# Sign Regulations in Palmer Lake, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Palmer Lake, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/palmer-lake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Palmer_Lake/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT17ZO_CH17.76SI)

## At a glance

Palmer Lake, Colorado regulates 18 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential zone district zoning district are capped at No higher than avg 6 feet measured at finished grade tall and 50 sq ft max, with a Min 5 feet from all lot lines; at least 2 feet from sidewalks; outside of right-of-way setback (Sec. 17.76.060(10); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080). Most commercial signs in Palmer Lake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zone district | 9 | No higher than the wall (single-story building)/bottom of the second-story window (multi-story building); minimum clearance 8.5 feet | 50 sq ft max | — |
| Non-residential zone district | 15 | No higher than the wall (single-story)/bottom of the second-story window (multi-story); min clearance 8.5 feet | 50 sq ft max | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential zone district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3-D Sign | No higher than the wall (single-story building)/bottom of the second-story window (multi-story building); minimum clearance 8.5 feet | — | — | — | 1 per tenant, business, or other entity | On building exterior | — | 17.76.060(1); 17.76.050(a) |
| Wall Sign | No higher than roofline | 1 sq ft per linear foot of business frontage | — | — | 1 per tenant, business, or entity (up to 2 sign types total per business/entity as per allocation); see aggregate sign area limitation | Building wall | — | 17.76.060(15); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080 |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than wall (single-story)/bottom of second-story window (multi-story); 8.5 ft minimum clearance | 10 sq ft (only one side counts toward area) | — | — | 1 per tenant, business, or entity (up to 2 sign types total per business/entity as per allocation); see aggregate sign area limitation | Building façade | — | 17.76.060(12); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080 |
| Window/Door Sign | — | Total sign area shall not exceed 25% of window/door glass area | — | — | — | On glazed surfaces of doors or windows | — | 17.76.060(17); 17.76.080(f) |
| Freestanding Sign | No higher than avg 6 feet measured at finished grade | 50 sq ft max | — | Min 5 feet from all lot lines; at least 2 feet from sidewalks; outside of right-of-way | 1 per property or complex | On property, set back min. 5 feet from all lot lines; at least 2 feet from sidewalks | — | 17.76.060(10); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080 |
| Site Announcement Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | Vacant land parcels or lots under construction; temporary | — | 17.76.060(16) |
| Yard Sign | 5 ft max height above ground | 4 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from property line | 1 per property street frontage | Setback minimum 5 feet from property line | — | 17.76.060(17) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Attached to principal building | — | 17.76.060(7) |

### Non-residential zone district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than roofline | 1 sq ft per linear foot of business frontage | — | — | 1 per tenant, business, or entity (up to 2 sign types total per business/entity as per allocation); see aggregate sign area limitation | Building wall | — | 17.76.060(15); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080 |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than wall (single-story)/bottom of second-story window (multi-story); 8.5 ft min clearance | 10 sq ft (only one side counts toward area) | — | — | 1 per tenant, business, or entity (up to 2 sign types total per business/entity as per allocation); see aggregate sign area limitation | Building façade | — | 17.76.060(12); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080 |
| Awning Sign | No higher than roofline; 8.5 ft minimum pedestrian clearance | 32 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited, counted in aggregate sign area | First-story awnings fronting street, parking lot, or pedestrian way | — | 17.76.060(2); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080 |
| Canopy Sign | No higher than roofline; 8.5 ft min pedestrian clearance; 14 ft vehicular clearance where needed | 32 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited, counted in aggregate sign area | On-canopies on premises | — | 17.76.060(8); 17.76.080 |
| Freestanding Sign | No higher than 8 feet measured at finished grade | 50 sq ft max | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines; at least 2 ft from sidewalks; outside public right-of-way | 1 per property or complex | On property, set back min. 5 ft from lot lines | — | 17.76.060(10); 17.76.050(a); 17.76.080 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft max | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant, business, or entity | Non-residential areas; not within public right-of-way except on sidewalk with encroachment permit. | — | 17.76.060(13) |
| Drive-Through Window Sign | 7 ft overall clearance | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant, business, or entity | Free-standing, for vehicular viewing at drive-through window | — | 17.76.060(9) |
| Site Announcement Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | Vacant land parcels or lots under construction; temporary | — | 17.76.060(16) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On-premises | — | 17.76.060(5) |
| Site Announcement Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | Vacant land lots or under construction | — | 17.76.060(16) |
| Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any location approved by owner, public or private, not affecting public safety | — | 17.76.060(6) |
| Business Courtesy Sign | — | Cumulative 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Any location | — | 17.76.060(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Palmer Lake

- It is unlawful to display, construct, erect, alter, use, or maintain any sign, except in conformance with the provisions of this title.
- It is unlawful to alter, maintain, enlarge, use, or display any sign erected or constructed before the enactment of this chapter, except in conformance with these provisions.
- No sign shall be placed on private property without the written consent of the property owner or the owner's authorized agent. This applies to permitted signs as well as temporary and exempt signs.
- All signs shall be structurally sound and comply with all building and electrical codes.
- Any sign that is not in compliance with this ordinance is subject to revocation of the sign permit.
- Displaying, constructing, erecting, altering, using, or maintaining any prohibited sign is unlawful.
- The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts: distracting signs; animated signs; flashing signs; searchlights and revolving beacons; electronic signs; roof signs; inflated signs or balloons; any sign designed to wave, flap, or rotate including attention-getting devices, wave banners (except for government and service flags as provided); any sign that causes visual obstruction, impedes traffic, or obstructs clear vision from intersections or driveways; any sign denying an adjoining property owner's visual access to an existing sign; signs in the public right-of-way except with proper authorization; off-premises signs unless specifically permitted; any sign with light sources not shielded such that bulbs, floodlights, or tubes are visible off property; any sign painted on retaining walls, rocks, vegetation, or natural features; any projected image sign emitting a sound or projecting an image onto a surface; any sign interfering with free passage from or obstructing fire escapes, windows, doors, or any ingress/egress; any sign that is unsafe, not in good repair, capable of causing electrical shocks, or presents a danger to health, safety, or welfare; portable signs (except sandwich board signs); commercial signs mounted or attached to vehicles, trailers, or boats used as advertising in lieu of permanent signage except during special events; obsolete or discontinued commercial use signs not removed within 60 days; abandoned signs on vacant property or for discontinued events/purposes; roof signs (cited twice, but functionally a single prohibition); billboards; pylon signs; handbills and posted advertisements without written planning commission permission or attached to trees, fences, utility poles, street furniture, or automobiles; exterior neon signs, digital signs, and LED light tubes; signs specifying price (except vehicle fuel/gasoline signs at gas stations and convenience stores); signs using reflective surfaces (except official government or traffic signs).
- No sign shall interfere with pedestrian or vehicular safety, or be located within the clear vision triangle per the adopted town roadway specifications.
- Signs shall not obscure scenic views from public rights-of-way, residences, or businesses.
- Signs shall not have a negative impact on neighboring businesses or properties including blockage of entrances, traffic, or neighboring signage.
- Overhead electrical feeds to signs are prohibited.
- Utilities to signs must be concealed.
- All permanent signs in residential districts may not be illuminated, except for address numbers.
- Upward-directed sign lighting is prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs are discouraged and subject to special review by the planning commission.
- Temporary signs must not pose a health or safety hazard.
- Signs shall not impair visibility for traffic movement, block drainage, or snow storage.

## Signs exempt from permit in Palmer Lake

- No permit is required for signs identified as 'exempt signs' in the ordinance, but these must still comply with applicable type/size/height standards.
- The following signs are exempt from permitting: the existing Town of Palmer Lake electronic message board; flags of any state, nation, or government including service flags (if flown as provided), subject to specified size and pole height limitations; official Town of Palmer Lake, El Paso County, State of Colorado, or federal government/traffic signs; signs not legible or visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property; signs on athletic fields and scoreboards for on-premises viewing (subject to size/height limits); commemorative plaques; displayed merchandise; street numbers affixed to the structure to be identified; signs not exceeding three square feet in area that are customarily associated with residential uses (e.g., property identification, mailboxes, warning signs); informational signs with a cumulative total area of six square feet or less (hours, credit cards accepted, retail fuel price, etc.); building directory signs up to eight square feet; public notices or signs relating to emergency or hazard; up to two temporary yard signs, each up to three square feet in area (six square feet total) per lot; temporary real estate signs (one per street frontage, size limited per district, located on the property, with removal time limits as specified); one restaurant menu sign per establishment, up to four square feet.
- Signs erected, maintained, or otherwise posted, owned, or leased by the state, federal government, or the town (including CDOT tourist-oriented signs governed by C.R.S. § 43-1-420) are not subject to the provisions of this chapter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all non-exempt signs.
- A sign plan is required as part of a permanent sign permit application, including a scaled site plan, elevations, summary of sign types/areas, mounting methods, illumination specs, etc.
- For common site signage in a multi-tenant commercial project, the information must be shown on the sign plan, and the applicant has the option of submitting a master sign plan.
- Any mixed-use development or multi-tenant building complex containing three or more units must submit a master sign plan for a coordinated, shared signage plan for the entire development.
- The master sign plan must allocate sign area to each tenant/lot/pad, provide a description/illustration of materials for wall signage, elevations, and materials for signs.
- The planning commission may vary certain sign standards (area, height, setback, number, type) up to 25% for creative/quality design; greater variances may be approved for exceptional quality/materials/landscaping.
- Applications for sign deviations (variances) require a public hearing before the planning commission, following submission of a sign deviation application.
- If a permanent sign application is for a tenant in a multi-tenant site, the applicant must provide a copy of the property owner's sign permit for the common site signage.
- The sign permit application must be submitted to the administrator at least 10 days prior to the scheduled planning commission meeting to be considered.
- Temporary signs in excess of 90 days require a review process and a permanent sign permit.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Palmer Lake, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Palmer+Lake+CO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-palmer-lake

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