# Sign Regulations in Glenwood Springs, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Glenwood Springs, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/glenwood-springs
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Glenwood_Springs/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=TIT070DECO_ART070.040DEST_070.040.110SI)

## At a glance

Glenwood Springs, Colorado regulates 23 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Yard Sign (Residential Zoning Districts)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 42 inches tall and 24 square feet total, with a 5 feet from property line setback (Sec. 070.040.110(d)(21)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 20 | 42 inches | 40 square feet | — |
| Downtown—South | 2 | Top of wall | 25 square feet or one square foot per linear foot of building frontage | — |
| Downtown—North | 2 | Top of wall | 25 square feet or one square foot per linear foot of building frontage | — |
| Midtown | 1 | 16 feet | 120 square feet | — |
| West Sixth Street | 1 | 16 feet | 120 square feet | — |
| Highway 82—South | 1 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Highway 6—West | 1 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Red Mountain | 1 | 20 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| RT-Residential Transitional | 1 | 42 inches | 10 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Site Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per lot line frontage, max two per frontage | Not within 10 feet of any lot line unless attached to a barrier or fence | — | 070.040.110(d)(3) |
| Directional Sign | 42 inches | 4 square feet per face | — | — | Four per property, plus one per entryway | — | — | 070.040.110(d)(4) |
| Feather Flag | — | — | — | — | Three per street frontage per property | Not in public right-of-way or sight distance triangle | — | 070.040.110(d)(5) |
| Flag | Not to exceed building height in zoning district | 40 square feet | — | — | — | Affixed to a flagpole or building | — | 070.040.110(d)(6) |
| Integral Sign | 6 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Integral to a building | — | 070.040.110(d)(14) |
| Temporary Off-Premises Directional Sign | 42 inches | 24 square feet total | — | — | — | May be located within public right-of-way | — | 070.040.110(d)(18) |
| Yard Sign (Residential Zoning Districts) | 42 inches | 24 square feet total | — | 5 feet from property line | Four per property | At least 5 feet from any property line | — | 070.040.110(d)(21) |
| Yard Sign (All Other Zoning Districts) | 6 feet or 42 inches in sight distance triangle | 24 square feet total | — | — | Four per property | Not in public right-of-way | — | 070.040.110(d)(21) |

### Downtown—South

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of wall | 25 square feet or one square foot per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | One per building frontage | On walls or parapets | — | Table 040.12 |
| Roof Sign | Shall not exceed allowed building height | 25 square feet or one square foot per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | One per building frontage | Shall not project into a required yard | — | Table 040.12 |

### Downtown—North

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of wall | 25 square feet or one square foot per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | One per building frontage | On walls or parapets | — | Table 040.12 |
| Roof Sign | Shall not exceed allowed building height | 25 square feet or one square foot per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | One per building frontage | Shall not project into a required yard | — | Table 040.12 |

## Prohibited signs in Glenwood Springs

- Any sign that is structurally unsafe or constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation.
- Any sign capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come into contact with it.
- Any sign that obstructs the view of, or may be confused with an official traffic sign, signal or device or any other official government regulatory or informational sign.
- Any sign that uses words, phrases, symbols, or characters implying the existence of danger or the need for stopping or maneuvering of a motor vehicle or creates an unsafe distraction for vehicle operators, bicyclists, or pedestrians.
- Any sign that obstructs the view of vehicle operators, bicyclists, or pedestrians entering a public roadway from any parking area, service drive, public driveway, alley, or other thoroughfare.
- Any sign located or painted on trees, rocks, retaining walls, fences, light poles, utility poles, or natural features, except where required by law or allowed by this Code.
- Any sign that causes direct glare into or upon any public right-of-way, adjacent lot, or building other than the building to which the sign may be accessory.
- Any sign that creates optical illusion of movement by means of a design that presents a pattern capable of reversible perspective, giving the illusion of motion or changing of copy.
- Any sign that obstructs any window or door opening used as a means of egress, prevents free passage from one part of a roof to any other part, interferes with an opening required for legal ventilation, or is attached to or obstructs any standpipe, stairway, ladder, fire escape, or fire hydrant.
- Abandoned signs or sign structures.
- Animated or moving signs.
- Banners and inflatable signs, except as temporary signs.
- Beacons and search lights, other than for emergency purposes or by permission of the Director.
- Electronic message signs, except freestanding electronic signs as authorized.
- Flashing signs.
- Signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character.
- Off-premises signs, except for temporary off-premises directional signs or otherwise approved through an off-premises sign permit.
- Portable signs, except as authorized.
- Signs in public right-of-way, unless authorized by the City Council or the City Manager.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers that are parked on a public right-of-way, or parked on a private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way.
- Signs with auditory messages, except those related to public safety or otherwise allowed.
- Signs with projected copy, such as motion pictures, film slides, holographs, or other similar images.
- Unlawful signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Glenwood Springs

- The ordinary preventative maintenance of a lawfully existing sign that does not involve a change of placement, size, lighting, or height.
- The repainting of a lawfully existing sign.
- The changing of copy on marquees, reader boards, and similar changeable copy signs on permitted or existing legal nonconforming signs.
- Inflatable balloons.
- Development site signs.
- Directional signs.
- Feather flags.
- Flags, not including feather flags.
- Signs on gas pump islands and external vending machines.
- Historic designation signs.
- Historic signs.
- Holiday decorations.
- Home occupation signs.
- Incidental vehicle signs.
- Information signs.
- Integral signs.
- Interior signs.
- Nonvisible signs.
- Public signs.
- Temporary off-premises directional signs.
- Wind signs.
- Window signs.
- Yard signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Developments and/or properties with approved sign plans shall not be subject to these standards, except that the procedures for obtaining a sign permit shall apply.
- A master sign plan shall be required for multi-tenant buildings and commercial developments containing more than one building.
- A master sign plan shall be approved prior to the issuance of a building permit for all new buildings, additions, or renovations and prior to the issuance of any sign permit for an individual business.

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

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