Greeley, Colorado Sign Code & Sign Permit Guide
Wall, monument, and freestanding sign limits for Greeley 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.
H-A, C-D, R-E, R-MH, R-L, R-M — no permanent signage
Zones like H-A
Table 24-9-3 (Wall) lists N/A for these six districts; §24-905.d.1 limits freestanding signs here to the §24-902 exempt-sign process only.
12-line rule (favorable): Sign area is a single continuous rectilinear perimeter of not more than 12 straight lines around the sign's writing, emblems, and figures (§24-908.a.1).
Wall signs
Table 24-9-3| Allowed | Not permitted — zone shows N/A in the wall sign table |
|---|
Freestanding sign (monument/ground)
§24-905.d.1| Allowed | Not permitted except through the §24-902 exempt-sign process |
|---|
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for H-A, C-D, R-E, R-MH, R-L, R-M — no permanent signage — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Only exempt signage is allowed in this zone under §24-902 — yard/site signs (64-256 sq ft cumulative by lot size), address/cornerstone signs, window signs, flags, and temporary signs. None require a sign permit, and no wall or freestanding sign allowance exists.
- If this parcel hosts an institutional use (school, church, etc.), §24-905.g grants the more permissive R-H freestanding allowance instead — Sightline can't detect institutional use from the zoning code alone, so confirm with the city if that applies here.
R-H — Residential High Density
Zones like R-H
Table 24-9-3 (Wall) R-H row; Table 24-9-2 (Freestanding) 'R-H, C-L, and Institutional Uses in Any Residential District' column.
12-line rule (favorable): Sign area is a single continuous rectilinear perimeter of not more than 12 straight lines around the sign's writing, emblems, and figures (§24-908.a.1).
Wall signs
Table 24-9-3| Rate | 0.25 sq ft per linear ft of principal building frontage |
|---|---|
| Max area | 40 sq ft base, +1 sq ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 150 sq ft |
| Secondary frontage | Not listed for this zone |
| Depth | No sign part may exceed 20 in. thick |
Freestanding sign (monument/ground)
Table 24-9-2| Size | 33 sq ft, +1 sq ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 150 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft |
| Quantity | Lot frontage under 200 ft → 1 sign, in place of one wall sign OR a share of the wall allowance · 200-499 ft → 1 sign · 500 ft+ → 2 signs |
| Base | Support structure up to 1.5x the max sign allowance; monument base excluded from area if under 1/3 of combined face+base and 60%+ ground contact |
Projecting wall sign
§24-905.e| Height | May not exceed the top of the wall or bottom of the roof eave |
|---|---|
| Clearance | 8 ft min from grade · extends up to 4 ft from the wall |
| Counts toward | The zone's wall sign allowance — not a separate pool |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for R-H — Residential High Density — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- If this zone is adjacent to (or is itself) a residential district, illuminated signs need an opaque background with translucent letters — or letters with no background lighting — and can't create more than 0.1 footcandle on the residential side (§24-904.b).
C-L — Commercial Low Intensity
Zones like C-L
Table 24-9-3 (Wall) C-L row — the only row with no listed maximum area; Table 24-9-2 (Freestanding) 'R-H, C-L, and Institutional Uses in Any Residential District' column.
12-line rule (favorable): Sign area is a single continuous rectilinear perimeter of not more than 12 straight lines around the sign's writing, emblems, and figures (§24-908.a.1).
Wall signs
Table 24-9-3| Principal frontage | 1 sq ft per linear ft |
|---|---|
| Secondary frontage | 0.5 sq ft per linear ft |
| Max area | Not listed — no numeric cap in this zone |
| Depth | No sign part may exceed 20 in. thick |
Freestanding sign (monument/ground)
Table 24-9-2| Size | 33 sq ft, +1 sq ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 150 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft |
| Quantity | Lot frontage under 200 ft → 1 sign, in place of one wall sign OR a share of the wall allowance · 200-499 ft → 1 sign · 500 ft+ → 2 signs |
| Base | Support structure up to 1.5x the max sign allowance; monument base excluded from area if under 1/3 of combined face+base and 60%+ ground contact |
Projecting wall sign
§24-905.e| Height | May not exceed the top of the wall or bottom of the roof eave |
|---|---|
| Clearance | 8 ft min from grade · extends up to 4 ft from the wall |
| Counts toward | The zone's wall sign allowance — not a separate pool |
EMD / Digital (changeable copy)
§24-905.c| Where | Allowed — hours limited to 6am-10pm |
|---|---|
| Size | Up to 50% of a sign face |
| Brightness | 600 nits max, dusk to dawn, automatic dimmer or solar sensor required |
| Message | Static only (dissolve/fade OK) · hold 30 sec minimum between changes · no animation |
A property with an EMD loses its temporary-sign allowance (§24-905.c.8).
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for C-L — Commercial Low Intensity — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic messaging displays (EMD) are allowed in this zone, limited to 6am-10pm operating hours (§24-905.c.1) — see the EMD card.
- If this zone is adjacent to a residential district, illuminated signs need an opaque background with translucent letters — or letters with no background lighting — and can't create more than 0.1 footcandle on the residential side (§24-904.b).
C-H, I-L — Commercial High Intensity / Industrial Low Intensity
Zones like C-H
Table 24-9-3 (Wall) C-H/I-L row; Table 24-9-2 (Freestanding) 'C-H, I-L, I-M, I-H' column.
12-line rule (favorable): Sign area is a single continuous rectilinear perimeter of not more than 12 straight lines around the sign's writing, emblems, and figures (§24-908.a.1).
Wall signs
Table 24-9-3| Principal frontage | 1.5 sq ft per linear ft |
|---|---|
| Secondary frontage | 1 sq ft per linear ft |
| Max area | 60 sq ft base, +1 sq ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 200 sq ft |
| Depth | No sign part may exceed 20 in. thick |
Freestanding sign (monument/ground)
Table 24-9-2| Size | 50 sq ft, +1 sq ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 250 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Height | 12 ft, +0.26 ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 25 ft |
| Quantity | Lot frontage under 200 ft → 1 sign, in place of one wall sign OR a share of the wall allowance · 200-499 ft → 1 sign · 500 ft+ → 2 signs |
| Base | Support structure up to 1.5x the max sign allowance; monument base excluded from area if under 1/3 of combined face+base and 60%+ ground contact |
Projecting wall sign
§24-905.e| Height | May not exceed the top of the wall or bottom of the roof eave |
|---|---|
| Clearance | 8 ft min from grade · extends up to 4 ft from the wall |
| Counts toward | The zone's wall sign allowance — not a separate pool |
EMD / Digital (changeable copy)
§24-905.c| Where | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Size | Up to 50% of a sign face |
| Brightness | 600 nits max, dusk to dawn, automatic dimmer or solar sensor required |
| Message | Static only (dissolve/fade OK) · hold 30 sec minimum between changes · no animation |
A property with an EMD loses its temporary-sign allowance (§24-905.c.8).
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for C-H, I-L — Commercial High Intensity / Industrial Low Intensity — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic messaging displays (EMD) are allowed in this zone — see the EMD card.
- If this zone is adjacent to a residential district, illuminated signs need an opaque background with translucent letters — or letters with no background lighting — and can't create more than 0.1 footcandle on the residential side (§24-904.b).
I-M, I-H — Industrial Medium/High Intensity
Zones like I-M
Table 24-9-3 (Wall) I-M/I-H row; Table 24-9-2 (Freestanding) 'C-H, I-L, I-M, I-H' column (same freestanding tier as C-H/I-L).
12-line rule (favorable): Sign area is a single continuous rectilinear perimeter of not more than 12 straight lines around the sign's writing, emblems, and figures (§24-908.a.1).
Wall signs
Table 24-9-3| Principal frontage | 2 sq ft per linear ft |
|---|---|
| Secondary frontage | 1 sq ft per linear ft |
| Max area | 90 sq ft base, +1 sq ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 250 sq ft |
| Depth | No sign part may exceed 20 in. thick |
Freestanding sign (monument/ground)
Table 24-9-2| Size | 50 sq ft, +1 sq ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 250 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Height | 12 ft, +0.26 ft per 1 ft of street setback beyond 50 ft, up to 25 ft |
| Quantity | Lot frontage under 200 ft → 1 sign, in place of one wall sign OR a share of the wall allowance · 200-499 ft → 1 sign · 500 ft+ → 2 signs |
| Base | Support structure up to 1.5x the max sign allowance; monument base excluded from area if under 1/3 of combined face+base and 60%+ ground contact |
Projecting wall sign
§24-905.e| Height | May not exceed the top of the wall or bottom of the roof eave |
|---|---|
| Clearance | 8 ft min from grade · extends up to 4 ft from the wall |
| Counts toward | The zone's wall sign allowance — not a separate pool |
EMD / Digital (changeable copy)
§24-905.c| Where | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Size | Up to 50% of a sign face |
| Brightness | 600 nits max, dusk to dawn, automatic dimmer or solar sensor required |
| Message | Static only (dissolve/fade OK) · hold 30 sec minimum between changes · no animation |
A property with an EMD loses its temporary-sign allowance (§24-905.c.8).
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for I-M, I-H — Industrial Medium/High Intensity — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Electronic messaging displays (EMD) are allowed in this zone — see the EMD card.
- If this zone is adjacent to a residential district, illuminated signs need an opaque background with translucent letters — or letters with no background lighting — and can't create more than 0.1 footcandle on the residential side (§24-904.b).
Sign permits in Greeley
Greeley Building Inspection — 970-350-9830, Building.Inspection@greeleygov.com
Greeley sign code FAQ
What is the sign code for Greeley, Colorado?
Greeley's sign regulations are set by Ch. 9 Sign Standards · Municode, and vary by zoning district. Sightline tracks 5 verified zone families for Greeley below, each with wall, freestanding, and other sign-type limits cited to the exact section.
Do I need a permit for a sign in Greeley?
In nearly every Colorado municipality, including Greeley, permanent signs — wall signs, channel letters, cabinets, monument signs — require a sign permit. Greeley's permit process is linked below. Always confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before finalizing a design.
Look up an exact address in Greeley
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