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Sign Code Summary

Central City, CO

Local sign ordinance requirements — free, cited to the source section.

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Understanding sign regulations in Central City, CO

Every outdoor sign in Central City is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the Central City code it came from.

Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in Central City.

Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in Central City, Colorado. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.

Before you order or install a sign in Central City, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.

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Max ground sign height
Monument: 4 ft; Pylon: 3 ft
Ground sign setback
Monument: Not specified; Pylon: Greater of 2 ft or 1 ft from interior edge of sidewalk

Awning Signs

Awning Sign Sf Calc
Calculated as a separate entity, not as part of the whole awning
Awning Projection Clearance
Must leave at least 4 feet of clear sidewalk width for pedestrian use, and at least 3 feet of clear width at recessed building entries

Building Signs

Building Sign Formula
Max area: 12 sq ft
Building Sign Max Number
1 per building elevation
Building Sign Illumination
in full report
Wall Sign Allowance
in full report
Optional Residential Sign Maximum Area
in full report
Sock Signs And Temporary Wall Sign Display Duration
in full report

4 more building signs rules in the full report →

Definitions

Angled Projecting Sign Definition
a sign that projects from a building wall at an angle of less than ninety (90) degrees.
Awning Sign Definition
a sign that is mounted, painted, or attached to canvas or other material that is installed over a projecting structural framework above a building window or door.
Bracket Sign Definition
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Free Standing Sign Definition
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Landmark Sign Definition
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Monument Sign Definition
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Pole Sign Definition
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Portable Sign Definition
in full report
Projecting Sign Definition
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Roof Sign Definition
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Sidewalk Sign Definition
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Sign Band Definition
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Sign Definition
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Sign Face Definition
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Site Sign Definition
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Sock Sign Definition
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Swing Sign Definition
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Window Sign Definition
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Yard Sign Definition
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Banner Definition
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Banner Frame Definition
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Classification Of Temporary Sign Materials Definition
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Double Faced Sign Definition
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Electronic Message Center Definition
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Flag Definition
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Interior Sign Definition
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Sign Clearance Definition
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Sign Height Definition
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Sign Permit Required Definition
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Temporary Sign Definition
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28 more definitions rules in the full report →

General Info

Jurisdiction Name
Central City, CO

General Standards

Damage Repair Time
Permanent signs that are damaged shall be repaired or removed within 60 days
Damage Repair Time Temporary
Temporary signs that are damaged shall be removed within twenty-four (24) hours
Level Position Requirement
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Comprehensive Sign Plans Allowance
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Denial Of Proposed Sign Design Program Requirement
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Elimination Of Nonconforming Sign Review Requirement
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Immediate Removal Of Sign Removal Requirement
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Maximum Total Sign Area Maximum Area
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Modification Of Sign Setbacks Or Required Landscape Area Setback Requirement
in full report
Signable Area Allowance
in full report

8 more general standards rules in the full report →

Ground Signs

Ground Sign Type
Monument (small, ~6-8 ft) and Pylon/Pole (larger)
Ground Sign Formula
Monument: 6 sq ft; Pylon: Not specified
Ground Sign Max Height
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Ground Sign Setback
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Ground Sign Max Height
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Ground Sign Max Height
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4 more ground signs rules in the full report →

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Illumination

External Illumination Limit
External illumination of signs shall not exceed 500 lux on any part of the sign face or surrounding surfaces
Internal Illumination Limit
Internally illuminated signs shall not increase ambient light levels more than 0.3 foot-candles, measured in the vertical plane, forty (40) linear feet from the sign, five (5) feet above ground level
Light Trespass Limit
in full report

1 more illumination rule in the full report →

Permit Process

Permit Time Frame
14 days from receipt of complete application and fee
Processing Period Extension
Processing period extended to next business day if end is weekend or legal holiday
Signs Permitted Before Effective Date Permit Requirement
in full report

1 more permit process rule in the full report →

Prohibited Signs

Prohibited Sign Faces
Signs with more than two (2) sign faces are prohibited

Temporary Signs

Temp Signs Allowed
Yes, permit required
Temp Sign Rules
Max area: 6 sq ft; Max height: 4 ft; Max duration: 24 hours; Permit required

Window Signs

Window Sign Allowance
Window Signs: Window signs are allowed according to the standards in Table 14-4-20(c), Window Signs.

Zoning

Banners Allowance
Banners: Banners are permitted in the HDG, GGG, GPC, LCC, TSL, and IND zoning districts, provided that there is not more than one (1) banner displayed per street frontage, unless banner frames are present, in which case one (1) banner may be displayed in each banner frame, and banners may not be displayed outside of the banner frames.

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