Littleton, Colorado Sign Code & Sign Permit Guide
Wall, monument, and freestanding sign limits for Littleton 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.
Downtown (DNR, DTA, DMS, DMU)
Zones like DNR*
Article 10-2-5, Section 10-2-5.1, Tables 10-2-5.1.1-.3. Applies to the DNR, DTA, DMS, and DMU sub-districts, each with materially different allowances — DNR is the most restrictive (wall/window/monument only).
Unlimited shapes, one per word/graphic — favorable: Sign area is the total area of the smallest geometric shapes that enclose EACH word and graphic in the display separately — no cap on the number of shapes. This is more favorable than an 8-line rule; a multi-word sign with generous spacing measures smaller than it would under a single-bounding-box or capped-shape-count city.
Wall signs
Table 10-2-5.1.2| All sub-districts (DNR/DTA/DMS/DMU) | 1 per tenant per building frontage. 32 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of façade width occupied by the business, whichever is greatest — capped at 100 sf per display face, 200 sf per sign, 300 sf per building frontage. No higher than the roof/parapet line (flat roof) or 50% of mansard height. Projects ≤ 12 inches. External downlighting, internal, or halo. |
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Window signs
Table 10-2-5.1.2| DNR/DTA/DMS | 10% of combined window area. No higher than roof/parapet line. Internal illumination ≤ 500 nits at night. Changeable copy not permitted. |
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| DMU | Same 10% allowance, but changeable copy IS permitted (manual only, not electronic). |
Awning, Marquee, Mural & Projecting signs (DTA/DMS/DMU only)
Table 10-2-5.1.2| Awning sign | 32 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of façade width, whichever greatest. Min. 8 ft clearance, no higher than top of ground floor. External downlighting. |
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| Marquee sign (DMS/DMU only) | 32 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of building front width, whichever greatest. Clearance 12 ft min / 25 ft max. Projects ≤ 48 inches from façade. Internal or halo illumination. Changeable copy permitted. |
| Mural sign (DMS/DMU only) | 32 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of building front width, whichever greatest. Above ground floor but no higher than roofline. External downlighting. No changeable copy. |
| Projecting sign | 12 sf per face, 24 sf per sign. Clearance ≥ 8 ft, no higher than ground floor. Internal, halo, or downlight. |
| Arcade sign (DMS) | 6 sf, ≥ 8 ft clearance above sidewalk. External downlighting or halo. No changeable copy. |
Not allowed in DNR at all.
Freestanding / monument
Table 10-2-5.1.3| DNR | 1 per street frontage, 5 ft max height, single-sided face only, no changeable copy, no pole signs allowed. |
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| DTA/DMS/DMU | 1 per street frontage (2 if street frontage > 151 linear ft). 40 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of building frontage width, whichever greater — capped at 80 sf per display face, 160 sf per sign. 8 ft max height. Internally lit, halo lit, or externally downlit. Changeable copy permitted (manual only). |
| Pole sign (DTA/DMU only) | 1 per street frontage, same 40 sf/1.5-lf formula (80/160 sf caps), 15 ft max height, halo illumination only, no changeable copy. Not allowed in DNR or DMS. |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Downtown (DNR, DTA, DMS, DMU) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- DNR (Downtown Neighborhood Residential) does NOT allow arcade, awning, marquee, mural, projecting, or pole signs at all — only wall, window, and a small single-faced monument. Confirm the exact sub-district (DNR vs DTA/DMS/DMU) before quoting anything beyond wall/window.
- A zone suffixed /PL-O or a numbered PDO (e.g. DMU 3) may carry additional overlay-specific standards not reflected in this base district table — not confirmed either way this session.
Corridor Mixed-Use (NC, CM)
Zones like NC*
Article 10-3-5, Section 10-3-5.1, Tables 10-3-5.1.1-.3. Applies to Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and Commercial Mixed (CM) districts; CM's tables also serve as the Master Sign Plan baseline for large multi-parcel sites (Subsec. 10-1-3.10.G).
Unlimited shapes, one per word/graphic — favorable: Sign area is the total area of the smallest geometric shapes that enclose EACH word and graphic in the display separately — no cap on the number of shapes.
Wall signs
Table 10-3-5.1.2| NC | 1 per street-facing façade. 32 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of façade width, whichever greatest. No higher than the wall structure. Projects ≤ 12 inches. |
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| CM | 1 per tenant per building frontage. Same 32 sf/1.5-lf formula. +25% bonus area for each 10 ft of building height above 30 ft, up to a max of 200 sf per sign. |
Window signs
Table 10-3-5.1.2| NC | 15% of combined window area. No changeable copy. |
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| CM | 20% of combined window area, no higher than top of ground floor. Changeable copy permitted (manual). |
Awning / Canopy & Blade signs
Table 10-3-5.1.2| Awning/Canopy sign | 6 sf with a 1 ft vertical dimension. Min. 8 ft clearance, no higher than top of ground floor. External downlighting. |
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| Blade sign — NC | 1 per 10 ft of awning/canopy. 3 sf per face, 12 sf per sign. 8 ft clearance. |
| Blade sign — CM | 1 per 8 ft of awning/canopy. 8 sf per face, 16 sf per sign. 8 ft clearance. External downlighting. |
| Marquee sign (CM only) | 1 per front building façade. 32 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of building front width, whichever greatest. Clearance 12-25 ft. Projects ≤ 48 inches. Internal or halo. Changeable copy permitted. |
| Arcade sign (CM only) | 1 per public entrance under arcade. 6 sf, ≥ 8 ft clearance. External downlighting or halo. |
Projecting signs
Table 10-3-5.1.2| NC (1 per street-facing façade) / CM (1 per tenant per building frontage) | 18 sf per face, 36 sf per sign. Clearance ≥ 8 ft, no higher than ground floor. Projects ≤ 6 ft (≤ 3 ft if into the right-of-way, subject to an encroachment permit). |
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Freestanding / monument / pole / pylon
Table 10-3-5.1.3| Monument — NC | 1 per street frontage. 32 sf, or 1 sf per 1.5 linear ft of building frontage width, whichever greater. 6 ft max height, 5 ft setback. Internally lit, halo lit, or externally downlit. |
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| Monument — CM | 1 per 150 ft of street frontage. Capped at 80 sf per display face, 160 sf per sign. 15 ft max height, 5 ft setback. Changeable copy permitted (manual). Bonus sign area available (Subsec. 10-1-3.10.E). |
| Pole (CM only) | 1 per street frontage, same formula/cap as CM monument. Height = lesser of building height or 15 ft. 5 ft setback. Bonus area available. |
| Pylon (CM only) | 1 per 150 ft of street frontage, same formula/cap. Height = lesser of building height or 25 ft. No changeable copy. Bonus area available. |
| Post (NC only) | 1 per street frontage. 6 sf, 5 ft max height, 5 ft setback. No bonus. |
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Corridor Mixed-Use (NC, CM) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- A zone suffixed /PL-O or a numbered PDO may carry additional overlay-specific standards not reflected in this base district table — not confirmed either way this session.
- Multi-parcel/campus sites 10+ acres in CM may operate under a Master Sign Plan instead of these base tables — ask before quoting a large shopping-center or campus job.
Neighborhood — nonresidential uses (ACR, LLR, MLR, SLR, MFR)
Zones like ACR*
Article 10-4-5, Section 10-4-5.1, Tables 10-4-5.1.1-.3. Applies ONLY to a permitted or conditionally-permitted NONRESIDENTIAL use within these residential districts — attached/freestanding signs otherwise are not permitted for a residential use.
Unlimited shapes, one per word/graphic — favorable: Sign area is the total area of the smallest geometric shapes that enclose EACH word and graphic in the display separately — no cap on the number of shapes.
Wall signs (MLR/SLR/MFR only)
Table 10-4-5.1.2| Nonresidential use | 1 per street-facing façade. 32 sf flat (no frontage formula). No higher than top of ground floor. Projects ≤ 12 inches. External downlighting or halo. |
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Not permitted in ACR or LLR.
Window signs (MLR/SLR/MFR only)
Table 10-4-5.1.2| Nonresidential use | 1 per street-facing façade. 20% of combined ground-floor window area. Internal illumination ≤ 500 nits at night. Changeable copy permitted. |
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Not permitted in ACR or LLR.
Awning/Canopy & Projecting signs (MLR/SLR/MFR only)
Table 10-4-5.1.2| Awning/Canopy sign | 1 per street-facing façade. 6 sf with a 1 ft vertical dimension. ≥ 8 ft clearance, no higher than top of ground floor. External downlighting. |
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| Projecting sign | 1 per street-facing façade. 12 sf per face, 24 sf per sign. ≥ 8 ft clearance, no higher than top of ground floor. Projects ≤ 6 ft (≤ 3 ft into ROW). |
Not permitted in ACR or LLR.
Placard sign (all 5 sub-districts, incl. ACR/LLR)
Table 10-4-5.1.2| Nonresidential use | 1 per pedestrian entrance. 2 sf per face. No illumination. No changeable copy. |
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Monument sign (MLR/SLR/MFR only)
Table 10-4-5.1.3| Nonresidential use | 1 per street frontage. 32 sf flat. 6 ft max height. Internally lit, halo lit, or externally downlit. Changeable copy permitted. |
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Not permitted in ACR or LLR.
Post sign (all 5 sub-districts, incl. ACR/LLR)
Table 10-4-5.1.3| Any district | 1 per street frontage. 6 sf. 4 ft max height. 15 ft minimum front property line setback. |
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Subdivision entrance sign (all 5 sub-districts, incl. ACR/LLR)
Table 10-4-5.1.3| Any district | 1 per subdivision entrance. 40 sf. 8 ft max height. Externally illuminated, or halo/reverse-channel lit. Changeable copy permitted. |
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See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Neighborhood — nonresidential uses (ACR, LLR, MLR, SLR, MFR) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Attached and freestanding signs are NOT PERMITTED here except for a nonresidential use (church, school, HOA clubhouse, etc.) — a house or apartment building gets no signage beyond the citywide exempt-sign list plus a subdivision entrance/post sign. Confirm the actual use before quoting any number below.
- ACR and LLR districts further restrict the sign types allowed — only Placard, Post, and Subdivision Entrance signs (no awning, projecting, wall, window, or monument at all in ACR/LLR).
Business & Industry (BC, IP)
Zones like BC*
Article 10-5-5, Section 10-5-5.1, Tables 10-5-5.1.1-.3. Applies to Business Center (BC) and Industrial Park (IP) districts.
Unlimited shapes, one per word/graphic — favorable: Sign area is the total area of the smallest geometric shapes that enclose EACH word and graphic in the display separately — no cap on the number of shapes.
Wall signs
Table 10-5-5.1.2| BC and IP | 1 per street-facing façade. 50 sf, or 1 sf per 1 linear ft of façade width, whichever greatest — capped at 100 sf per display face, 200 sf per sign, 300 sf per use. If the lot only permits 50 sf, an extra 1 sf per 2 ft of principal-building setback is allowed, up to a max of 80 sf. No higher than the wall structure. Projects ≤ 12 inches. External downlighting, internal, or halo. |
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All outdoor lighting fixtures, including wall-sign illumination, must be off 10 p.m.-6 a.m. unless needed for safety/security.
Awning & Projecting signs
Table 10-5-5.1.2| Awning sign — BC | 18 sf with a 1.5 ft vertical dimension. Clearance 8 ft min / 15 ft max height. External downlighting. |
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| Awning sign — IP | 24 sf with a 2 ft vertical dimension. Clearance 12 ft min / 20 ft max height. External downlighting. |
| Projecting sign — BC only | 1 per street-facing façade. 18 sf per face, 36 sf per sign. ≥ 8 ft clearance, no higher than ground floor. Projects ≤ 8 ft. |
Projecting signs are not permitted in IP.
Freestanding / monument / pylon
Table 10-5-5.1.3| Monument (BC and IP) | 1 per street frontage. 64 sf, or 1 sf per 1 linear ft of building frontage width, whichever greater. 25 ft max height. Internally lit, halo lit, or externally downlit. No changeable copy. Bonus sign area available (Subsec. 10-1-3.10.E). |
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| Pylon (BC and IP) | 1 per street frontage. Same 64-sf/1-lf formula, capped at an overall 150 sf maximum. 10 ft max height. No changeable copy. Bonus sign area available. |
Pole signs are not permitted in either BC or IP.
See the exact numbers
Height, setback, area, count, and lighting limits for Business & Industry (BC, IP) — cited to the code section, ready to quote from.
Get notified at launch- Pole signs are NOT permitted in either BC or IP (unlike Downtown/CMU).
- All outdoor lighting fixtures, including sign illumination, must be turned off between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless needed for safety/security (then dimmed to the minimum level necessary).
- A zone suffixed /PL-O may carry additional overlay-specific standards not reflected in this base district table — not confirmed either way this session.
Sign permits in Littleton
City of Littleton Community Development Department — 303-795-3700
Littleton sign code FAQ
What is the sign code for Littleton, Colorado?
Littleton's sign regulations are set by ULUC §10-1-3.10 Sign Standards · EncodePlus, and vary by zoning district. Sightline tracks 4 verified zone families for Littleton below, each with wall, freestanding, and other sign-type limits cited to the exact section.
Do I need a permit for a sign in Littleton?
In nearly every Colorado municipality, including Littleton, permanent signs — wall signs, channel letters, cabinets, monument signs — require a sign permit. Littleton's permit process is linked below. Always confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before finalizing a design.
Look up an exact address in Littleton
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