# Sign Regulations in Grand Lake, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Grand Lake, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/grand-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Grand_Lake/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH6BURE_ART2SICO)

## At a glance

Grand Lake, Colorado regulates 36 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Apartment or Condominium Complex)s in the Residential Districts (Zone A), Residential Districts (Zone B) zoning district are capped at 10 ft. tall and 24 sq. ft. (Sec. 6-2-10(E)). Most commercial signs in Grand Lake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 21 | 20 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Districts (Zone A), Residential Districts (Zone B) | 8 | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. Zone A; 100 sq. ft. Zone B | — |
| Nonresidential Districts (Zone A), Nonresidential Districts (Zone B), Central Business District, Highway and General Business District | 7 | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. total | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale Sign - Parcel for Sale < 1 Acre | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On property for sale | — | 6-2-9(J) |
| For Sale Sign - Parcel for Sale ≥ 1 Acre | 10 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On property for sale of 1 acre or larger | — | 6-2-9(J) |
| Construction Site Temporary Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On parcel under active construction | — | 6-2-9(K) |
| Instructional Sign | — | — | — | — | Minimum needed for purpose | On site, not meant to attract attention beyond perimeter | — | 6-2-9(L) |
| Noncommercial Temporary Sign (General) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | One noncommercial temporary sign per property | — | 6-2-9(N) |
| Noncommercial Flag | 10 ft. taller than tallest structure on property (flagpole) | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | 6-2-16(1) |
| Barber Pole | 6 ft. | — | 1 ft. diameter | — | — | — | — | 6-2-16(2) |
| Scoreboard/Athletic Field Sign | 20 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On athletic fields and intended for on-premises viewing | — | 6-2-16(7) |

### Residential Districts (Zone A), Residential Districts (Zone B)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft. | — | — | 6 ft. from ROW | — | — | — | 6-2-10(A) |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft. | — | — | 6 ft. from ROW | — | — | — | 6-2-10(A) |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Use) | — | 50 sq. ft. Zone A; 100 sq. ft. Zone B | — | — | — | For permitted nonresidential uses only | — | 6-2-10(C) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Use) | — | 50 sq. ft. Zone A; 100 sq. ft. Zone B | — | — | — | For permitted nonresidential uses only | — | 6-2-10(C) |
| Subdivision Tract Permanent Sign | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tract | On subdivision tract | — | 6-2-10(D) |
| Freestanding Sign (Apartment or Condominium Complex) | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per complex | For apartment or condominium complex | — | 6-2-10(E) |
| Wall Sign (Apartment or Condominium Complex) | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One for each street frontage | — | 6-2-10(E) |
| Unit/Building Number Sign (Multi-building Complex) | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | As many as necessary | On as many sides of individual buildings as necessary | — | 6-2-10(E) |

### Nonresidential Districts (Zone A), Nonresidential Districts (Zone B), Central Business District, Highway and General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Must be attached; ext. no more than 6 ft. from wall and 6 ft. into ROW | — | 6-2-11(A) |
| Suspended Sign (Above Sidewalk) | — | — | — | — | — | Above sidewalk | — | 6-2-11(B) |
| Roof or Parapet Wall Sign | 4 ft. above roof/parapet, or 25 ft. above ground (whichever is lower) | — | — | — | — | Roof or parapet wall | — | 6-2-11(C) |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 25 ft. | — | — | Highway/General Business: must be outside public ROW | — | Permanent, not in or above public ROW in highway/general business | — | 6-2-11(D) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Private property only, not on public property, boardwalk, sidewalk or street | — | 6-2-11(F) |
| Total Business Sign Area (Zone A) | — | 50 sq. ft. total | — | — | — | — | — | 6-2-11(E)(1)(a) |
| Total Business Sign Area (Zone B) | — | 100 sq. ft. total | — | — | — | — | — | 6-2-11(E)(1)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Grand Lake

- Displaying, constructing, erecting, altering, using, or maintaining any sign not in conformance with the provisions of this title.
- Displaying or maintaining any sign, including street graphics erected or constructed prior to this title, not in conformance with the current provisions.
- Signs for which no valid permit has been issued by the Town and which are not exempt from the permit requirement.
- Abandoned signs (signs located on property vacant and unoccupied for 90 days or more), including supporting structure, must be removed; nonconforming signs on abandoned/vacant property 60 days or more must be removed.
- Signs which are structurally unsafe, a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation, capable of causing electrical shocks, likely to cause injury to persons, or an obstruction to pedestrians or drivers' lines of sight.
- Signs not maintained in accordance with specified standards (missing/damaged sections, nonfunctioning lighting, moved/changeable copy, peeling/badly faded paint, nonfunctioning neon signs).
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs/signals or using words or symbols implying danger or requiring motor vehicle action or otherwise creating distraction for motor vehicle operators.
- Signs with commercial messages related to illegal activity or are false or misleading.
- Moving, animated, wind-driven, or rotating signs, except for public service informational signs.
- Signs that obstruct the view of vehicle operators entering public roadways or obstruct free ingress/egress from required exits.
- Signs erected on a public right-of-way without proper authorization.
- Searchlights.
- Rooftop signs on two-story buildings.
- Vehicular signs (as defined in ordinance).
- Snipe signs, handbills, or temporary signs fastened to trees, fences, telephone poles, public benches, or street lights or placed on public property or right-of-way (excepting temporary signs authorized by the article).
- Signs containing statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character.
- Illuminated signs which flash, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity, vary in color, use intermittent electrical pulsations, or employ an excessively intense light source.
- Billboards.
- Festoons.
- Use of fluorescent, Day-Glo®, and neon colors.

## Signs exempt from permit in Grand Lake

- Noncommercial flags up to 50 square feet, flagpole not higher than 10 feet above the tallest structure on property.
- Barber poles up to 6 feet in height and 1 foot in diameter.
- Gravestones.
- Height limitations do not apply to spires, belfries, cupolas, antennas, domes, electronic towers, water tanks, or similar non-occupiable structures.
- Official government signs or traffic signs.
- Signs not legible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property.
- Signs on athletic fields and scoreboards intended for on-premises viewing; scoreboards not exceeding 20 feet in height and 150 square feet in size.
- Display of street numbers.
- Public notices or signs relating to emergency.
- Signs showing underground or public utilities.
- Interior window signs.
- Private warning signs not exceeding 4 square feet.
- Signs integrated into/on coin-operated machines, vending machines, gasoline pumps, EV charging stations, telephone booths.
- Decorative lighting displays (e.g., holiday lights without commercial message).
- A sign carried by a person.
- Signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, or ordinance.
- For sale signs (up to 6 square feet, or up to 16 square feet and 10 feet high on parcels one acre or larger, with timely removal after sale).
- A property may have a single, noncommercial temporary sign up to 6 square feet in area. (All size/number restrictions suspended during certain timeframes specified in 6-2-9(N)).
- Unit or building numbers for apartment or condominium complexes not larger than 4 square feet, on as many sides as necessary.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan (comprehensive site plan) showing the number, size, description, color, copy, and location of all signs is required as part of the application for a permit for any sign (except those specifically exempted in Section 6-2-16 and those listed as exempt).
- Permit applications must be accompanied by a scale drawing including a sign plan, required landscaping, specific location, elevation, mounting method, and lighting.
- If the Administrator determines a sign design is not in conformance with requirements and the applicant does not amend it, the application is forwarded to the planning commission for review.
- Larger sandwich board signs may only be permitted upon express authorization of the Town Board of Trustees after a public hearing and on such terms as the Board may impose.
- A variance from sign regulations may be requested from the Planning Commission as part of the sign application review process per Section 6-2-17.
- Engineering data to prove reliability must be submitted with the drawings (as part of the sign plan/application) for freestanding or projecting signs over 10 feet in height and/or 40 square feet in surface area.

## Full detail

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

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