# Sign Regulations in Northglenn, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Northglenn, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/northglenn
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-12
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.northglenn.org/Sign%20UDO.pdf)

## At a glance

Northglenn, Colorado regulates 77 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Comprehensive Sign Plans in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Flexible tall and Flexible per plan, with a Per plan setback (Sec. 11-4-10(j)). Most commercial signs in Northglenn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 20 | 20 ft pole unless required by law | 25% of total window area per façade | — |
| Single-Family Residential Districts (RS-1 Single-Family Large-Lot, RS-2 Single-Family Standard-Lot, RS-3 Single-Family Small-Lot, MH Manufactured Home) | 7 | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Multifamily Residential Districts (RM-1 Multifamily Limited, RM-2 Multifamily) | 11 | 15 ft | 96 sq ft | — |
| Non-Residential Districts (MN Mixed-Use Neighborhood, MC Mixed-Use Corridor, MR Mixed-Use Regional, CG Commercial General, CA Commercial Auto-Oriented, IN Industrial, PF Public Facilities, AG Agricultural, OS Open Space, PD Planned Development) | 37 | 40 ft | 450 sq ft | — |
| Non-Residential Districts (Off-Premise Commercial Advertising Signs in C-5 Commercial, I-1 Industrial, I-2 Industrial) | 2 | 60 ft | 672 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Measurement and Computation - Sign Area (Wall Signs) | — | — | — | — | — | Building facade | — | 11-4-10(e)(1)(A) |
| Building Directory Signs | — | 15 sq ft total | — | — | — | Building | — | 11-4-10(b)(4)(C)(iii) |
| Directional Signs | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On property, not street frontage or ROW | — | 11-4-10(b)(4)(C)(v) |
| Flags | 20 ft pole unless required by law | — | — | — | 3 | On building or adjacent | — | 11-4-10(b)(4)(C)(vii) |
| Vehicle Signs (<=2 sq ft) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On vehicle | — | 11-4-10(b)(4)(C)(h) |
| Window Signs | — | 25% of total window area per façade | — | — | — | Windows | — | 11-4-10(b)(4)(C)(i) and 11-4-10(f)(7) |
| Small Balloons | — | — | <2 ft diameter, groups <12, <=4 groups | — | 4 groups | — | — | 11-4-10(b)(4)(C)(ii) |
| Comprehensive Sign Plan | Flexible | Flexible per plan | — | Per plan | Per plan | Per plan | — | 11-4-10(j) |

### Multifamily Residential Districts (RM-1 Multifamily Limited, RM-2 Multifamily)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Multifamily) | 8 ft | 75 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | 1 per access point | Ground, per access point | — | 11-4-10(h)(2) |
| Temporary Wall Banner (Multifamily) | N/A | Varies by business size: <10k sq ft 40 sq ft, 10k-25k 70 sq ft, >25k 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb | Up to 2 | Wall | — | 11-4-10(g)(1) and Table 4-10-D |
| Temporary Pole Banner/Wind Blade (Multifamily) | 15 ft | 36 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb | 4 | Pole | — | 11-4-10(g)(1) and Table 4-10-D |
| Temporary Freestanding Banner (Multifamily) | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb | Up to 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(g)(1) and Table 4-10-D |
| Temporary Portable/A-Frame/Sandwich Board (Multifamily) | 8 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb | 2 | — | — | 11-4-10(g)(1) and Table 4-10-D |
| Temporary Sign Spinner (Multifamily) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb | 2 | — | — | 11-4-10(g)(1) and Table 4-10-D |
| Temporary Construction Signs (Multifamily) | 10 ft | 96 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb | 1 per subcontractor/affiliate/partner | — | — | 11-4-10(g)(1) and Table 4-10-D |
| Temporary Election Season Freestanding (Multifamily) | 8 ft | 3 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curb | 3 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(g)(1) and Table 4-10-D |

### Non-Residential Districts (MN Mixed-Use Neighborhood, MC Mixed-Use Corridor, MR Mixed-Use Regional, CG Commercial General, CA Commercial Auto-Oriented, IN Industrial, PF Public Facilities, AG Agricultural, OS Open Space, PD Planned Development)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single-Tenant, 0-10,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 36 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(f)(4) and Table 4-10-B |
| Freestanding Sign (Single-Tenant, >10,000 sq ft) | 30 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(f)(4) and Table 4-10-B |
| Monument Sign (0-10,000 sq ft) | 8 ft | 45 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(f)(4) and Table 4-10-B |
| Monument Sign (>10,000 sq ft) | 8 ft | 75 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(f)(4) and Table 4-10-B |
| Joint Identification Sign (0-10,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground, shared building | — | 11-4-10(f)(5) and Table 4-10-C |
| Joint Identification Sign (10,001-20,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(f)(5) and Table 4-10-C |
| Joint Identification Sign (20,001-40,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(f)(5) and Table 4-10-C |
| Joint Identification Sign (40,001-80,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 200 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from curb | Max 2 | Ground | — | 11-4-10(f)(5) and Table 4-10-C |

## Prohibited signs in Northglenn

- No sign shall be erected, mounted, displayed, or remodeled unless in full compliance with this section, zone regulations, and applicable laws
- Advertising on bus benches or bus shelters except as approved by City Council via license agreement
- Animated signs
- Balloons larger than two feet in diameter or arranged in groups greater than 12 unless granted through temporary use permit
- Roof signs
- Search lights
- Signs or posters on or extending into any public right-of-way except as authorized by City Council resolution
- Signs using any sound or noise-making or transmitting device for advertising purposes beyond building confines
- Signs which block any window, doorway, or opening required for ventilation, light, or exit
- Signs which by light or focus cause nuisance by disturbing surrounding property or creating traffic hazard
- Signs with optical illusion of movement by reversible perspective design
- Strings of light bulbs in non-residential parking areas unless granted through temporary use permit
- Vehicle signs larger than two square feet parked or stored more than 96 hours unless temporary sign permit or temporary use permit approved (public transit exempt)

## Signs exempt from permit in Northglenn

- Signs on property owned, controlled, or maintained by Federal Government, State, or City (including public streets, alleys, sidewalks, rights-of-way, trails, easements, parks) are addressed by other provisions
- Repairs and maintenance of existing signs allowed per specified sections
- Noncommercial message substitution allowed without additional approval if sign structure is lawful
- Signs required by federal, state, or local law, regulation, or resolution (no permit required)
- Balloons smaller than two feet in diameter in groups of less than 12, not exceeding four groups (unless temporary use permit)
- Building directory signs up to 15 square feet for tenant identification (in addition to permitted wall signs; no permit required)
- Building markers (no permit required)
- Directional signs on private property where business located, not in rights-of-way, not along street frontage, not creating traffic hazard, not exceeding four square feet per face (no permit required)
- Entrance or exit signs (no permit required)
- Flags subject to specified standards on height, clearance, maintenance, number, and protocol (no permit required)
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, displayed 60 days prior to and 15 days after holiday (no permit required)
- Single-family residential signs and multi-family temporary signs for individual dwelling units (no permit required)
- Vehicle signs measuring two square feet or less (no permit required)
- Window signs (permanent and temporary) not exceeding 25 percent of total window area per façade (no permit required)
- Works of art (no permit required)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Comprehensive Sign Plans (CSP) may be submitted by property owners for residential or nonresidential uses to allow deviations from standards (e.g., types, numbers, area, height, placement, materials, illumination) in larger scale developments, unique configurations, or unique circumstances
- CSP requires detailed plan submission to Planning Commission including location, size, height, color, lighting, orientation, and materials
- Planning Commission approval of CSP based on compatibility, harmony, need, impact, conformance to purposes, and health/safety/welfare
- Following CSP approval, sign permits still required for construction
- CSP expires one year from approval if no signs constructed or permitted
- CSP modifications: Minor changes approved by Director; substantial changes require Planning Commission review and approval based on non-adverse effects criteria
- CSP denials may be appealed to City Council
- Existing signs with prior variances considered conforming
- Sign permit denials may be appealed to Board of Adjustment
- Joint identification signs for multiple-tenant buildings require application and documentation of rules/maintenance signed by property owners
- Temporary use permits may be required for certain prohibited signs like large balloon groups or light strings in parking areas

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

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