# Sign Regulations in Superior, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Superior, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/superior
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/CO/Superior/codes/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CH16LAUS_ARTXIXSI)

## At a glance

Superior, Colorado regulates 17 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Subdivision Signs in the Residential lots zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall, 32 sq. ft. per sign face, max 2 faces; 15 ft. width, and 15 ft. wide, with a 10 ft. from nearest public right-of-way. setback (Sec. Sec. 16-19-60(d); Table.). Most commercial signs in Superior require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential lots | 4 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face, max 2 faces; 15 ft. width | — |
| Nonresidential property | 9 | 15 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential zone district | 1 | — | — | — |
| Community Business (B-C), Regional Business (B-R), Light Industry (I-L), Heavy Industry (I-H) | 3 | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Planned Development (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 3.5 ft. (>50 ft from intersection), 2.5 ft. (<=50 ft from intersection) | 4 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential lots

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Instructional Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | Minimum necessary to serve intended purpose | On residential lot, not to be legible or draw attention beyond perimeter. | — | Sec. 16-19-60(b); Table. |
| Temporary Sign | 3 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | 3 ft. | 1 per lot (plus election season and large lot exceptions) | On residential lot, at least 3 ft. from public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 16-19-60(c); Table. |
| Temporary Subdivision Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face, max 2 faces; 15 ft. width | 15 ft. | 10 ft. from nearest public right-of-way. | SFD/2FD/TH: 1 per entrance, max 2; MFD: 1 per 50 units | At entrances from arterial/collector roads (SFD/2FD/TH) or at any entrance (MFD). | — | Sec. 16-19-60(d); Table. |
| Window Sign | 3 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building (SFD); 1 per unit (MFD) | In window; 1 per building (SFD), 1 per unit (MFD) | — | Sec. 16-19-60(e); Table. |

### Nonresidential property

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign - Wall Sign | 15 ft. | 15% of wall area | — | Same as building setback. | 1 per building, or 1 per street entrance | On walls, awnings, canopies, or parapets. | — | Sec. 16-19-70(a); Table. |
| Building Sign - Protruding Sign | 15 ft. | 8 sq. ft. per face | — | — | See wall sign rules | On building w/min 10 ft. of street frontage. | — | Sec. 16-19-70(a)(2)c |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft. | Per face: 0.3 sq ft/ft frontage, up to 100 sq ft | — | Same as building setback. | 1 per building, or 1 per entrance (multi-business at intersection) | As allowed by zone and building setback; for multi-business, per entrance at major intersections. | — | Sec. 16-19-70(c); Table. |
| Instructional Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | Minimum necessary for purpose | On nonresidential property; may be placed on freestanding sign base (not counted in area) | — | Sec. 16-19-70(e); Table. |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. (other than window sign) | — | — | 1 per property (+ election seasonal signs) | On property (not specified); window temporary signs on windows | — | Sec. 16-19-70(f); Table. |
| Banner | — | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to 4 permits/yr | Attached to building, not freestanding | — | Sec. 16-19-70(g); Table. |
| Window Sign | 8 ft. (top of sign) | 33% of window area, max 50 sq. ft. | No more than 50% of window width | — | 1 per window | Display windows of business use. | — | Sec. 16-19-70(h); Table. |
| Pan Channel Sign | — | — | 5 inches deep; 12 inches total depth if mounted on raceway | — | — | On wall | — | Sec. 16-19-70(b) |

### Community Business (B-C), Regional Business (B-R), Light Industry (I-L), Heavy Industry (I-H)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 ft. | 15% of wall area | — | Building setback | 1 per entrance | On wall, awning, canopy, parapet | — | Sec. 16-19-70(a), 16-19-100(c) |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | Building setback | 1 per building/entrance | Setback by building setback | — | Sec. 16-19-70(c), 16-19-100(c)-(d) |
| Other Signs (Instructional, Temporary, Banner, Window, Protruding, Pan Channel, Changeable Copy) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 16-19-70, 16-19-100(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Superior

- Any sign not expressly allowed by this Article or not in conformance with its requirements is prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Signs incorporating any flashing or moving illumination or with illumination that periodically varies in intensity or color are prohibited.
- Signs which have any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical pulsations, by actions or normal wind currents (including promotional balloons and inflatable devices) are prohibited.
- Signs with light sources not shielded by opaque material such that bulbs, floodlights, or tubes are visible off the property are prohibited.
- Any sign that violates any provision of this Article or constitutes a hazard to public safety, health, or welfare is prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct the vision of drivers traveling on, leaving, or entering a roadway are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other required exit is prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Searchlights, pennants, and spinners are prohibited.
- Roof signs or any signs which project above a building wall or parapet are prohibited.
- Pole-mounted signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except as expressly permitted in Section 16-19-40.
- Signs with exposed cables or electrical raceway mountings are prohibited, unless the Manager finds that unusual construction problems exist.
- Permanent freestanding signs on residential lots are prohibited.
- Permanent signs in the public right-of-way are prohibited unless allowed by a revocable license agreement with the Town and conforming to this Article.
- Illuminated signs are prohibited on residential lots.
- No sign within 150 feet of a residential zone district shall be illuminated between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
- Lighting directed toward a sign must be shielded so it illuminates only the face of the sign and does not shine directly into a public right-of-way or residential lot.
- Internally illuminated signs are only allowed in specific business and industrial districts.
- Internally illuminated freestanding signs shall not be illuminated when the business is closed, except as specified.
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines, sales areas, roof lines, doors, windows or similar areas are prohibited except during a national holiday.
- Signs shall not contain or be illuminated by flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, except signs indicating time, date, or weather conditions.
- Neon signs shall not exceed 4 square feet.
- No person may damage, trim, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation to increase/enhance sign visibility without written authorization.

## Signs exempt from permit in Superior

- Signs not exceeding three (3) square feet in area customarily associated with residential uses (property identification names/numbers, signs on mailboxes/newspaper tubes, warning signs about trespassing or animals).
- Signs required or specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute, or ordinance, regardless of type, number, area, height, location, illumination, or animation.
- Official signs erected by state or local governments, contractors, or public utilities to facilitate construction, maintenance, or operation of transportation facilities or to warn of danger/hazardous conditions.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, dates of erection cut into masonry or inlaid, or constructed of bronze/incombustible material, not exceeding 15 square feet.
- Flags of any nation or government or displaying a noncommercial message, not exceeding 40 square feet and not extending over public right-of-way.
- Architectural features of buildings or works of art without letters, trademarks, moving parts, lights, or a commercial message.
- Traffic control signs such as 'STOP' or 'YIELD' on public or private property that meet applicable standards and do not display a commercial message.
- Name plate signs of not more than four (4) square feet fastened directly to a building and not projecting from the face of the building.
- Holiday and community special event decorations that do not display a commercial message.
- Signs on athletic fields and scoreboards intended for viewing on the property where the scoreboard is located.
- Signs located inside buildings not intended to be visible/read from the outside and not legible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the building.
- Instructional signs on Town property erected by the Town.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign not expressly allowed or not in conformance with the requirements of this Article is prohibited.
- Upon submittal of a final development plan for a Planned Development (PD), the applicant may seek approval of its own sign plan for the PD or meet the requirements of this Article.
- All permanent building signs, permanent freestanding signs, and any illuminated sign (including retrofits) require a sign permit except as specifically provided in the Article.
- A plan showing design, materials, colors, lighting, construction, and attachment method is required with a sign permit application.
- Traffic control signs require submission of plans for type, location, and size, subject to Town Manager approval.
- For multiple-occupant nonresidential properties/facilities, the property owner determines sign area allocation; consistency of design and placement is required for all signs within a development.
- All signs within a single development must display consistency of design and placement.

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

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