sign | 4 feet | 16 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | 1 per point of vehicular ingress or egress | 1 per point of vehicular ingress or egress | — | Sec. 20-9-80, Table 20-9-80 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 1 square foot per linear foot of street-facing building elevation, not to exceed 150 square feet | — | Min. sign clearance 8 feet | 1 per building | 1 per building | — | Sec. 20-9-90D, Table 20-9-90D |
| Hanging Sign | — | 8 square feet per building entrance | — | Min. sign clearance 8 feet | 1 per building entrance | 1 per building entrance | — | Sec. 20-9-90D, Table 20-9-90D |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | 4 feet | 6 square feet per sign | — | 2 feet from property lines | 1 per 50 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | 1 per 50 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | 2 feet from front/street property lines, 10 feet from all other property lines | 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |
| Feather Flag (Temporary) | 15 feet | 45 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | 1 per 75 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | 1 per 75 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |
| Standard Flag (Temporary) | 40 feet | 48 square feet per flag | — | 2 feet from property lines | 9 flags per 100 feet of frontage (no more than 3 flagpoles per 100 feet) | Up to 3 flagpoles per 100 feet of frontage, up to 9 flags per 100 feet of frontage | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |

### Business and Industrial (BI), T (Transitional), B-1 (Mixed Use Business), B-2, BP, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Freestanding Sign | 20 feet or highest point of building, whichever is greater | 150 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | For each frontage, 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | For each frontage, 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-80, Table 20-9-80 |
| Secondary Freestanding Sign | Not to exceed the maximum height allowed for Primary Freestanding Sign | 16 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | 1 per point of vehicular ingress or egress | 1 per point of vehicular ingress or egress | — | Sec. 20-9-80, Table 20-9-80 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 1 square foot per linear foot of street-facing building elevation, max 150 sq ft | — | Min. sign clearance 8 feet | 1 per building | 1 per building | — | Sec. 20-9-90D |
| Hanging Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | Min. clearance 8 feet | 1 per building entrance | 1 per building entrance | — | Sec. 20-9-90D |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 2 feet | 1 per 50 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | 1 per 50 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | 2 feet from front/street property lines, 10 feet from all other property lines | 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |
| Feather Flag (Temporary) | 15 feet | 45 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | 1 per 75 feet | 1 per 75 feet of frontage or fraction thereof | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |
| Standard Flag (Temporary) | 30 feet | 48 square feet per flag | — | 2 feet | 9 flags, 3 flagpoles per 100 feet frontage | 9 flags, 3 flagpoles per 100 feet frontage | — | Sec. 20-9-100, Table 20-9-100B |

### Residential (RE), ER-1 (Estate Residential), R-1 (Low Density Residential), R-2 (Medium Density Residential), R-3 (High Density Residential), R-4 (Mobile Home Residential)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Freestanding Sign (Single-family or Duplex) | 4 feet | 2 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 2 feet from buildings | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Sec. 20-9-80, Table 20-9-80 |
| Secondary Freestanding Sign (Multifamily or Nonresidential) | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | 1 per point of vehicular ingress or egress | 1 per point of vehicular ingress or egress to multifamily or nonresidential property | — | Sec. 20-9-80, Table 20-9-80 |
| Secondary Freestanding Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 6 feet from buildings | 1 per point of vehicular ingress/egress | 1 per point of vehicular ingress/egress | — | Sec. 20-9-80 |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 2 feet | 10 | 10 per property | — | Sec. 20-9-100 |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | 2 feet from front/street property lines, 10 feet from all other property lines | 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof | 1 per 500 linear feet of frontage or fraction thereof (properties \u22651 acre only) | — | Sec. 20-9-100 |
| Swing Sign (Temporary) | 5 feet | 5 square feet including riders | — | 2 feet | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Sec. 20-9-100 |
| Feather Flag (Temporary, Multifamily & Nonresidential) | 15 feet | 45 square feet | — | 2 feet from property lines; 2 feet from buildings | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Sec. 20-9-100 |
| Standard Flag (Temporary) | 20 feet | 24 square feet per flag | — | 2 feet | 3 flags per frontage (up to 3 flagpoles) | 3 flags per frontage (up to 3 flagpoles) | — | Sec. 20-9-100 |

## Prohibited signs in Fort Morgan

- No sign shall be displayed, constructed, installed, erected, or altered within the City limits until the City has issued a sign permit, unless the sign is exempt from regulation or exempted from the permit requirement as provided herein.
- No sign shall be installed or displayed on any property or structure in the City without the consent of the owner of the property or structure.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except as specifically permitted in Sections 20-9-100 and 20-9-110.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall incorporate animated or moving parts, including moving, swinging, rotating, windblown, spinning parts, or flashing, blinking, scintillating, fluctuating, or otherwise animated light (including searchlights), except as specifically allowed.
- No sign shall use cardboard, card stock, or paper, except when laminated or used as a window sign.
- No sign shall use motor vehicles as sign structures unless they are operational and primarily used as motor vehicles with current registration and tags, the display of signage does not interfere with operation, and are legally parked.
- No sign shall use semi trailers, shipping containers, or portable storage units as sign structures unless they are structurally sound, used for their primary purpose, and signage is incidental to use.
- No sign shall incorporate unshielded bare light bulbs larger than C9 format or brighter than fifty (50) lumens per bulb, except for neon tubing.
- No sign shall use materials with a high degree of specular reflectivity that creates substantial glare, except retroreflective materials that comply with MUTCD.
- No sign shall obstruct building ingress or egress, including doors, egress windows, and fire escapes.
- No sign shall obstruct the operability of windows (except obstruction of transparency is allowed within limits).
- No sign shall obstruct equipment or structures related to public safety, building operations, or utility service.
- No sign shall obstruct required sight distance triangles at intersections.
- No sign shall obstruct the visibility of official traffic control signs to pedestrians and motorists.
- No sign shall be posted, installed, painted, or mounted on any tree or shrub.
- No sign shall be posted, installed, painted, or mounted on any utility pole or light pole, except for banners or flags under specific dimensional and mounting requirements.
- No sign shall be located in or over public rights-of-way except as specifically permitted.
- No sign shall be located in locations that do not meet minimum clearances from communication or electrical power lines as required by State law.
- No sign shall be approved or disapproved based on its content or message except for illegal content as defined.
- Signs shall not display text or graphics harmful to minors as defined by state or federal law.
- Signs shall not display text or graphics that are obscene, fighting words, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, or true threats.
- Signs shall not display text or graphics that present a clear and present danger due to confusion with traffic control signs, or provide false information related to public safety (e.g., 'Stop', 'Yield', 'Caution', 'Danger', or similar).
- No internal sign lighting shall include any exposed light source except as allowed in II and BI sign districts.
- No sign or associated luminaire shall create light spillover of more than one (1) lux at any property line within or bounding a residential zoning district or residential component of a planned unit development zoning district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fort Morgan

- Signs installed or posted (or required to be installed or posted) by the Federal government, State of Colorado, Morgan County, the City, or Morgan County School District Re-3, on property owned or controlled by these Governmental Entities.
- Street signs and permanent traffic control devices, temporary signs used in conjunction with traffic control, and other signs displayed, required, or licensed by Governmental Entities on their property.
- Signs that are not visible from residential lots, abutting property not under a common plan of development, or public rights-of-way due to building configuration or lot topography.
- Signs that are not legible from abutting property or rights-of-way due to configuration, orientation, setback, or typeface, provided the sign area is not more than 32 square feet.
- Signs applied to or painted on utility cabinets or pedestals, provided the cabinet is in use for its principal purpose, is existing or installed in compliance with City-approved plans, and does not exceed 4 feet (horizontal) and 5 feet (vertical).
- Signs applied to or painted on water tanks, oil and gas rigs, beam pumping units, or oil and gas tanks.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan appears in the provided text.
- For properties rezoned to PUD after the effective date of this Section, sign districts must be included within the PUD plan, with boundaries drawn according to corresponding land uses as set out in Table 20-9-30(c).
- No reference to required variance meetings for sign approval is present in the provided sections.

## 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 Fort Morgan — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Fort+Morgan+CO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-fort-morgan

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