# Sign Regulations in Windsor, Colorado

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Windsor, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/windsor
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/co/windsor/codes/charter_and_municipal_code)

## At a glance

Windsor, Colorado regulates 39 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation tall and As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation, with a 5 ft from property lines. setback (Sec. Sec. 15-17-50, Sec. 15-17-70(j)(k), Sec. 15-17-60, Sec. 15-17-180). Most commercial signs in Windsor require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation; see Sec. 15-17-100 | 200 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential (SF-1), Single-Family Attached Residential (SF-2), Estate Residential (ER), Multifamily Residential (MF), Recreation and Open Lands (ROL), Residential Mixed Use One (RMU-1) (residential component), Residential Mixed Use Two (RMU-2) (residential component) | 5 | 10 ft (incl. wall/monument base); wall/monument base max 6 ft | See General Regulations For All Zones: 50 sq ft per 100 ft arterial/major collector frontage, up to 200 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Central Business (CB), General Commercial (GC), Limited Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), Residential Mixed Use One (RMU-1) (commercial portions), Residential Mixed Use Two (RMU-2) (commercial portions) | 23 | Lesser of 25% of elevation height or 5 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| I-25 Corridor subarea | 3 | 10 ft | 60 sq ft/side | — |
| Downtown Corridor subarea (East Town Center, Northwest Commercial, West Town Center) | 4 | 10 ft (incl. base) | 48 sq ft/side | — |
| Downtown Corridor subarea (Old Town Windsor, Windsor Lake) | 4 | 6 ft (incl. base) | 24 sq ft/side | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation | As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation | — | 15 ft from property line if adjacent to arterial street; 10 ft from property line if adjacent to collector/local street; special: CB zone may be 2 ft from back of sidewalk; directional signs: 5 ft from property lines. | As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation | Subject property; not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 15-17-50, Sec. 15-17-70(j)(k), Sec. 15-17-60, Sec. 15-17-180 |
| Building-mounted Sign | As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation; see Sec. 15-17-100 | As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation; see Sec. 15-17-100 | — | — | As permitted by specific zoning/district or subarea regulation | Mounted on building facade; must not project above roof/eave/parapet line | — | Sec. 15-17-70, Sec. 15-17-100, Sec. 15-17-180 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | May project over sidewalk/right-of-way with clearance; must comply with Sec. 15-17-60(d) | — | Sec. 15-17-60(d) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — | 5 ft from all property lines | As necessary | On site only; must be minimum 5 ft from all property lines | — | Sec. 15-17-110(f) |
| Development Entrance Sign | 10 ft (incl. wall/monument base); wall/monument base max 6 ft | 200 sq ft | — | As per sign setback requirements; must comply with sight visibility at intersections | At separate entrances; if both sides of street at one entrance, the set counts as 1 | At entrances to large-scale developments (residential: >= 50 lots or >= 25 acres; industrial: >= 2 lots and 5 acres); not along local or minor collector streets | — | Sec. 15-17-110(e) |

### Single-Family Residential (SF-1), Single-Family Attached Residential (SF-2), Estate Residential (ER), Multifamily Residential (MF), Recreation and Open Lands (ROL), Residential Mixed Use One (RMU-1) (residential component), Residential Mixed Use Two (RMU-2) (residential component)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or parcel | On subject property | — | Sec. 15-17-80(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Identifying Certain Uses) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | As per general setbacks (Sec. 15-17-50) | 1 per street frontage (max 2 per lot) | On subject property, in accordance with setback requirements | — | Sec. 15-17-80(2) |
| Development Entrance Sign (Residential Entry Feature) | 10 ft (incl. wall/monument base); wall/monument base max 6 ft | See General Regulations For All Zones: 50 sq ft per 100 ft arterial/major collector frontage, up to 200 sq ft | — | As per sign setback and sight visibility requirements | At separate entrances to subdivision | Entrances to platted residential subdivisions | — | Sec. 15-17-80(2)f, 15-17-110(e) |
| Residential Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — | — | Max 2 per lot or parcel | On property for sale/lease | — | Sec. 15-17-131(2)a |
| Open House Sign (Off-premises) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — | — | — | Off-premises, subject to placement restrictions | — | Sec. 15-17-80(i), 15-17-131(2)b |

### Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Central Business (CB), General Commercial (GC), Limited Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), Residential Mixed Use One (RMU-1) (commercial portions), Residential Mixed Use Two (RMU-2) (commercial portions)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Dev. >75,000 sq ft) | 16 ft | 100 sq ft/side | — | As per general sign setbacks (Sec. 15-17-50) | 1 per required frontage | At shopping center (75,000+ sq ft GLA) entrance | — | Sec. 15-17-110(a), (a)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Dev. 50,000-75,000 sq ft) | 10 ft | 72 sq ft/side | — | As per general sign setbacks (Sec. 15-17-50) | 1 per required frontage | At shopping center (50,000-75,000 sq ft GLA) entrance | — | Sec. 15-17-110(a),(a)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Large-scale Tenant, Arterial, ≤100 ft frontage) | 14 ft | 72 sq ft/side | — | Arterial: 15 ft; see Sec. 15-17-50 | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property, arterial street | — | Sec. 15-17-110(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Large-scale Tenant, Arterial, >100 ft frontage) | 14 ft | 84 sq ft/side | — | Arterial: 15 ft; see Sec. 15-17-50 | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property, arterial street | — | Sec. 15-17-110(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Large-scale Tenant, Collector, ≤100 ft frontage) | 12 ft | 60 sq ft/side | — | Collector: 10 ft; see Sec. 15-17-50 | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property, collector street | — | Sec. 15-17-110(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Large-scale Tenant, Collector, >100 ft frontage) | 12 ft | 72 sq ft/side | — | Collector: 10 ft; see Sec. 15-17-50 | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property, collector street | — | Sec. 15-17-110(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Large-scale Tenant, Local, ≤100 ft frontage) | 12 ft | 48 sq ft/side | — | Local: 10 ft; see Sec. 15-17-50 | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property, local street | — | Sec. 15-17-110(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Large-scale Tenant, Local, >100 ft frontage) | 12 ft | 60 sq ft/side | — | Local: 10 ft; see Sec. 15-17-50 | 1 per frontage, max 2 | On property, local street | — | Sec. 15-17-110(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Windsor

- No sign shall be erected on the roof of any building.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent rotating or moving light or lights, except as provided for time and temperature displays.
- No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of strings of lights, ribbons, streamers, spinners, pennants or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices, except as outlined in Section 15-17-135.
- Searchlights (whether stationary or revolving), beacons or other similar illuminating devices used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention are prohibited, except as outlined in Section 15-7-135.
- Unpainted signs, broken signs and signs on vacated buildings shall be removed or repaired/renovated by order of the Director.
- No sign shall obscure vision or views of the natural landscape or the larger urban area along arterial and collector streets and roads, nor be distracting to motorists.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any street or road in such manner as to obstruct clear vision, or at a location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with traffic signs, signals or control devices.
- No outdoor advertising sign, billboard or other advertising media not directly related to the use of the premises shall be permitted except as a conditional use as provided.
- Pole-mounted signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be mounted to or applied to trees or other landscaping, regulatory traffic signage, utility and light poles or similar structures, and shall not be located within road rights-of-way or private street easements.
- Mobile signs are prohibited, including signs painted or mounted on vehicles, trailers or boats, except for those installed on vehicles operating during normal business.
- Banners are prohibited on construction trailers.
- No sign or other advertising device shall consist of any air- and/or wind-dancing configurations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Windsor

- Traffic control and informational signs erected by national, state, county or municipal government agencies, including school districts and fire protection districts, are exempt from the provisions of this Article.
- Community event signs as authorized by the Town are exempt from temporary sign provisions.
- Window signs and other signs erected within the interior of the business are exempt from temporary sign provisions.
- Open house signs are exempt from temporary sign provisions, subject to requirements.
- Real estate signage for the advertisement of the sale or lease of the property upon which the sign is located does not require a permit but must adhere to the regulations in the Chapter.
- The provisions of this Article shall not apply to any regulatory signs erected by national, state, county or municipal government agencies.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new site plan applications shall submit a sign criteria plan for review as part of the site plan submittal.
- Such sign criteria plan shall ensure a consistent sign theme, design and material palette for the entire development.
- Sign criteria plans may specify standards more restrictive or specific than this Section, but shall not contain standards less restrictive or less specific.
- Sign criteria plans shall contain information for all signs, including on-site directional and informational signs: design materials, colors, lighting, dimensions, plot plan showing all signs, scale drawings, elevations, side views, size standards if more restrictive, and types/materials allowed.

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

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