# Sign Regulations in Mead, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mead, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/mead
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Mead/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CD_CH16LAUSCO_ARTVIISICO)

## At a glance

Mead, Colorado regulates 27 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Primary Detached Signs in the Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) zoning district are capped at 15 ft; 25 ft if on I-25 frontage; 15 ft + 5 ft if on Hwy 66 frontage tall and 1 SF per 2 LF of frontage for first 100 ft, then 1 SF per 4 LF; max 300 SF (multi-tenant, I-25); 200 SF (single-tenant, I-25); 175 SF (multi-tenant, Hwy 66); 125 SF (single-tenant, Hwy 66); 100 SF (otherwise), with a 12 ft from building walls, 100 ft from other primary detached signs, 1 ft from front property line plus additional setback for height above 4 ft, side/rear setback equal to sign height setback (Sec. Sec. 16-7-120, Table 7.12(1)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential (RSF-E, RSF-1, RSF-4, RMF-8, RMF-14) | 11 | 10 ft | 48 SF | — |
| Agricultural (AG) | 8 | 6 ft | 32 SF | — |
| Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) | 18 | 15 ft; 25 ft if on I-25 frontage; 15 ft + 5 ft if on Hwy 66 frontage | Lesser of 100 SF or 50% of width of front elevation x 4 | — |
| Welker Corridor (west of I-25) | 18 | 15 ft; 25 ft I-25; 20 ft Hwy 66 | Lesser of 100 SF or 50% width of front elevation x 4 | — |
| Commercial (GC, HC) | 19 | 15 ft; 25 ft I-25; 15 ft + 5 ft Hwy 66 | 225 SF | — |
| Industrial (LI) | 19 | 15 ft; 25 ft I-25; 15 ft + 5 ft Hwy 66 | 225 SF | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Flagpole up to max building height of district | 32 SF (per flag) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Detached Sign | 15 ft; 25 ft if on I-25 frontage; 15 ft + 5 ft if on Hwy 66 frontage | 1 SF per 2 LF of frontage for first 100 ft, then 1 SF per 4 LF; max 300 SF (multi-tenant, I-25); 200 SF (single-tenant, I-25); 175 SF (multi-tenant, Hwy 66); 125 SF (single-tenant, Hwy 66); 100 SF (otherwise) | — | 12 ft from building walls, 100 ft from other primary detached signs, 1 ft from front property line plus additional setback for height above 4 ft, side/rear setback equal to sign height | 1 per parcel | Primary detached | — | Sec. 16-7-120, Table 7.12(1) |
| Secondary Detached Sign | 4 ft | 6 SF | — | 1 ft from property lines; 2 ft from sidewalk/pavement | 1 per vehicular entrance | 1 per vehicular entrance | — | Sec. 16-7-120, Table 7.12(1) |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 SF | — | 2 ft from all property lines | 1 per parcel | 1 per parcel | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Subdivision Under Development (SUD) Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 SF | — | 2 ft | 1 per entrance plus 1 | At each entrance plus one additional | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 SF | — | — | Same as residential | Where allowed, same as residential | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Swing Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft | 5 SF, including riders | — | — | Same as residential | Where allowed, same as residential | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Sidewalk Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 SF | — | — | 1 per primary building entrance | Within 10 ft of a principal building entrance; must leave 4 ft clear sidewalk width | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Banner (Temporary) | 4 ft or any location if affixed to fence/retaining wall | 32 SF | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Affixed to fence, handrail, or retaining wall; or stretched between posts | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |

### Commercial (GC, HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Detached Sign | 15 ft; 25 ft I-25; 15 ft + 5 ft Hwy 66 | 1 SF per 2 LF frontage for first 100 ft, then 1 SF per 4 LF, max 300/200/175/125/100 SF (see Table 7.12(1)) | — | 12 ft from walls, 100 ft from other primary detached signs, 1 ft from front property line (+1 ft per 2 ft above 4 ft), side/rear = sign height | 1 per frontage | Primary detached | — | Sec. 16-7-120, Table 7.12(1) |
| Secondary Detached Sign | 4 ft | 8 SF | — | 1 ft from property lines, 2 ft from pavement/sidewalk | 1 per vehicular entrance | 1 per vehicular entrance | — | Sec. 16-7-120, Table 7.12(1) |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 SF | — | 2 ft from all property lines | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Subdivision Under Development (SUD) Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 48 SF | — | 2 ft from front, 10 ft from all other property lines, 10 ft apart for SUD signs | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 SF | — | 2 ft from all property lines, 2 ft apart | 2 per vehicular access | See residential for other uses | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Swing Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft | 5 SF including riders | — | — | Same as residential | Same as residential | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Sidewalk Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 SF | — | — | 1 per primary building entrance | Within 10 ft of building entrance, leaves 4 ft clear sidewalk | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Inflatable Sign (Temporary) | 15 ft | 225 SF | — | 5 ft from all property lines | 1 per parcel | 1 per parcel (never with rooftop inflatable) | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 and 7.13(3) |

### Industrial (LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Detached Sign | 15 ft; 25 ft I-25; 15 ft + 5 ft Hwy 66 | 1 SF per 2 LF frontage for first 100 ft, then 1 SF per 4 LF, max 300/200/175/125/100 SF (see Table 7.12(1)) | — | 12 ft from walls, 100 ft from other primary detached signs, 1 ft from front property line (+1 ft per 2 ft above 4 ft), side/rear = sign height | 1 per frontage | Primary detached | — | Sec. 16-7-120, Table 7.12(1) |
| Secondary Detached Sign | 4 ft | 8 SF | — | 1 ft from property lines, 2 ft from pavement/sidewalk | 1 per vehicular entrance | 1 per vehicular entrance | — | Sec. 16-7-120, Table 7.12(1) |
| Site Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 32 SF | — | 2 ft from all property lines | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Subdivision Under Development (SUD) Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 48 SF | — | 2 ft from front, 10 ft from all other property lines, 10 ft apart for SUD signs | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 6 SF | — | 2 ft from all property lines, 2 ft apart | 2 per vehicular access | See residential for other uses | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Swing Sign (Temporary) | 5 ft | 5 SF including riders | — | — | Same as residential | Same as residential | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Sidewalk Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 6 SF | — | — | 1 per primary building entrance | Within 10 ft of building entrance, leaves 4 ft clear sidewalk | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 |
| Inflatable Sign (Temporary) | 15 ft | 225 SF | — | 5 ft from all property lines | 1 per parcel | 1 per parcel (never with rooftop inflatable) | — | Sec. 16-7-140, Table 7.14 and 7.13(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Mead

- Animated or moving signs, including any moving, swinging, rotating, flashing, blinking, scintillating, fluctuating, or otherwise animated light, except as specifically permitted in Section 16-7-90, Message centers, with limited exception for a single, vertical, striped cylindrical pole in the DMU zoning district.
- Portable signs, except as specifically permitted in Part 4, Standards for Temporary Signs.
- Abandoned signs.
- Awnings or fascias that are backlit or made of plastic.
- Cardboard, card stock, or paper, except when laminated or used as a window sign.
- Feather flags.
- Flags, banners, or comparable elements designed to move in the wind when attached to another sign type (e.g., flags may be attached to flagpoles but not to monument signs).
- Flashing lights, except as part of holiday displays.
- Motor vehicles displaying signs, unless vehicles are operational, properly registered, regularly used as vehicles, and the signage does not interfere with their operation or cover windows, and vehicles are legally parked.
- Semi trailers, shipping containers, or portable storage units displaying signs unless the vehicle/unit is used for its primary purpose, is structurally sound, registered (if applicable), the sign is incidental to the primary use, and the unit is parked in a designated loading area or construction site.
- Stacked products such as tires, soft drink cases, bagged soil or mulch used as signs.
- Spinning or moving parts, except for the limited exception of a single, striped cylindrical pole as a projecting sign in the DMU zoning district.
- Unshielded bare light bulbs larger than C9 format or brighter than 50 lumens per bulb (neon tubing is not considered a bare light bulb).
- Materials with a high degree of specular reflectivity, such as polished metal, installed in a manner that creates substantial glare, except retroreflective materials that comply with MUTCD.
- Obstruction of building ingress or egress including doors, egress windows, fire escapes.
- Obstruction of equipment or structures for public safety, building operations, or utility service (e.g., standpipes, fire hydrants, vents, meters).
- Obstruction of any required sight distance triangle as defined by the approved Town engineering/design standards.
- Posting, installing, or mounting signs on trees or shrubs.
- Posting or mounting signs to any utility pole or light pole unless the sign is a banner or flag not more than 10 square feet in area, has consent from the pole owner, is properly mounted, is at proper clearance, and meets additional requirements.
- Posting or mounting signs to utility cabinets or pedestals, except exempt signs by or with consent of the owner.
- Signs in or over public rights-of-way except those specifically allowed (e.g., posted by government, for authorized work, on transit shelters, or under revocable agreement).
- Signs within site distance triangle restrictions as specified in Town design standards.
- Signs located with less horizontal or vertical clearance from authorized communication or electrical power lines than required by state law.
- Wall signs located within six inches of architectural features or within twelve inches from building corners, cornice, or eave lines or ground planes, except certain wrap-around signs at corners.
- Fascia signs installed in locations that cover decorative fascias.
- Content prohibitions: text or graphics of indecent/immoral nature harmful to minors by law, unlawful activity, obscenity, fighting words, defamation, incitement, true threats, or presenting clear and present danger due to traffic sign confusion or false public safety information.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mead

- Public signs posted by the Town or another entity on behalf of the Town on Town-controlled property or by governmental or quasi-municipal entities not subject to Town jurisdiction on their property.
- Signs required by law or regulation, including signs in furtherance of a public duty or function (e.g., traffic controls, street signs), to give legal notice (e.g., notice of pending action), to comply with building codes (e.g., address numbers), or other laws or regulations (e.g., Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Rule 210).
- Small signs affixed to a building or structure not exceeding 2 square feet in sign area (one per elevation visible from public right-of-way or neighboring property).
- Small signs less than 0.75 square foot affixed to doors, machines, equipment, fences, gates, walls, gasoline pumps, public telephones, or utility cabinets, provided the aggregate area within 12 feet does not exceed 3 square feet.
- One optional residential wall sign, painted on, applied to, or affixed to a residential building front elevation, not exceeding 5 square feet.
- Optional storage tank and utility cabinet/pedestal signs painted on or applied to the surface of above-ground storage tanks, utility cabinets, or pedestals that are currently in use for their primary purpose.
- Flags hanging from building-mounted or ground-mounted flagpoles, with a maximum of three per lot, provided no flag exceeds 32 square feet and no flagpole exceeds maximum building height for the zoning district.
- Holiday decorations and signs clearly incidental, customary, and commonly associated with a holiday.
- Interior signs not visible from residential lots, abutting property, or public rights-of-way.
- Temporary signs in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 4, except for site signs and Subdivision Under Development (SUD) signs.
- Exempt signs as defined above are exempt from sign permit requirements but may still require building or related permits if subject to building or electrical code.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to erection, installation, or substantial modification of any sign that is not an exempt sign as defined in Sec. 16-7-50(5).
- Application for a sign permit must be made to the Planning Department and include a scaled drawing/specifications. (Sec. 16-7-160(2))
- A Sign Design Program is an alternative process for unified signage throughout a development and acts as a master sign plan for an entire development. It must be reviewed and approved by Planning Commission at a public hearing. (Sec. 16-7-170)
- Sign Design Program applications require plans showing boundaries, building elevations, sign dimensions and locations, materials/colors, proposed illumination, design theme, and demonstration of improved aesthetics and reduced clutter. Approval may allow deviation from some standards with findings.
- Prohibited signs and elements enumerated in Section 16-7-70 cannot be included in a Sign Design Program.
- Planning Commission may attach conditions unrelated to sign content or viewpoint to Sign Design Program approvals.
- Sign Design Program approvals have a term of three years, and may be extended if tied to concurrent development approval (Sec. 16-7-170(10)).
- Sign Design Programs may be amended by the same public process as initial approval.
- Sign permits are not required for exempt signs listed in Sec. 16-7-50(5), but such signs must still comply with other requirements of the ordinance.
- Site and SUD temporary signs require a permit as per Table 7.14 and notes in Part 4; permits for such signs must be renewed annually to extend display duration.

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

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