# Sign Regulations in Sterling, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sterling, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/sterling
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Sterling/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_APXAZO_CHXSIRE)

## At a glance

Sterling, Colorado regulates 9 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential District (R1, R2, R3, MH) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 25 sq ft, with a 2 ft setback (Sec. Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1).

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R1, R2, R3, MH) | 8 | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 30 ft | 320 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District (R1, R2, R3, MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | — | 2 ft | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |
| Flat Wall Sign | Top of wall | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |
| Awning Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |
| Portable Sign | 6 ft | 25 sq ft | — | Property line | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |
| Banner Sign | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |
| Projecting Wall Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | Table 10.1, Sec. 1006.1 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 30 ft | 320 sq ft | — | 35 ft | — | — | — | Sec. 1005.8 |

## Prohibited signs in Sterling

- Abandoned signs that are a blight or nuisance
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals
- Snipe signs attached to trees, telephone poles, street lights, or placed on any public property or public right-of-way
- Signs placed on vehicles or semi-trailers which are parked or located for the primary purpose of advertising a service or product other than said vehicle or semi-trailer

## Signs exempt from permit in Sterling

- Construction signs of 32 square feet or less
- Directional/informational signs of 5 square feet or less
- Nameplates and identification signs of 3 square feet or less
- Political signs
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency
- Real estate signs of 16 square feet or less
- Window signs
- Incidental signs
- Point of purchase display signs
- Subdivision identification signs of 32 square feet or less
- Any sign which is located completely within an enclosed building and which is not visible from outside the building, and any sign which is so located that it is not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel on which it is located or from any public thoroughfare
- Any grave marker, headstone, memorial statue, or other similar remembrances that are noncommercial in nature
- Names and addresses on postal boxes
- Residential address numbers
- Names of newspapers and similar publications on their delivery boxes
- The posting of privately owned land and/or buildings or structures against trespass, hunting, fishing, swimming or any other activity, and/or the warning of any person against any danger, hazard or condition pertaining to such land and/or buildings and structures
- Cornerstones, memorial tablets, and similar markers made of masonry, bronze and other incombustible and durable material and used to indicate, without advertising matter, information relating to the development of the facility on which they are located such as those involved in planning, financing and construction of buildings
- Historical signs and markers designating places of historical significance
- City entry identification signs designating entry points to the City of Sterling
- City park identification signs designating City parks and recreation areas
- Flags, pennants or insignia of nations or an organization of nations, states or cities, except when such flags are used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device
- Window displays incorporating placards, pennants, merchandise, pictures or models of products or services
- Works of fine art which in no way identify a product or business and which are not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise, which enterprise may benefit or realize direct commercial gain from such display
- Temporary decorations or displays clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with national, local or religious holiday celebrations or special events
- Traffic and other official signs of any public or governmental agency
- Signs over gas pumps which indicate gas prices, provided that such signs shall be limited to one (1) per pump island and shall be no larger than four (4) square feet per face
- Bus benches and/or shelters within any City rights-of-way displaying advertisements pursuant to an agreement between the City and the owner, provided that such agreement regulates the size, content, placement, design and materials used for construction of said bus bench and/or shelter sign
- Bus benches and/or shelters on private property displaying advertisements, upon approval of the Board of Adjustment

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A variance may be granted by the Board of Adjustment, which requires a public hearing and consideration of specific conditions.
- All signs for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the administrator or designee.
- A denial of a permit under this Chapter or an order issued under this Chapter may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment.

## Full detail

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

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