# Sign Regulations in Nederland, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nederland, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/nederland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Nederland/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH18BURE_ARTVSI)

## At a glance

Nederland, Colorado regulates 12 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Projecting Sign / Freestanding Sign / Suspended Signs in the CBD, GC, I, Neighborhood-Commercial, neighborhood commercial, General Commercial, Central-Business District, General Commercial, Central-Business District zoning district are capped at Freestanding signs: 15 ft; Projecting/Suspended min 8 ft ground clearance tall and 24 sq ft, with a min. 10 ft to property line (Sec. 18-96(e)) setback (Sec. Sec. 18-93(3)b; Sec. 18-93(3)b.2, b.3, b.5, b.6). Most commercial signs in Nederland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| F, NC | 1 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| MR, LDR, MDR, HDR, mountain residential, low density residential, medium density residential, high density residential | 2 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| CBD, GC, I, Neighborhood-Commercial, neighborhood commercial, General Commercial, Central-Business District, General Commercial, Central-Business District | 6 | Freestanding signs: 15 ft; Projecting/Suspended min 8 ft ground clearance | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 15 ft | 24 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### MR, LDR, MDR, HDR, mountain residential, low density residential, medium density residential, high density residential

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Sign Types (Individual Unit) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Individual residential unit | — | Sec. 18-93(2)a |
| All Sign Types (Entrance Sign) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 (entrance signs per subdivision, project, complex, or area) | Entrance to subdivision, project, complex or overall area | — | Sec. 18-93(2)b; Sec. 18-92(b) |

### CBD, GC, I, Neighborhood-Commercial, neighborhood commercial, General Commercial, Central-Business District, General Commercial, Central-Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Sign Types (except as specified below) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 18-93(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Exterior wall or building facade | — | Sec. 18-93(3)a; Sec. 18-92(a) |
| Projecting Sign / Freestanding Sign / Suspended Sign | Freestanding signs: 15 ft; Projecting/Suspended min 8 ft ground clearance | 24 sq ft | — | Freestanding signs: min. 10 ft to property line (Sec. 18-96(e)) | 1 per single tenant building face adjacent to a street | Freestanding (on property); Projecting/Suspended (from building); must abut a street | — | Sec. 18-93(3)b; Sec. 18-93(3)b.2, b.3, b.5, b.6 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On interior of window | — | Sec. 18-93(3)c |
| Neon Sign | — | 6 sq ft (aggregate per business) | — | — | — | Inside building | — | Sec. 18-96(c) |
| Internally Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 18-96(b) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Complex Sign | — | 15 in x 70 in (per tenant); 30 in x 70 in (anchor tenant) | — | — | 1 development complex sign per complex | Multiple-occupancy development (e.g., shopping center, planned industrial park) | — | Sec. 18-95(h) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | — | — | Minimum 10 ft from property line | — | Not within 10 ft of any property line | — | Sec. 18-93(3)b.6; Sec. 18-96(e); Sec. 18-88 |
| Projecting/Suspended Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per single tenant building face adjacent to a street | Projecting more than 12 inches over private property; uses building wall for support; at least 8 ft ground clearance | — | Sec. 18-93(3)b |

## Prohibited signs in Nederland

- It is unlawful to display, erect, modify, change, alter or relocate a sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Administrator (Sec. 18-84).
- No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole, whether on public or private property (Sec. 18-95(d)).
- No sign shall be maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, size, shape, or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any traffic control sign, signal or device, nor may it interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic (Sec. 18-95(e)).
- No portion of any sign located in a vision clearance area shall be lower than ten (10) feet from the average ground level, and supporting members of such signs shall not obscure views of pedestrians or vehicles (Sec. 18-95(f)).
- Signs shall be permitted only on the same lot or lots owned, occupied or otherwise controlled by the sign permit holder, and only as an accessory use of such lot(s) (Sec. 18-95(g)).
- No flashing, rotating, moving or animated signs, signs with moving lights or signs which create the illusion of movement shall be permitted (Sec. 18-96(d)).
- Roof signs shall not be allowed in any district (Sec. 18-96(f)).
- Obsolete signs are prohibited in all zone districts. A sign is deemed abandoned and must be removed if it has ceased to be used for display of sign copy, unless it is a designated landmark or accessory to a seasonal business with intent to continue operation (Sec. 18-90(c)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Nederland

- Flags displayed on private property, as long as such flag does not exceed sixty (60) square feet, are exempt (Sec. 18-98(a)(1)).
- Signs posted by or on the order of a public employee in the performance of his or her duty and signs required by local, state or federal law are exempt (Sec. 18-98(a)(2)).
- Signs in athletic stadiums are exempt (Sec. 18-98(a)(3)).
- One (1) sign may be placed on each street frontage of property actively being offered for sale, lease or rent, provided that no sign exceeds six (6) square feet in area. Larger properties may have additional signs as specified, with removal requirements after sale/lease (Sec. 18-98(a)(4)).
- Murals are exempt (Sec. 18-98(a)(5)).
- Signs not exceeding ten (10) square feet in gross surface area accessory to a church, school, public or nonprofit institution are exempt from requiring a permit, but must comply with all other regulations (Sec. 18-98(b)(1)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit must be accompanied by a site plan (drawn to scale), elevation drawings, and other specifications (Sec. 18-85).
- A 'sign site plan' is defined as a drawing required from a sign applicant prior to issuance of a sign permit, showing location and dimensions of existing and proposed signs, and more (Sec. 18-83, 'sign site plan' definition).
- If a proposed sign is not in compliance with the ordinance, the applicant may request a variance, which is subject to a public hearing before the Board of Zoning Adjustment (Sec. 18-86, Sec. 18-87).

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

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