Arvada, Colorado Sign Code & Sign Permit Guide
Wall, monument, and freestanding sign limits for Arvada by zoning district — cited to the exact code section, with the sign permit process. Every number is checked against the published code text before it ships.
Mixed-Use, Commercial & Industrial sign district (MX, C, I)
Zones like MX-N
LDC §6-1-5-1 (attached signs) and §6-1-5-2 (detached signs), MX,C,I sign-district column of Tables 6-1-5-1A/B/C and 6-1-5-2. Sign districts correspond to zoning districts per Table 6-1-2-4 (§6-1-2-4.C) — MX-N, MX-S, CG, IL, and IG all map to the Mixed-Use/Commercial/Industrial sign district. MX-U and MX-T are excluded (split by building facade position, not resolvable from the zone code alone).
Frontage-based, but split by construction type: Wall-sign area scales with establishment frontage, but the rate depends on construction: dimensional letters get 1.5 sf/lf uncapped, a cabinet sign gets 1 sf per 2 lf capped at 60 sf. Freestanding sign area also scales with property frontage (10 sf base + 1 sf per 4 lf, capped 125 sf). Read the exact figures from the cards above.
Wall signs
§6-1-5-1.B · Table 6-1-5-1A| Applied / painted wall sign | Not limited in number; 1.5 sf per 1 lf of establishment frontage of the building elevation, uncapped; external lighting only. |
|---|---|
| Cabinet / dimensional wall sign (primary) | Not limited in number; dimensional letters: 1.5 sf per 1 lf of establishment frontage, uncapped — OR — cabinet sign: 1 sf per 2 lf of establishment frontage, capped at 60 sf; external or internal lighting. |
| Cabinet / dimensional wall sign (secondary) | 1 per principal building entrance; max 48 sf; external or internal lighting; must be located above the ground-floor entrance. |
A primary cabinet/dimensional wall sign and a primary fin sign (see Blade) can't both be on the same building elevation — pick one.
Window signs
§6-1-5-1.C · Table 6-1-5-1B| Window sign | 25% of the area of window panes larger than 8 sf may be covered; 75% of panes 8 sf or smaller. Panes within 6 in. of each other count as one window for this calculation. |
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Permanently applied window signs must be affixed professionally — no wrinkles, bubbles, or visible tape.
Projecting signs (awning, marquee, hanging & fin)
§6-1-5-1.D · Table 6-1-5-1C| Awning sign | Not limited in number or area (no cap in the MX,C,I district); external or internal lighting; min 8 ft clearance; awning's principal function must be to shelter a window, door, or outdoor seating area. |
|---|---|
| Marquee sign | 1 per building; 1 sf per 1 lf of building elevation, max 150 sf; must be over a principal entrance; min 8 ft clearance. |
| Hanging sign | 1 per building entrance; max 10 sf; must be installed under a canopy or awning sheltering the entrance or a patio; min 8 ft clearance. |
| Fin sign (primary) | 1 per building; 1 sf per 1 lf of street-facing building elevation, max 150 sf; min 8 ft clearance (or may extend to ground level); not allowed if a primary cabinet wall sign is also present on the elevation. |
| Fin sign (secondary) | 1 per principal building entrance; max 8 sf; min 8 ft clearance; top of sign ≤ 14 ft above grade or the building wall, whichever is lower. |
Arvada's Projecting Signs standard (§6-1-5-1.D) is a single umbrella covering awning, marquee, hanging, and fin (blade) signs — all draw from the same table.
Freestanding sign (monument/pylon)
§6-1-5-2.B · Table 6-1-5-2| Primary detached sign | 1 per 600 lf of property frontage (or fraction); area = 10 sf + 1 sf per 4 lf of frontage, max 125 sf; height 6 ft under 200 lf frontage, 12 ft for 200–600 lf, 24 ft over 600 lf; external or internal lighting; setback 2 ft from property lines. |
|---|---|
| Secondary detached sign | 1 per vehicular ingress point; ≤600 lf frontage: 4 sf / 3.5 ft; >600 lf frontage: 8 sf / 6 ft; setback 2 ft from property lines. |
Electronic message centers
§6-1-4-2.C| Where allowed | Only in the MX, C, I sign district — prohibited citywide in Olde Town, multifamily, and single-family sign districts. |
|---|---|
| Number & size | 1 per property; ≤ 40% of the permitted sign's face; pixel pitch ≤ 20 mm. |
| Message timing | Static messages held at least 8 seconds; changes only via dissolve/fade transitions of no more than 1 second — no scrolling, blinking, or motion. |
| Brightness | External illumination ≤ 600 lux; internally-lit signs (incl. EMCs) ≤ 600 nits between sunset and the 10 p.m. cutoff; automatic dimming/solar sensors required. |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Mixed-Use, Commercial & Industrial sign district (MX, C, I) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic message centers are only allowed in the MX, C, I sign district citywide — they're prohibited entirely in Olde Town, multifamily, and single-family sign districts (§6-1-4-2.C).
- Illuminated signs generally shut off by 10 p.m.; MX,C,I signs may stay lit later if the business operates later, provided the sign dims at least 30% between midnight and 6 a.m. (§6-1-4-1.B.5).
Multifamily Residential sign district (RM)
Zones like R13
LDC §6-1-5-1 (attached signs) and §6-1-5-2 (detached signs), Multifamily Residential (RM) column of Tables 6-1-5-1A/B/C and 6-1-5-2. R13 and R24 both map to the RM sign district per Table 6-1-2-4 (§6-1-2-4.C).
Elevation-based wall rate, entry-only freestanding: RM wall-sign area is 1 sf per 2 lf of building elevation (minus existing wall-sign area on that elevation). Freestanding signs aren't a per-property count — they're only allowed at development entry points, with a flat 25-50 sf per-sign range depending on setback.
Wall signs
§6-1-5-1.B · Table 6-1-5-1A| Applied / painted wall sign | 1 per building elevation; 1 sf per 2 lf of building elevation, minus the area of other wall signs on the same elevation; external lighting only. |
|---|---|
| Cabinet / dimensional wall sign (primary) | 1 per building elevation; max 32 sf; external or internal lighting; not allowed if a primary fin sign is also present on the same elevation, or on an elevation within 24 ft of a single-family/duplex property line. |
| Cabinet / dimensional wall sign (secondary) | 1 per principal building entrance; max 6 sf; external or internal lighting; located above the ground-floor entrance, no part above 15 ft; not allowed if a secondary fin sign is also present above the same entrance. |
| Mural wall sign | 1 per building; may cover the entire elevation; external lighting; may not be placed on a building exclusively for residential use. |
| Bulletin board attached to wall | 1 per principal building entrance; max 6 sf; external lighting; not allowed above 8 ft elevation. |
Window signs
§6-1-5-1.C · Table 6-1-5-1B| Window sign | 1 per window; max 3 sf per sign; external or internal lighting; must be professionally affixed. |
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Projecting signs (awning, hanging & fin)
§6-1-5-1.D · Table 6-1-5-1C| Awning sign | Not limited in number; area up to 50% of the awning face it's attached to; external lighting; min 8 ft clearance; principal function must be to shelter a building entrance. |
|---|---|
| Marquee sign | Not allowed in the RM sign district. |
| Hanging sign | 1 per building entrance; max 8 sf; external lighting; min 8 ft clearance; must be installed under a canopy or awning sheltering an entrance or patio. |
| Fin sign (primary) | 1 per street-facing building elevation; max 12 sf; external lighting; min 8 ft clearance; not allowed if a primary cabinet wall sign is also present on the elevation. |
| Fin sign (secondary) | 1 per principal building entrance; max 8 sf; external lighting; min 8 ft clearance; top ≤ 14 ft above grade or the building wall, whichever is lower. |
Marquee signs are not allowed in RM — the umbrella table's marquee row is MX,C,I-only.
Freestanding sign (monument/entry)
§6-1-5-2 · Table 6-1-5-2| Primary detached sign | Allowed only at points of entry into a residential subdivision or multifamily development — on properties where a sign was present on the ordinance's effective date, or designated on an approved final plat, final development plan, or site plan; area 25 sf per sign plus 1 sf per 2 lf of additional property-line setback, max 50 sf per sign; height 6 ft; external lighting; setback 2 ft from sidewalks/trails/curbs/vehicular-use areas. |
|---|---|
| Secondary detached sign | 1 per vehicular ingress point; max 4 sf; height 3.5 ft; external lighting; setback ≥ 2 ft from property lines, ≤ 4 ft from the curb of the ingress/egress point. |
Electronic message centers
§6-1-4-2.C| Where allowed | Not allowed in the RM sign district — only permitted in Mixed-Use/Commercial/Industrial. |
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See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Multifamily Residential sign district (RM) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic message centers are prohibited in the RM sign district — only allowed in Mixed-Use/Commercial/Industrial (§6-1-4-2.C).
- A freestanding (detached) sign in RM has no flat max-count — it's allowed only at points of entry into a residential subdivision or multifamily development, on properties where a sign was present on the ordinance's effective date, or where one is designated on an approved final plat, final development plan, or site plan.
Single-Family Residential sign district (RS)
Zones like RA
LDC §6-1-5-1 (attached signs) and §6-1-5-2 (detached signs), Single-Family Residential (RS) column of Tables 6-1-5-1A/B/C and 6-1-5-2. All zones in this family's `zones` list map to the RS sign district per Table 6-1-2-4 (§6-1-2-4.C). Several sign types in this table are split by 'Residential Building' vs 'Nonresidential Building' use on the same RS-zoned parcel — carried through faithfully below rather than collapsed to one row.
Residential-use vs nonresidential-use, split throughout: RS is the narrowest sign district: a purely residential building's wall sign is capped at a flat 1 sf, and most attached sign types (cabinet, hanging, fin) aren't allowed for a residential building at all — they open up only when the parcel carries a nonresidential use (a home business, church, HOA clubhouse). Freestanding signs are entry-point-only, same shape as RM.
Wall signs
§6-1-5-1.B · Table 6-1-5-1A| Applied / painted wall sign — residential building | 1 per building elevation; max 1 sf; no illumination allowed. |
|---|---|
| Applied / painted wall sign — nonresidential building | 1 per building elevation; 1 sf per 2 lf of building elevation, minus the area of other wall signs on the same elevation; no illumination allowed. |
| Cabinet / dimensional wall sign (primary) — residential building | Not allowed. |
| Cabinet / dimensional wall sign (primary) — nonresidential building | 1 per building (dimensional wall sign only; cabinet signs not allowed); max 12 sf; no illumination allowed. |
| Cabinet / dimensional wall sign (secondary) | Not allowed. |
| Mural wall sign | Not allowed. |
| Bulletin board attached to wall — residential building | Not allowed. |
| Bulletin board attached to wall — nonresidential building | 1 per principal building entrance; max 6 sf; no illumination allowed; not allowed above 8 ft elevation. |
Window signs
§6-1-5-1.C · Table 6-1-5-1B| Window sign | 1 per window; max 6 sf per building elevation; no illumination allowed. |
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Projecting signs (hanging & fin)
§6-1-5-1.D · Table 6-1-5-1C| Awning sign | Not allowed in the RS sign district. |
|---|---|
| Marquee sign | Not allowed in the RS sign district. |
| Hanging sign — residential building | Not allowed. |
| Hanging sign — nonresidential building | Max 5 sf; no illumination allowed; min 8 ft clearance; must be installed under a canopy or awning over a principal building entrance. |
| Fin sign (primary) — residential building | Not allowed. |
| Fin sign (primary) — nonresidential building | Max 12 sf; no illumination allowed; min 8 ft clearance. |
| Fin sign (secondary) — residential building | Not allowed. |
| Fin sign (secondary) — nonresidential building | 1 per principal building entrance; max 2 sf; no illumination allowed; min 8 ft clearance; top ≤ 9 ft above grade or the building wall, whichever is lower. |
Freestanding sign (monument/entry)
§6-1-5-2 · Table 6-1-5-2| Primary detached sign | Allowed only at points of entry into a residential subdivision — on properties where a sign was present on the ordinance's effective date, or designated on an approved final plat, final development plan, or site plan; area 25 sf per sign plus 1 sf per 2 lf of additional property-line setback, max 50 sf per sign; height 6 ft; external lighting; setback 2 ft from sidewalks/trails/curbs/vehicular-use areas. |
|---|---|
| Secondary detached sign | Not allowed in the RS sign district. |
Electronic message centers
§6-1-4-2.C| Where allowed | Not allowed in the RS sign district — only permitted in Mixed-Use/Commercial/Industrial. |
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See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Single-Family Residential sign district (RS) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic message centers are prohibited in the RS sign district — only allowed in Mixed-Use/Commercial/Industrial (§6-1-4-2.C).
- Most attached sign types in RS require a nonresidential use on the parcel (e.g. a home business, church, or HOA clubhouse) — a purely residential building gets a much narrower allowance (typically just a 1 sf wall sign) or none at all for a given sign type.
- A freestanding (detached) sign in RS has no flat max-count — it's allowed only at points of entry into a residential subdivision, on properties where a sign was present on the ordinance's effective date, or where one is designated on an approved final plat, final development plan, or site plan. A secondary detached sign is not allowed at all.
Sign permits in Arvada
City of Arvada — sign permits via the Arvada Permits site (eTRAKiT), issued within 7 days of a complete application
Arvada sign code FAQ
What is the sign code for Arvada, Colorado?
Arvada's sign regulations are set by LDC Ch. 6 Signs · Municode, and vary by zoning district. Sightline tracks 3 verified zone families for Arvada below, each with wall, freestanding, and other sign-type limits cited to the exact section.
Do I need a permit for a sign in Arvada?
In nearly every Colorado municipality, including Arvada, permanent signs — wall signs, channel letters, cabinets, monument signs — require a sign permit. Arvada's permit process is linked below. Always confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before finalizing a design.
Look up an exact address in Arvada
Get the live zoning district and the sign limits that apply to a specific parcel, with a frontage calculator and a permit-ready citation.
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