# Sign Regulations in Leadville, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Leadville, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/leadville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Leadville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.80SI)

## At a glance

Leadville, Colorado regulates 14 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Banners in the Transitional Retail/Residential (TR) zoning district are capped at 20 sq. ft. or less, with maximum 5 ft. length and 5 ft. wide (Sec. 17.80.090.B.9). Most commercial signs in Leadville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2) | 7 | — | 12 sq. ft. or less per side | — |
| Transitional Retail/Residential (TR) | 11 | — | 20 sq. ft. or less, with maximum 5 ft. length | — |
| Retail Core (RC) | 11 | — | 25 sq. ft. or less per side | — |
| Commercial District (C) | 11 | Top of sign no more than 20 ft. above ground or surface of Hwy. 24 | Up to 200 sq. ft. total, no more than 100 sq. ft. per side | — |
| Transitional Commercial (TC) | 9 | — | 20 sq. ft. or less, with maximum 5 ft. length | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Transitional Retail/Residential (TR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. per occupation | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.090.B.1, B.2, Table |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. or less per side | — | — | 1 per business (either freestanding or projecting) | — | — | 17.80.090.B.4, B.5 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. or less per side | — | — | 1 per business (either projecting or freestanding) | — | — | 17.80.090.B.4, B.5 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On wall of business | — | 17.80.090.B.3, B.14 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On/inside window visible from outside | — | 17.80.090.B.13 |
| Banner | — | 20 sq. ft. or less, with maximum 5 ft. length | 5 ft. | — | 1 at a time, max 4 per year | — | — | 17.80.090.B.9 |
| Temporary Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.090.B.9.d |
| Mural | — | — | — | — | — | On exterior wall | — | 17.80.090.B.8 |

### Retail Core (RC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. per occupation | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.090.C.1, Table |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 25 sq. ft. or less per side | — | — | 1 per business entrance | — | — | 17.80.090.C.3, C.4, C.2 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. or less per side | — | — | 1 per business entrance | — | — | 17.80.090.C.3, C.5, C.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On wall of business | — | 17.80.090.C.7, C.2 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On/inside window visible from outside | — | 17.80.090.C.6, 17.80.070.F |
| Banner | — | 20 sq. ft. or less, with maximum 5 ft. length | 5 ft. | — | 1 at a time, max 4 per year | — | — | 17.80.090.C.14 |
| Portable Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. per side or less | — | — | 1 per business | Must be located on business property or on public right-of-way (see Section 17.80.120) | — | 17.80.090.C.12 |
| Off Premise Portable Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. per side or less | — | — | 1 | On public right-of-way. See Section 17.80.120 for conditions. | — | 17.80.090.C.13, 17.80.120 |

### Commercial District (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 8 sq. ft. per occupation | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.090.D.1, Table |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | 17.80.090.D.3 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On/inside window visible from outside | — | 17.80.090.D.4 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. or less per side, per business entrance | — | — | 1 per business entrance | — | — | 17.80.090.D.5 |
| Freestanding Sign | Top of sign no more than 20 ft. above ground or surface of Hwy. 24 | Up to 200 sq. ft. total, no more than 100 sq. ft. per side | — | — | — | — | — | 17.80.090.D.6.a,b, Table |
| Portable Sign | — | 15 sq. ft. per side or less | — | — | 1 per business | Must be located on business property or on public right-of-way (see Section 17.80.120) | — | 17.80.090.D.7 |
| Banner | — | 20 sq. ft. or less, with maximum 5 ft. length | 5 ft. | — | 1 at a time, max 4 per year | — | — | 17.80.090.D.8 |
| Mural | — | — | — | — | — | On exterior wall | — | 17.80.090.D.9 |

## Prohibited signs in Leadville

- Signs that are not securely affixed to any structure or not constructed to withstand substantial snow and wind loading.
- Signs with searchlights, revolving beacons, flashing lights, holographic signs or signs with any type of animation or intermittent lighting effects, except traditional barber poles, clocks, or thermometers.
- Signs designed to resemble public signs and traffic control devices.
- Signs attached to any tree or utility pole.
- Signs with surfaces that reflect light in a dangerous manner.
- Parked vehicles including automobiles, trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, boats and the like shall not be used as a sign or sign structure.
- It is unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, use or maintain any sign or sign structure contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Leadville

- Official government and public utility signs and notices.
- Flags of nations, or organizations of nations, state, county, city, any religious, civic or fraternal organization or educational institution except when used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device.
- Temporary decorations or displays that are customarily associated with any national, local or religious holiday or celebration.
- Signs displayed on motor vehicles or trailers that are being operated or stored in the normal course of business provided that the vehicles are parked or stored in areas appropriate to their use as vehicles.
- Fine art painted on outside walls that serves no commercial purpose.
- Window signs in the retail core and commercial districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit application and fee is required and must be submitted to the planning and zoning office for all new signs or relocated signs if moved to a different zoning district. Approval is required prior to the sign being erected or displayed.
- Sign permit application is required for off-premise portable signs in the public right-of-way.
- Murals must be approved by city council in accordance with the intents and purposes of the sign code.
- Temporary identification sign permits and banner permits may be issued by the planning and zoning official, often in connection with a pending permanent sign permit application.
- Requests to change the status of a legal nonconforming sign, or to have a sign designated as historic, require a sign review hearing before the board of adjustment.
- Variances to the sign code and appeals of decisions require procedures before the board of adjustment.

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

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