Sign Permit in Commerce City, Colorado

Commerce City requires a sign permit for: A sign permit is required to erect, move, re-erect, construct, alter, or enlarge any sign, except as exempted under Sec. 21-8210; a separate sign permit is required for each sign (Sec. 21-8200(1)); "Alter" means changing a sign's size, shape, height, construction material, or adding lighting; copy changes alone do not require a new permit, and a sign removed for maintenance may be replaced on the same support without a new permit (Sec. 21-8200(1)); No sign permit shall be issued for a permanent sign on private property without written consent of the property owner or the owner's authorized agent (Sec. 21-8400(3)); Only freestanding MONUMENT signs are permitted; freestanding POLE signs are prohibited citywide (Sec. 21-8425(1)(a)); Shopping centers and multi-use/multi-building commercial, industrial, or office developments (or redevelopments) must employ a single Comprehensive Sign Program covering all signs on site, addressing architectural/visual compatibility, unified informational/way-finding signage, illumination, materials, and placement (Sec. 21-8220); Other than signs on single-family residential property, only a contractor licensed with the City of Commerce City may obtain a sign permit or install a sign requiring one (Sec. 21-8200(9)); A building permit may additionally be required for signs incorporating structural elements or attached to a building; an electrical permit is required for illuminated signs or signs with electrical components (Sec. 21-8200(10)); A sign permit expires, and a new permit is required, if construction is not completed within six months of issuance (Sec. 21-8200(5)); Signs may only be placed in or over a public right-of-way with prior approval of the City Engineer via a separate revocable permit, in addition to the sign permit (Sec. 21-8200(8)); Numerous sign types are exempt from a permit if they meet general and type-specific standards: yard signs, temporary window signs, fabric/banner signs, historical commemorative plaques, address/building-identification signs (max 2 per building), handheld signs up to 20 sq ft, incidental signs up to 3 sq ft, interior signs not visible from adjacent property, holiday displays, utility-location signs, vehicle signs meeting use limits, and nameplates up to 2 sq ft (Sec. 21-8210); Flags and flagpoles are largely exempt, but installing a flagpole itself requires a building permit; flagpole height/flag size are capped by building height (e.g., 20 ft pole / 3x5 ft flag for a 1-story building, up to 35 ft pole / 6x10 ft flag for 5+ stories); non-residential lots may have up to 3 flagpoles, residential lots up to 1 (Sec. 21-8210(2)(p)); Temporary fabric/banner signs are limited to any number of consecutive days up to 30, not to exceed 60 total days per calendar year (90 days/year/tenant for commercial multi-tenant); inflatable signs are limited to 7 consecutive days, not to exceed 14 total days per calendar month (Secs. 21-8500, 21-8510, 21-8520); The City's eTRAKiT portal has been the mandatory application channel for permits and licenses citywide since May 8, 2023; sign permit applications are otherwise made in writing on forms furnished by the Director per Sec. 21-8200(2); All permitted commercial/industrial signs are subject to number, area, and height limits by property size (e.g., freestanding commercial/industrial signs on sites under 2 acres are capped more tightly than sites over 10 acres); properties of 10+ acres with monument signs over 8 ft must set back 175+ ft from residential district boundaries; solar-powered monument signs get a 20% sign-area bonus; properties fronting I-76 or I-270 get a 25% area/height bonus (Sec. 21-8425). If your project isn't listed, confirm with Commerce City Building Safety Division (Community Development Department) at 303-289-3790 before starting work.

In Commerce City, the published Temporary Sign Permit is: $25.00. Additional published fees: Zoning Construction Permit — $25.00; Building/Electrical Permit Fee (Table 1-A) — only if a building or electrical permit is separately required — $30.41 minimum ($1-$500 valuation), scaling per the same Table 1-A schedule used for all other Commerce City trade permits. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

If sign construction is not completed within six months of permit issuance, the permit expires and a new permit must be obtained (LDC Sec. 21-8200(5)).

You'll need: Sign Permit Application; Written Property Owner Consent. Depending on your project, Commerce City may also ask for: Comprehensive Sign Program Submittal; Building and/or Electrical Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Commerce City requires 1 inspection(s) for a sign permit, in order: City-Initiated Compliance Inspection. Schedule each through Commerce City Building Safety Division (Community Development Department) (303-289-3790).

Apply through Commerce City Building Safety Division (Community Development Department) at South Platte Crossing Building, 7190 Colorado Blvd. Ste 600 (6th Floor), Commerce City, CO 80022. Phone: 303-289-3790, email: cdpermits@c3gov.com. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. Official information: https://www.c3gov.com/Business-Development/Building-Permits-Inspections.

No. LDC Sec. 21-8425(1)(a) states only freestanding monument signs are permitted; freestanding pole signs are prohibited citywide.

No. LDC Sec. 21-8210 exempts a specific list of sign types from permitting -- including yard signs, temporary window signs, fabric/banner signs, historical plaques, small address/building-ID signs, handheld signs under 20 sq ft, incidental signs under 3 sq ft, interior signs, holiday displays, utility signs, certain vehicle signs, and small nameplates -- provided they meet the applicable construction, safety, and sign-type standards.