Englewood, Colorado Sign Code & Sign Permit Guide
Wall, monument, and freestanding sign limits for Englewood 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.
Residential (R-1, R-2 & Mixed-Use Residential)
Zones like R-1-A
EMC §16-9-4.A — the code's own named residential district list. Applies to any residential building/use in a nonresidential district too. PUDs with a residential component follow these standards unless specifically amended (see zoning.cspResearchNote).
Up to 2 standard geometric shapes: Sign area is the smallest area of up to 2 standard geometric shapes that can encompass the entire sign (or its background, if mounted on one). Regular shapes use their own formula (e.g. πr² for a circle). A gap greater than 2x the sign's height may be excluded, but then the two portions count as separate signs.
Building & ground signs (total allowance)
EMC §16-9-4.A.1 · Table 9-1| Lots under 100 ft of frontage | 1.5 sf per linear ft of frontage, but at least 80 sf total. |
|---|---|
| Lots 101-250 ft of frontage | 1.0 sf per linear ft of frontage. |
| Lots over 250 ft of frontage | 0.4 sf per linear ft of frontage. |
| Ground sign cap | 125 sf max, 15 ft tall; 1 per street frontage (2 if over 150 ft frontage); 10 ft setback from any lot line. |
| Building sign cap | 125 sf max; 1 per street-facing building frontage; attached to the building. |
Pedestrian signs
EMC §16-9-4.A.2 · Table 9-2| Pedestrian sign | 12 sf max; 1 per public building entrance; 6 ft tall (ground-mounted) or 12 ft (building-mounted); within 10 ft (wall) or 20 ft (ground) of the entrance. |
|---|
Only for permitted principal nonresidential uses or multi-unit buildings (school, church, community center, apartments).
Temporary signs
EMC §16-9-4.A.3 · Table 9-3| Total allowance | 18 sf flat, or 0.18 sf per linear ft of frontage for lots over 100 ft, up to a max of 48 sf. |
|---|---|
| Per-sign max | 12 sf (under 100 ft frontage); 18 sf (100-200 ft); 24 sf (over 200 ft). |
| Height | 5 ft if ground-mounted; 20 ft or top of wall (whichever is less) if building-mounted. |
120-day limit for any period with more than 2 temporary signs displayed at once.
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Residential (R-1, R-2 & Mixed-Use Residential) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Only permitted principal nonresidential uses (or large apartments in MU-R-3) get the full building/ground sign allowance in Table 9-1 — check the actual use before quoting.
Nonresidential (Mixed-Use Business, Industrial & Manufacturing)
Zones like M-1
EMC §16-9-4.B — the code's own named nonresidential district list (M-, MU-B-, and I- districts). PUDs with a nonresidential component follow these standards unless specifically amended (see zoning.cspResearchNote).
Up to 2 standard geometric shapes: Sign area is the smallest area of up to 2 standard geometric shapes that can encompass the entire sign (or its background, if mounted on one). Regular shapes use their own formula (e.g. πr² for a circle). A gap greater than 2x the sign's height may be excluded, but then the two portions count as separate signs.
Building & ground signs (total allowance) — M-Districts
EMC §16-9-4.B.1 · Table 9-4| Lots under 100 ft of frontage | 1.5 sf per linear ft, but at least 100 sf total. |
|---|---|
| Lots 101-250 ft of frontage | 1.0 sf per linear ft. |
| Lots over 250 ft of frontage | 0.4 sf per linear ft. |
Building & ground signs (total allowance) — MU-B- & I-Districts
EMC §16-9-4.B.1 · Table 9-4| Lots under 100 ft of frontage | 2.0 sf per linear ft, but at least 100 sf total. |
|---|---|
| Lots 101-250 ft of frontage | 1.25 sf per linear ft. |
| Lots over 250 ft of frontage | 0.6 sf per linear ft. |
Ground & building sign caps (all nonresidential districts)
EMC §16-9-4.B.1 · Table 9-4| Ground sign | 125 sf max, 25 ft tall. 1 per lot frontage, plus up to 2 secondary ground signs on lots over 100 ft frontage (secondary signs count toward the total, capped at 10% each). Setback 15 ft from curb/edge of street or 3 ft from sidewalk, whichever is greater; must be on private property. |
|---|---|
| Building sign | 125 sf max. 1 per street-facing building elevation, plus up to 3 secondary building signs (each capped at 15% of the allowance). Height no taller than the wall (flat roof) or roof deck/eave line (pitched roof). |
| Multi-story bonus (buildings over 75 ft tall) | One additional sign per façade, NOT counted against the total allowance: 5 sf/ft of frontage (75-100 ft tall); 6 sf/ft (101-150 ft); 7 sf/ft (over 150 ft). No EMC allowed on these bonus signs. |
Pedestrian signs
EMC §16-9-4.B.2 · Table 9-5| Frontage sign | 6 sf max; 1 per 50 ft of building frontage or 1 per storefront tenant, whichever is greater; mounted on the wall/awning/canopy (or ≥7.5 ft clear if hanging). |
|---|---|
| Building entrance sign | 8 sf max; 1 per primary business entrance; flush-mounted or projecting up to 4 ft (still ≥7.5 ft clear); within 10 ft of the entrance. |
Temporary signs
EMC §16-9-4.B.3 · Table 9-6| Total allowance | 25 sf flat, or 0.25 sf per linear ft of frontage for lots over 100 ft, up to a max of 100 sf. |
|---|---|
| Per-sign max | 16 sf (under 100 ft frontage); 32 sf (100-200 ft); 48 sf (over 200 ft). |
| Height | 15 ft if ground-mounted; 30 ft or top of wall (whichever is less) if building-mounted. |
120-day limit for any period with more than 2 temporary signs displayed at once.
Projecting signs
EMC §16-9-5.B.2| Projecting sign | 50 sf max. Only 1 per building. Extends up to 6 ft from the wall (perpendicular), no closer than 5 ft to the back of curb; bottom ≥8 ft above grade. |
|---|
Drive-through service facility signs
EMC §16-9-5.F| Drive-through sign | Up to 2 signs along the drive-through lane, 1 face each, max 8 ft tall and 35 sf. |
|---|
Portable pedestrian signs (A-frame/sandwich board)
EMC §16-9-5.G| Portable sign | 8 sf max (≤3 ft wide, ≤4 ft tall). 1 per public building entrance. Within 20 ft of the entrance, ≥2 ft from any curb, ≥6 ft clear pedestrian passage. |
|---|
Dynamic / electronic message displays
EMC §16-9-5.H| Where allowed | Nonresidential uses only. 1 per street frontage. ≥100 ft setback from any residential use (or residentially-zoned property in MU-B districts). |
|---|---|
| Size sub-caps | 20 sf max in M-1/M-2; general sign allowance (no extra sub-cap) in MU-B/I-districts. |
| Timing | Static display only; ≥10 seconds between changes; transitions ≤0.3 second (dissolve/fade/instantaneous only). |
| Brightness | Auto-dimming sensor required; ≤0.3 footcandles over ambient, measured perpendicular to the sign at a distance = √(100 × sign area) ft. |
Permit application must include manufacturer specs and cd/m² rating. A malfunctioning display must be shut off within 24 hours.
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Nonresidential (Mixed-Use Business, Industrial & Manufacturing) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Secondary ground signs (up to 2, on lots over 100 ft frontage) and secondary building signs (up to 3) count AGAINST the total sign allowance, capped at 10% (ground) or 15% (building) of the allowance each — they are not additional to it.
- Dynamic/electronic message displays need at least 100 ft setback from any residential use (100 ft from residentially-zoned property specifically in MU-B districts), and are sub-capped by district: 20 sf max in M-1/M-2, general allowance (no extra sub-cap) in MU-B/I-districts.
Sign permits in Englewood
City of Englewood Community Development Department — 303-762-2342
Englewood sign code FAQ
What is the sign code for Englewood, Colorado?
Englewood's sign regulations are set by EMC Ch. 9 Signs · Municode, and vary by zoning district. Sightline tracks 2 verified zone families for Englewood below, each with wall, freestanding, and other sign-type limits cited to the exact section.
Do I need a permit for a sign in Englewood?
In nearly every Colorado municipality, including Englewood, permanent signs — wall signs, channel letters, cabinets, monument signs — require a sign permit. Englewood's permit process is linked below. Always confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before finalizing a design.
Look up an exact address in Englewood
Get the live zoning district and the sign limits that apply to a specific parcel, with a frontage calculator and a permit-ready citation.
Get notified at launch