Boulder County, Colorado Sign Code & Sign Permit Guide
Wall, monument, and freestanding sign limits for Boulder County 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.
Forestry, Mountain Institutional & Agricultural (F, MI, A)
Zones like F
§13-600(B) — Forestry, Mountain Institutional and Agricultural Zoning Districts table.
Standard formula, or up to 8 straight lines: Regular shapes use standard geometric area formulas. Irregular shapes or letters/symbols directly affixed to a wall are measured within the perimeter of up to 8 straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of the display, including any integral background/differentiating color. All faces of a multi-face sign count; an architecturally distinct freestanding base/pedestal is excluded.
Freestanding Sign
§13-600(B)| Maximum area | 64 sf total, no more than 32 sf per sign face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 10 ft. |
| Setback | 15 ft front, 7 ft sides. |
| Illumination | Must meet §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
| Commercial freestanding where principal use is residential | Not permitted. |
Wall Sign
§13-600(B)| Maximum area | 24 sf. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | Must not exceed the height of the wall it's on, or 30 ft, whichever is more restrictive. |
| Illumination | Must meet §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
| Where principal use is residential | 2 sf, not to exceed 1 sign per parcel. |
Temporary Real Estate Sign
§13-600(B)| Maximum area | 12 sf total, no more than 6 sf per face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 6 ft. |
| Illumination | Prohibited. |
General standards (all districts)
§13-200, §13-400, §13-500| Electronic Message Centers | Prohibited — no zone exception. |
|---|---|
| Internally illuminated sign brightness | 150 nits (cd/m²) max at night, where internal illumination is allowed at all. |
| Area measurement | Standard geometric formula, or up to 8 straight lines for irregular shapes/letters. |
| Subdivision entry signs | Any platted subdivision may post 2 entry signs ≤32 sf, ≤6 ft, external illumination only. |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Forestry, Mountain Institutional & Agricultural (F, MI, A) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic Message Centers are prohibited countywide (§13-500(A)(9)) — no zone exception exists.
- Freestanding + wall signage together may never exceed the 88 sf per-lot total — these are not separate allowances layered on top of each other.
Rural, Estate & Suburban Residential, Multi-Family & Manufactured Home Park (RR, ER, SR, MF, MH)
Zones like RR
§13-600(C) — Rural Residential, Estate Residential, Suburban Residential, Multi-Family and Manufactured Park Zoning Districts table.
Standard formula, or up to 8 straight lines: Regular shapes use standard geometric area formulas. Irregular shapes or letters/symbols directly affixed to a wall are measured within the perimeter of up to 8 straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of the display, including any integral background/differentiating color. All faces of a multi-face sign count; an architecturally distinct freestanding base/pedestal is excluded.
Freestanding Sign
§13-600(C)| Maximum area | 32 sf total, no more than 16 sf per sign face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 6 ft. |
| Setback | 15 ft front, 7 ft sides. |
| Illumination | Must meet §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
| Commercial freestanding where principal use is residential | Not permitted. |
Wall Sign
§13-600(C)| Maximum area | 32 sf. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | Must not exceed the wall's height or 30 ft, whichever is more restrictive. |
| Illumination | Must meet §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
| Where principal use is residential | 2 sf, not to exceed 1 sign per parcel. |
Temporary Real Estate Sign
§13-600(C)| Maximum area | 12 sf total, no more than 6 sf per face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 6 ft. |
| Illumination | Prohibited. |
General standards (all districts)
§13-200, §13-400, §13-500| Electronic Message Centers | Prohibited — no zone exception. |
|---|---|
| Internally illuminated sign brightness | 150 nits (cd/m²) max at night, where internal illumination is allowed at all. |
| Area measurement | Standard geometric formula, or up to 8 straight lines for irregular shapes/letters. |
| Subdivision entry signs | Any platted subdivision may post 2 entry signs ≤32 sf, ≤6 ft, external illumination only. |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Rural, Estate & Suburban Residential, Multi-Family & Manufactured Home Park (RR, ER, SR, MF, MH) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic Message Centers are prohibited countywide (§13-500(A)(9)) — no zone exception exists.
- Freestanding + wall signage together may never exceed the 64 sf per-lot total — these are not separate allowances layered on top of each other.
Transitional, Business, Commercial, Light Industrial, Economic Development & General Industrial (T, B, C, LI, GI, ED)
Zones like T
§13-600(D) — Transitional, Business, Commercial, Light Industrial, Economic Development, and General Industrial table.
Standard formula, or up to 8 straight lines: Regular shapes use standard geometric area formulas. Irregular shapes or letters/symbols directly affixed to a wall are measured within the perimeter of up to 8 straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of the display, including any integral background/differentiating color. All faces of a multi-face sign count; an architecturally distinct freestanding base/pedestal is excluded.
Freestanding Sign
§13-600(D)| Rate | 2 sf per lineal ft of lot width, 1 sign per lot line abutting a public street. |
|---|---|
| Single-use parcel cap | 75 sf per face or 150 sf total. |
| Multi-use parcel cap | 150 sf per face or 300 sf total. |
| Maximum height | 25 ft. |
| Setback | 25 ft front, 7 ft sides. |
| Illumination | External per §7-1600; internal illumination allowed if it meets §13-400 material rules. |
Multi-Driveway Sign
§13-600(D)| Maximum area | 4 sf total, no more than 2 sf per face, 1 per approved access point. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 4 ft. |
| Illumination | Prohibited. |
| Setback | 10 ft from the edge of the road. |
Projecting Sign
§13-600(D)| Maximum area | 12 sf total, no more than 6 sf per face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | Must not exceed the wall's height or 15 ft, whichever is more restrictive. |
| Illumination | Must meet §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
| Clearance | 8 ft minimum from the lowest portion of the sign to grade. |
Wall Sign
§13-600(D)| Rate | 2 sf per lineal ft of that street-frontage side of the building, 1 sign per street frontage. |
|---|---|
| Cap | Lesser of 150 sf or 25% of that wall's total surface area. |
| Maximum height | Must not exceed the wall's height or 30 ft, whichever is more restrictive. |
| Illumination | Internally illuminated signs must meet §13-400 material requirements. |
| Where principal use is residential | 2 sf, not to exceed 1 sign per parcel, internal illumination prohibited. |
Temporary Real Estate Sign
§13-600(D)| Maximum area | 12 sf total, no more than 6 sf per face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 6 ft. |
| Illumination | Prohibited. |
General standards (all districts)
§13-200, §13-400, §13-500| Electronic Message Centers | Prohibited — no zone exception. |
|---|---|
| Internally illuminated sign brightness | 150 nits (cd/m²) max at night. |
| Area measurement | Standard geometric formula, or up to 8 straight lines for irregular shapes/letters. |
| Subdivision entry signs | Any platted subdivision may post 2 entry signs ≤32 sf, ≤6 ft, external illumination only. |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Transitional, Business, Commercial, Light Industrial, Economic Development & General Industrial (T, B, C, LI, GI, ED) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic Message Centers are prohibited countywide (§13-500(A)(9)) — no zone exception exists.
- Freestanding, wall, projecting and multi-driveway signage together may never exceed the 450 sf per-lot total — these are not separate allowances layered on top of each other.
Historic & Rural Community Districts (H, NRCD1, NRCD2)
Zones like H
§13-600(E) — Historic and Rural Community Zoning Districts table. NRCD1/NRCD2 (Niwot Rural Community District I/II) are the only currently-adopted Rural Community Districts confirmed live on the county's own zoning layer.
Standard formula, or up to 8 straight lines: Regular shapes use standard geometric area formulas. Irregular shapes or letters/symbols directly affixed to a wall are measured within the perimeter of up to 8 straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of the display, including any integral background/differentiating color. All faces of a multi-face sign count; an architecturally distinct freestanding base/pedestal is excluded.
Freestanding Sign
§13-600(E)| Maximum area | 32 sf total, no more than 16 sf per sign face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 6 ft. |
| Setback | 15 ft front, 7 ft sides. |
| Illumination | External per §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
Projecting Sign
§13-600(E)| Maximum area | 12 sf total, no more than 6 sf per face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | Must not exceed the wall's height or 15 ft, whichever is more restrictive. |
| Illumination | Must meet §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
| Clearance | 8 ft minimum from the lowest portion of the sign to grade. |
Wall Sign
§13-600(E)| Maximum area | 24 sf. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | Must not exceed the wall's height or 30 ft, whichever is more restrictive. |
| Illumination | Must meet §7-1600; internal illumination prohibited. |
| Where principal use is residential | 2 sf, not to exceed 1 sign per parcel. |
District Entry Sign
§13-600(E)(1)| Maximum number | 2 per public right-of-way entrance into the district. |
|---|---|
| Maximum area | 32 sf. |
| Maximum height | 6 ft. |
| Illumination | External only. |
Temporary Real Estate Sign
§13-600(E)| Maximum area | 12 sf total, no more than 6 sf per face. |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 6 ft. |
| Illumination | Prohibited. |
General standards (all districts)
§13-200, §13-400, §13-500| Electronic Message Centers | Prohibited — no zone exception. |
|---|---|
| Internally illuminated sign brightness | 150 nits (cd/m²) max at night, where internal illumination is allowed at all. |
| Area measurement | Standard geometric formula, or up to 8 straight lines for irregular shapes/letters. |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Historic & Rural Community Districts (H, NRCD1, NRCD2) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic Message Centers are prohibited countywide (§13-500(A)(9)) — no zone exception exists.
- NRCD1/NRCD2 (Niwot) may carry their OWN district-specific sign regulations adopted as part of the district's formation, which would supersede this base table per §13-600(E)(2) — that district-specific text was not located this session; confirm with the county for a Niwot-zoned parcel.
- Freestanding, wall and projecting signage together may never exceed the 56 sf per-lot total — these are not separate allowances layered on top of each other.
Sign permits in Boulder County
Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting — Building Safety and Inspection Services, 303-441-3926
Boulder County sign code FAQ
What is the sign code for Boulder County, Colorado?
Boulder County's sign regulations are set by Land Use Code Art. 13 Signs · Boulder County, and vary by zoning district. Sightline tracks 4 verified zone families for Boulder County below, each with wall, freestanding, and other sign-type limits cited to the exact section.
Do I need a permit for a sign in Boulder County?
In nearly every Colorado municipality, including Boulder County, permanent signs — wall signs, channel letters, cabinets, monument signs — require a sign permit. Boulder County's permit process is linked below. Always confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before finalizing a design.
Look up an exact address in Boulder County
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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