# Sign Regulations in Severance, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Severance, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/severance
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Severance/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CH8VETR_ART3DETRROREUSST_S8-3-20DEROMASI)

## At a glance

Severance, Colorado regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Freestanding or Wall Sign) - Duplexs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 4' tall and 8 sq. ft. (Sec. Residential district signs table). Most commercial signs in Severance require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 7 | 8' | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Business and Commercial District | 6 | Minimum 8' above finished grade | 64 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Business and Commercial District in Town Core | 5 | 25' | 32 sq. ft. maximum | — |
| Industrial District | 3 | 6' | 48 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Freestanding or Wall Sign) - Duplex | 4' | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per duplex | — | — | Residential district signs table |
| Identification Sign (Freestanding or Wall Sign) - Multi-family or Triplex | 6' | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per multi-family or triplex | — | — | Residential district signs table |
| Identification Sign (Freestanding or Wall Sign) - Public or Quasi-public Use | 8' | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per public or quasi-public use | — | — | Residential district signs table |
| Subdivision Entrance (Development Monument Sign) | 6' (may vary depending on square footage) | 150 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per subdivision entrance | Subdivision entry features | — | Residential district signs table |
| Bed and Breakfast Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Residential district signs table |
| Child Care Center Sign | 5' | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | Residential district signs table |
| Home-based Business Sign | 4' | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | Residential district signs table |

### Business and Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development (Project) Entry Freestanding Monument Sign | 6' | 45 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per major street entrance | Major street entrance | — | Business and commercial district signs table |
| Shopping Center Development Identification Sign | 6' | 64 sq. ft. per face | — | — | 1 per major street frontage | Major street frontage | — | Business and commercial district signs table |
| Major Tenant Freestanding Sign | Lesser of 6' or 25% of building height | 48 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | Freestanding on their own lot | — | Business and commercial district signs table |
| Minor Tenant Freestanding Sign | Lesser of 5' or 25% of building height | 1 for each linear foot of building frontage; 24 maximum | — | — | 1 for each linear foot of freestanding sign | Freestanding on their own lot | — | Business and commercial district signs table |
| Wall Sign | — | 5% of the wall area | — | — | 1 per individual tenant | First-floor level only | — | Business and commercial district signs table |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | Minimum 8' above finished grade | — | — | — | 1 per individual tenant building frontage | Building frontage | — | Business and commercial district signs table |

### Business and Commercial District in Town Core

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign or Projecting Wall Sign | 25' | 32 sq. ft. maximum | — | — | 1 per individual tenant building frontage | First-floor level only for retail uses | — | Business and commercial district signs in town core table |
| Canopy or Awning Sign | Minimum 8' above finished grade | 10 if main business sign; 4 if auxiliary business sign | — | — | 1 per individual building tenant | Building frontage | — | Business and commercial district signs in town core table |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window or door area upon which it is applied | — | — | 1 per business | Window or door | — | Business and commercial district signs in town core table |
| Information Signs | 6' | 5 sq. ft. | — | — | Permitted at rear and loading door entrance | Rear and loading door entrance | — | Business and commercial district signs in town core table |
| Time and/or Temperature Sign | 6' | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | Business and commercial district signs in town core table |

## Prohibited signs in Severance

- Flashing, rotating, blinking or moving signs, animated signs, signs with moving, rotating or flashing lights or signs that create the illusion of movement, except for time-and-temperature devices.
- Any sign that is erected in such a location as to cause visual obstruction or interference with motor vehicle traffic or traffic-control devices, including any sign that obstructs clear vision in any direction from any street intersection or driveway.
- Neon, distracting colors, mechanical or electrical appurtenances, such as 'revolving beacons,' that are designed to compel attention.
- Pole-mounted signs.
- Roof signs.
- Off-premise advertising signs or any other sign not pertinent and incidental to the permitted use on the property where located, except for temporary subdivision directional signs and political signs and except for signs permitted in Paragraph (16).
- Any sign located in such a way as to intentionally deny visual access to an existing sign.
- Vehicle-mounted signs, including but not limited to signs painted on or attached to semi-trailers or cargo containers, when exhibited on private property adjacent to the public right-of-way for the purpose of advertising the business or services offered on the property.
- Portable signs or signs not permanently affixed or attached to the ground or to any structure, except for real estate signs attached to posts driven into the ground, window signs and temporary barriers.
- Rotating signs.
- Searchlights.
- Inflatable freestanding signs or tethered balloons.
- Fabric signs, flags, pennants or banners when used for commercial advertising purposes, except as permitted in Paragraph (16).
- Any sign or sign structure that is structurally unsafe, constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation, is not kept in good repair, or is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it.

## Signs exempt from permit in Severance

- Signs that are not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located and/or from any public thoroughfare or right-of-way, except that such signs shall be subject to the safety regulations of the building Code and electrical Code adopted by the Town.
- Nonilluminated signs, not to exceed two (2) square feet in area, that identify the address and/or occupants of a dwelling unit or of an establishment.
- Nonilluminated signs constructed of metal or masonry that are permanently affixed to buildings or structures for the purpose of identifying the name of a building, date of erection or other historical information as approved by the Town Staff.
- Bulletin Board signs not exceeding fifteen (15) square feet in gross surface area, accessory to a church, school or public or nonprofit institution.
- Temporary construction signs, provided that they meet specific size and location requirements.
- Nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated signs that identify, as a courtesy to customers, items such as credit cards accepted, redemption stamps offered, menus or prices.
- Temporary decorations or displays, when such are clearly incidental to and customarily and commonly associated with any national, state, local or religious holiday or celebration.
- On-premises directional and instructional signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in area apiece.
- Signs affixed to door glass that identify the name and/or address of an establishment.
- Seasonal farm product signs.
- Flags, crests or banners of nations, organizations of nations, states and cities, or professional, fraternal, religious or civic organizations, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Signs that advertise a private garage or yard sale on the lot where the sign is located shall be displayed no more than twice per year per dwelling unit for a period not to exceed three (3) days.
- Memorial signs, plaques or grave markers that are noncommercial in nature.
- Notice Boards for public or religious institutions.
- Identification signs for any oil and gas operation.
- Political signs displayed on private property.
- Temporary special event signs and banners for religious, charitable, civic, fraternal or similar nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations, or private noncommercial special events.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit shall be required in order to erect, move, alter, reconstruct or repair any permanent or temporary sign, except signs that are exempt from permits.
- In multiple-tenant buildings, a separate permit shall be required for each business entity's sign.
- Separate building and electrical permits may be required for signs and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Any request for an increase in the maximum allowable area for a sign or for signs not expressly permitted in these regulations requires an approved waiver by the Town Council.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/severance