# Sign Regulations in Fountain, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fountain, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/fountain
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Fountain/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT17ZO_ARTIIIGEREDEST_CH17.12SI)

## At a glance

Fountain, Colorado regulates 19 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Site Sign (Construction)s in the Large Lot Agricultural/Residential District (LLR), Residential Agricultural District (RA), Single Family Residential: Small Lot District (R1), Residential Mixed Use District (RMU), Multifamily Residential District (MF), Manufactured Housing Park (MHP), Manufactured Housing Subdivision District (MHS), Parks and Open Space District (POS), Planned Unit Development District (PUD) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 16 sq. ft. (residential), 32 sq. ft. (nonresidential/mixed use), with a 10 ft. from any property line setback (Sec. §17.12.070(D)). Most commercial signs in Fountain require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Large Lot Agricultural/Residential District (LLR), Residential Agricultural District (RA), Single Family Residential: Small Lot District (R1), Residential Mixed Use District (RMU), Multifamily Residential District (MF), Manufactured Housing Park (MHP), Manufactured Housing Subdivision District (MHS), Parks and Open Space District (POS), Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 4 | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. (residential), 32 sq. ft. (nonresidential/mixed use) | — |
| Downtown Mixed Use District (MU), Central Mixed Use Business District (CMU), Neighborhood Commercial District (NC), Village Center District (VC), Regional Commercial District (RC), Business Parks District (BP), Small Office/Warehouse (SO), Planned Industrial District (PI), Olde Town District Overlay, Gateway District Overlay | 12 | 30 ft. max | Up to 200 sq. ft. (varies by facade area) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 30 ft. | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Large Lot Agricultural/Residential District (LLR), Residential Agricultural District (RA), Single Family Residential: Small Lot District (R1), Residential Mixed Use District (RMU), Multifamily Residential District (MF), Manufactured Housing Park (MHP), Manufactured Housing Subdivision District (MHS), Parks and Open Space District (POS), Planned Unit Development District (PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Site Sign (Construction) | 6 ft. | 16 sq. ft. (residential), 32 sq. ft. (nonresidential/mixed use) | — | 10 ft. from any property line | 1 per lot | Minimum 10 ft. setback from any property line, not in public right-of-way. | — | §17.12.070(D) |
| Site Sign (Developed Site) | 3 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property; up to 3 additional during election season | Not in public right-of-way. | — | §17.12.030(A)(3) |
| Swing Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | Not in public right-of-way. | — | §17.12.070(E) |
| Home-Based Business Sign | 3 ft. (if in yard) | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per licensed home-based business | On wall, fence (not above fence), or in yard | — | §17.12.030(A)(10) |

### Downtown Mixed Use District (MU), Central Mixed Use Business District (CMU), Neighborhood Commercial District (NC), Village Center District (VC), Regional Commercial District (RC), Business Parks District (BP), Small Office/Warehouse (SO), Planned Industrial District (PI), Olde Town District Overlay, Gateway District Overlay

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary) | Not higher than eave line of building | Up to 200 sq. ft. (varies by facade area) | — | — | 1 primary wall sign per business | On wall facing primary frontage; may be approved for other elevations; mounted within facade area controlled by business. | — | §17.12.050(D), §17.12.060(J), Table 17.12.1 |
| Wall Sign (Secondary) | Not higher than eave line | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 secondary wall sign per business | On secondary frontage; may be approved for other elevations. | — | §17.12.050(D), §17.12.060(J), Table 17.12.2 |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | 30 ft. max | 50 sq. ft. per face; exception for nonresidential use within 0.25 mi of interstate interchange: up to 480 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from any property line, 4 ft. from building, 25 ft. from res. zone property line | — | Frontage adjoining public/private street, easement or ROW. | — | §17.12.060(E); Figure 17.12.8 |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft. (nonresidential); 6 ft. (residential subdivision) | By sign area allowances of §17.12.050 | — | Min. equal to sign height from property line | — | Must be located on frontage adj. to street/easement/ROW; min setback from property line equal to height. | — | §17.12.060(F); Figure 17.12.9 |
| Electronic Message Center (EMC) | As per sign type to which incorporated (max 8 or 30 ft.) | 50% of underlying sign allowance (see wall/pole/monument sign for base area) | — | As for sign in which incorporated | — | May be part of wall, freestanding pole, or monument sign. | — | §17.12.060(D) |
| Awning Sign | No part less than 9 ft above finished grade; may not extend >7 ft from face of bldg.; no higher than roof line. | Counts toward wall sign area for the face it is on | — | — | — | On nonresidential building awning. | — | §17.12.060(B) |
| Projecting Sign | Not higher than wall if 1 story; else low as bottom of 2nd story window; minimum 9 ft clearance. | Counts toward wall sign area for face it is on | Shall not extend > 4 ft. from building wall. | — | — | Ground floor facade or (if business above ground level, direct exterior access) | — | §17.12.060(H) |
| Portable Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Secured, on private property, not in right-of-way. | — | §17.12.070(F) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Government/Utility/ADA/Warning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Allowed anywhere as needed by government/utility | — | §17.12.030(A)(1), §17.12.030(A)(4) |
| Flag | 30 ft. | — | — | — | — | — | — | §17.12.030(A)(9) |
| Murals | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §17.12.030(A)(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Fountain

- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt from regulation are prohibited in the city.
- Searchlights or similar devices are prohibited, except as used by law enforcement or other governmental actors or agents performing their official duties.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited, apart from specific exceptions.
- Signs that emit any sound which is intended to attract attention are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees or other plant materials are prohibited.
- Unlawful vehicle signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be attached to any utility pole or traffic control device. No sign shall be placed on any city property, any street, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way.
- Signs cannot be erected closer than four feet from the edge of the roadway, unless approved by the city engineer.
- Balloons, blimps and inflatable displays; banners including wave banners; and off-premise signs are prohibited as temporary signs in the public right-of-way, except as otherwise allowed.
- No sign shall obstruct the use of sidewalks, walkways, bike and hiking trails, the visibility of vehicles, pedestrians or traffic control signs, or another pre-existing lawful sign.
- No sign shall be permitted which may obstruct the view at the intersection of a street with another street, alley, or driveway.
- Signs, other than government-owned signs, are prohibited in traffic circles and medians.
- Signs that may contribute to confusion of traffic control devices or emergency service vehicles, or which hide or interfere with the effectiveness of such devices or vehicles, are prohibited.
- Any sign within the public right-of-way that poses a safety hazard such as signs that have fallen over, are in a state of disrepair, are torn or faded, or have otherwise been defaced to where the content is no longer legible, may be removed by the city.
- Signs attached to utility poles or traffic control devices are prohibited.
- Animated signs (any sign which has any visible moving part, flashing lights, visible mechanical movement, or other apparent visible movement achieved by any means not permitted) are prohibited, unless otherwise permitted by the chapter.
- No sign shall be illuminated in a manner that causes glare to adversely affect surrounding properties, or safe vision of pedestrians or operators of vehicles.
- No permanent sign shall be installed without written consent of the property owner or authorized agent.
- Permanent signs shall not be located on property not owned or controlled by the person or entity locating and in control of the sign, except as otherwise allowed by this chapter.
- No sign shall extend over a pedestrian or vehicle area less than nine feet above the finished grade below it.
- Awnings shall not be internally illuminated.
- Projecting signs shall not extend more than four feet from the building wall.
- No sign part, including cut-out letters, may project from the building wall more than required for construction purposes and in no case more than 12 inches.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fountain

- Signs erected by, on behalf of, or pursuant to the order or authorization of a governmental entity, including but not limited to traffic control, legal notice, and ADA compliance signs.
- On-premise site signs, not illuminated, in nonresidential and mixed use zone districts less than six square feet in sign area.
- On-premise site signs, not illuminated, in residential zone districts less than four square feet in sign area; further subject to maximum number and timing standards around elections.
- Signs erected by public utility companies, oil and gas companies, construction companies, and the like, to warn of danger or hazardous conditions.
- Any sign displayed on a window of a building that is not visible through a window from a public right-of-way.
- Murals, as defined in section 17.12.090.
- Temporary and seasonal decorations and displays.
- Signs carried by a person and not set on or affixed to the ground.
- Flags (with flagpoles not exceeding 30 feet in height).
- One on-premise sign per properly-licensed home-based business (subject to size, height, and design limitations).
- Changeable copy: No permit is required for the changing of advertising copy or message on a lawfully erected, painted, or printed sign, theater marquee, or similar signs specifically designed for the use of changeable copy.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any new sign or modification to an existing sign, unless the sign is exempt per section 17.12.040.
- For any shopping center, industrial or business park, or mixed use development with at least 25,000 square feet of gross floor area and at least three or more units, a master sign plan is required that consists of coordinated, shared signage for the entire development.
- The master sign plan application must describe unifying sign elements and include a table allocating sign area to each tenant, a description/illustration of wall signage materials, and elevations/materials for any standard signs. The zoning administrator may, in review, vary standards for sign area, height, setbacks, number of signs, and other dimensional standards by up to 25% for creative and quality design, or more if an exceptional design and amenities are provided.
- All permanent signs, and sometimes temporary signs, require a sign permit application and approval by the zoning administrator.
- Additional permits (building or electrical) may be required for certain signs in conjunction with the sign permit application.
- An initial inspection is required prior to sign installation, and a final site inspection is required upon completion of sign installation as part of the permit process.

## Full detail

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

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