Sign Permit in Englewood, Colorado

Englewood requires a sign permit for: All signs require a permit to demonstrate compliance with EMC Chapter 9, issued based on an application signed by the property owner or the owner's authorized agent, except signs specifically exempted under EMC § 16-9-3 — per EMC § 16-9-2.B; Exempt signs (no permit required) include: address signs (2 per address, max 2 sq ft each); one building name plate per street front (max 20 sq ft); public safety/traffic-control/government-required signs; flags within allowances (residential: up to 3 flags, 80 sq ft total, 40 sq ft max per flag; nonresidential: up to 5 flags, 200 sq ft total, 100 sq ft max per flag); interior first-floor window signs up to 25% of window area; temporary signs meeting EMC §§ 16-9-4/16-9-5 duration and area limits; incidental signs (max 10 sq ft/lot or 40 sq ft/acre, whichever is greater); construction signs tied to a valid permit (max 80 sq ft per street frontage, 3 signs max); interior signs not visible from the right-of-way; special-event signs; scoreboards; and works of art/murals — per EMC § 16-9-3; Sign type and area allowances differ by zone: residential districts (R-1-A/B/C, R-2-A/B, MU-R-3-A/B/C) use Tables 9-1 (building/ground), 9-2 (pedestrian), and 9-3 (temporary), based on lot frontage; nonresidential districts (M-, MU-B-, I-) use Tables 9-4, 9-5, and 9-6 — per EMC § 16-9-4; Supplemental standards apply to specific sign types (EMC § 16-9-5): ground signs need a 3-ft landscape buffer; building-mounted signs may not project more than 12 inches off the wall (except projecting signs, capped at 50 sq ft, one per building, minimum 8 ft above grade); portable pedestrian ('A-frame'/sandwich board) signs are capped at 8 sq ft, must sit within 20 ft of the business entrance and maintain 6 ft of clear pedestrian passage; temporary signs may not be displayed more than 150 consecutive days without a 60-day gap; dynamic/electronic message displays are limited to one per street frontage, static-only display (10-second minimum between changes), an ambient-light dimming sensor, and a maximum luminance of 750 cd/m²; Applications for a sign permit containing an electronic/dynamic display must include the manufacturer's specifications and cd/m² rating — per EMC § 16-9-6.H.7; All signs must be designed, constructed, and maintained to comply with applicable electrical, fire, and building codes, per EMC § 16-9-6.A.1; permits may separately be required for any building, electrical, or fire code work associated with the sign, per EMC § 16-9-2.B.4; Community Development's own Zoning Compliance guidance confirms that commercial signs specifically may also trigger a Site Plan review and permit under EMC § 16-2-9, in addition to the Chapter 9 sign permit itself; Submitted electronically through ims.englewoodco.gov, consistent with all other Englewood permit types; The City's own 'Opening a Business in Englewood' checklist lists 'Submit sign permit application to the City of Englewood if exterior signs are planned' as a required step for any new, relocating, or expanding business. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Englewood Building & Codes Division (Community Development Department) at 303-762-2357 (Building Department main line); 303-762-2356 before starting work.

No dedicated sign-permit fee line item was found published in either the City's 2026 Building Permit Fee Schedule or its 2026 Zoning Application Fees schedule. A sign requiring structural or electrical work is billed under the general valuation-based Building Permit Fee Schedule ($26.78 minimum); confirm the zoning-review-only fee directly with Community Development.

Englewood does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Englewood Building & Codes Division (Community Development Department) at 303-762-2357 (Building Department main line); 303-762-2356 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Sign Permit Application (via IMS); Sign Area/Dimension Documentation. Depending on your project, Englewood may also ask for: Manufacturer Specifications and cd/m² Rating; Building and/or Electrical Permit Application (via IMS). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Englewood requires 1 inspection(s) for a sign permit, in order: Final Inspection (if structural or electrical work is involved). Schedule each through City of Englewood Building & Codes Division (Community Development Department) (303-762-2357 (Building Department main line); 303-762-2356).

Apply through City of Englewood Building & Codes Division (Community Development Department) at 1000 Englewood Parkway, 3rd Floor, Englewood, CO 80110. Phone: 303-762-2357 (Building Department main line); 303-762-2356, email: BuildingDept@englewoodco.gov. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (holidays excepted) — per the City's general Contact Us / Business Hours page (englewoodco.gov/our-city/contact-us); no Building & Codes Division-specific hours are separately published, so this is City Hall's general business hours as of verification.. Official information: https://www.englewoodco.gov/government/city-departments/building-division.

Englewood, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC); 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2024 International Fire Code (IFC); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); 2024 International Residential Code (IRC); 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC); ICC A117.1-2017 Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC); Per the City's Adopted Codes and Amendments page: 'All permits submitted after May 31, 2026 will be reviewed under the following codes' (the 2024-cycle codes listed above). That effective date has passed as of this file's lastVerified date, so the 2024-cycle codes are the currently governing set — this supersedes the prior 2021-cycle codes (2021 IBC/IRC/IFC + 2023 NEC) that are still referenced in some older subsidiary documents (see tipsAndGotchas).. Local amendments apply — see the Englewood overview page for the full list.

Most signs need a permit. EMC § 16-9-3 exempts a specific list — small address signs, one building name plate, public safety/government-required signs, flags within allowance limits, first-floor interior window signs up to 25% of window area, compliant temporary signs, small incidental signs, permit-tied construction signs, non-street-visible interior signs, special-event signs, scoreboards, and works of art/murals.