Sign Regulations in Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado has specific sign regulations covering 18 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Neighborhood Sign, Freestanding Sign, Major Tenant Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 1, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Lakewood, Colorado
Sample Sign Requirements in Lakewood
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Business Sign | 8 ft. (Minor) / 10 ft. (Major) | 6 s.f. (Minor) / 25 s.f. (Major) | — |
| Residential Business or Organization Sign | 12 ft. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area up to 100 s.f. | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. |
| Neighborhood Sign | 2nd floor | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area. Overall building/site total: Max. = 100 s.f. | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
Sign Types Covered
18
- Neighborhood Sign
- Freestanding Sign
- Major Tenant Sign
- Wall Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
10
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Other Cities in Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in Lakewood vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in Lakewood, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Lakewood, regulated sign types include Neighborhood Sign, Freestanding Sign, Major Tenant Sign, Wall Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Lakewood vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Lakewood are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Lakewood has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Lakewood, Colorado Sign Rules at a Glance
Lakewood, Colorado regulates 18 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Residential Business or Organization Signs in the Residential Zone Districts zoning district are capped at 12 ft. tall and Max. 15% coverage of each wall area up to 100 s.f., with a Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. setback (Sec. Table 17.9.4: Residential Business or Organization Sign Standards). Most commercial signs in Lakewood require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Lakewood, Colorado
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Lakewood (10 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Zone Districts | 5 | 12 ft. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area up to 100 s.f. | Yes |
| Non-Residential Zone Districts - (M-G, M-C, M-E, M-N, M-R, M-G-U, M-C-U, M-E-S, M-E-U, M-G-S, M-C-T, M-E-T, M-G-T, M-N-T, M-R-T) | 11 | 18 ft. | 75 s.f. per face (M-N, M-R) / 150 s.f. per face (M-G, M-C, M-E) | Yes |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |
| R-1-43, R-1-18, All (R) districts | 1 | 12 ft. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area up to 100 s.f. | Yes |
| R-MF | 2 | 12 ft. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area up to 100 s.f. | Yes |
| M-N, M-R | 3 | 12 ft. | 75 s.f. per face | Yes |
| M-C, M-E, M-G | 4 | 25 ft. in suburban context 12 ft. in urban context 6 ft. in transit context | 150 s.f. per face in suburban context Max. = 120 s.f. per face in urban context Max. = 100 s.f. per face in transit context | Yes |
| C-R, C-L, LI, LI-RD | 3 | 25 ft. | 125 s.f. per face | Yes |
| PD, M, C | 1 | 15 ft. | 8 s.f. | Yes |
| M-C-U, M-E-S, M-E-U, M-G-S, M-G-U, M-C-T, M-E-T, M-G-T, M-N-T, M-R-T | 1 | Below parapet wall and above floor level of highest story. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area. Overall building total Max. = 100 s.f. | Yes |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Lakewood(sample of 3 of 10 zones)
Residential Zone Districts
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Business Sign | 8 ft. (Minor) / 10 ft. (Major) | 6 s.f. (Minor) / 25 s.f. (Major) | — | — | 1 per property | Signable area | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.3: Home Business Sign Standards |
| Residential Business or Organization Sign | 12 ft. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area up to 100 s.f. | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. | 1 per property | Signable area | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.4: Residential Business or Organization Sign Standards |
| Neighborhood Sign | 2nd floor | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area. Overall building/site total: Max. = 100 s.f. | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. | Not applicable | Signable area | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.5: Neighborhood Sign Standards |
| Residential Property Transition Sign | 6 ft. | 6 s.f. | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. | 1 per street frontage | See Supplemental Standards below | No | Unlock | Table 17.9.6: Residential Property Transition Sign Standards |
| Yard Sign | 4 ft. | 6 s.f. per sign face max. & 24 s.f. total sign area per property | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, and easements. | No maximum provided the total area is not exceeded. | See Supplemental Standards Below | No | Unlock | Table 17.9.7: Yard Sign Standards |
Non-Residential Zone Districts - (M-G, M-C, M-E, M-N, M-R, M-G-U, M-C-U, M-E-S, M-E-U, M-G-S, M-C-T, M-E-T, M-G-T, M-N-T, M-R-T)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft. | 6 s.f. | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. | 1 per business | See Supplemental Standards below | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.8: A-Frame Sign Standards |
| Banner Pole Sign | 15 ft. | 8 s.f. | — | — | No maximum provided signs are horizontally spaced at least 25 feet apart (2 per pole) | See Supplemental Standards below | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.9: Banner Pole Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft. (M-N, M-R) / 25 ft. (M-G, M-C, M-E) | 75 s.f. per face (M-N, M-R) / 150 s.f. per face (M-G, M-C, M-E) | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements, unless an alternative location is authorized with a City approved license agreement. | 1 per frontage | See Supplemental Standards below | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.10: Freestanding Sign Standards |
| Electronic Message Sign | Maximum sign height for that district and use. | Max. 50% of the allowable size per sign face for that zone district and use. | — | — | 1 per property | See Supplemental Standards below | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.11: Electronic Message Sign Standards |
| Major Tenant Sign | Below parapet wall and above floor level of highest story. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area. Overall building total Max. = 100 s.f. | — | — | 1 per property | Signable area | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.12: Major Tenant Sign Standards |
| Banner Sign & Banner Flag | N/A (Banner) / 12 ft (Banner Flag) | 40 s.f. (Banner) / 30 s.f. (Banner Flag) | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, and easements. | 1 per property (Banner) / 1 per tenant, and no more than 1 per 100 linear feet of public street frontage (Banner Flag) | Affixed to a fence or building on-site (Banner) / On-site and not in right-of-way (Banner Flag) | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.16: Banner & Banner Flag Standards |
| Commercial Post Sign | 8 ft. | 16 s.f. | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements, unless an alternative location is authorized with a City approved license agreement. | 1 per street frontage | Min. 2 ft from back of walk and outside right-of-way. See Supplemental Standards below | No | Unlock | Table 17.9.17: Commercial Post Sign Standards |
| Yard Sign | 4 ft. | 6 s.f. per sign face max. & 24 s.f. total sign area per property | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, and easements. | No maximum provided the total area is not exceeded. | See Supplemental Standards Below | No | Unlock | Table 17.9.7: Yard Sign Standards |
M-C, M-E, M-G
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood Sign | 2nd floor | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area. Overall building/site total: Max. = 200 s.f. | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements. | Not applicable | Signable area | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.5: Neighborhood Sign Standards |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft. in suburban context 12 ft. in urban context 6 ft. in transit context | 150 s.f. per face in suburban context Max. = 120 s.f. per face in urban context Max. = 100 s.f. per face in transit context | — | Signs shall be placed at least 2 ft from sidewalks and outside of the public right-of-way, sight triangles, the clear zone and easements, unless an alternative location is authorized with a City approved license agreement. | 1 per frontage | See Supplemental Standards below | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.10: Freestanding Sign Standards |
| Wall Sign | No wall sign shall be located above the second story of a building. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area. Overall building total: Max. = 200 s.f. | — | — | Not applicable | See Supplemental Standards below | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.15: Wall Sign Standards |
| Major Tenant Sign | Below parapet wall and above floor level of highest story. | Max. 15% coverage of each wall area. Overall building total Max. = 100 s.f. | — | — | 1 per property | Signable area | Yes | Unlock | Table 17.9.12: Major Tenant Sign Standards |
PermitPal covers all 10 zoning districts in Lakewood — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 10 zones for Lakewood — start freeProhibited Signs in Lakewood
- Pennants, streamers, lighter-than-air objects, and wind signs, except as provided for in Section 17.9.4.4.A of this Article.
- Signs with light bulbs that have intermittent, flashing, rotating, blinking, or strobe illumination.
- Roof signs except when in compliance with the applicable regulations in Section 17.9.4.3.H of this Article.
- Off-Premise signs are prohibited unless approved by an Official Development Plan, Comprehensive Sign Plan or Zone Lot.
- Search lights.
- Signs painted on fences.
- Portable signs, except as provided for in Section 17.9.4.3.A this Article.
- Signs which are located on, or projecting over the public right-of-way, that are not considered a public sign, bus bench sign or transit shelter sign as described in this Article, unless specifically approved by the City.
- Any sign placed by a nongovernmental person or entity and located within the right-of-way.
- Signs painted on, or attached to, a licensed or unlicensed motor vehicle and parked adjacent to a public right-of-way and not driven off-site during any two-day period.
- Electronic Message signs on vehicles.
Exempt Signs in Lakewood
- City Signs
- Decorative Lighting Displays
- De Minimis Area Signs
- Directional Signs
- Flags
- Interior-Site Signs
- Public Signs
- MUTCD Signs
- Scoreboards
- Transit Signs
- Window Signs
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Lakewood
- Off-Premise signs are prohibited unless approved by an Official Development Plan, Comprehensive Sign Plan or Zone Lot.
- Multiple properties may form a Zone Lot and apply for an Electronic Message sign provided the dimensional standards are satisfied.