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Sign Code Summary

Centennial, CO

Local sign ordinance requirements — free, cited to the source section.

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Understanding sign regulations in Centennial, CO

Every outdoor sign in Centennial is governed by the municipality’s sign ordinance, which sets how large a sign may be, how tall it may stand, how far it must sit from the property line, whether it may be illuminated, and which sign types are permitted in each zoning district. This page summarizes those requirements in plain language and links each value back to the section of the Centennial code it came from.

Sign rules here are layered. The base zoning district — commercial, industrial, or residential — sets the default limits, and overlay districts such as historic or downtown districts can tighten them further. Because the most specific jurisdiction controls, a freestanding monument sign on a commercial parcel and a wall sign in a historic overlay can face very different limits even on the same street in Centennial.

Use the figures below as a fast first check, then run a full address lookup to confirm the exact limits for a specific parcel in Centennial, Colorado. The full report also covers permit requirements, prohibited sign types, and illumination rules — each cited to the source ordinance so your permit application can reference it directly.

Before you order or install a sign in Centennial, confirm three things: the maximum sign area and height allowed in the parcel’s zoning district, the minimum setback from the right-of-way, and whether the sign type you want — freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, or awning — is permitted there at all. Many permit denials come from missing a setback or an overlay-district restriction rather than from the size of the sign itself, so checking the governing section before applying saves a costly resubmittal.

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Max ground sign height
Monument: 10 ft; Pylon: 25 ft
Ground sign setback
Temporary signs: 5 ft from property lines

Awning Signs

Awning Sign Sf Calc
Lettering or logo occupies no more than 20% of the surface area of the awning

Building Signs

Building Sign Illumination
Not illuminated
Signs With De Minimus Area Maximum Area
Signs that are affixed to a building or structure (even if wall signs are not permitted in the district or for the use), which do not exceed one square foot in sign area, provided that only one such sign is present on each elevation that is visible from public rights-of-way or neighboring property; and signs that are less than three-fourths of a square foot in area that are affixed to machines, equipment, fences, gates, walls, gasoline pumps, public telephones, or utility cabinets.
Wall Sign Maximum Area
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Building Sign Formula
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Building Sign Max Number
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3 more building signs rules in the full report →

Definitions

Other Signs Definition
The area of the face of the sign which is designed to be used for text and graphics (the signable area does not include the sign's supporting frame or structure, if any, provided that such frame or structure is not designed to display text or graphics).
Wall Sign Definition
A two-dimensional area on the façade of a building that describes the largest square, rectangle, or parallelogram which is free of architectural details.
Window Sign Definition
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Signable Area Ratio Definition
in full report
Carried Sign Definition
in full report
Flags Definition
in full report
Interior Sign Definition
in full report
Nonresidential Districts Definition
in full report
Sign Clearance Definition
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7 more definitions rules in the full report →

Directional Signs

Directional Max Size
9 sq ft
Directional Max Height
3' above grade

General Info

Jurisdiction Name
Centennial, CO

General Standards

Abandoned Sign Definition
Signs that do not display a message for a period of more than 30 days are abandoned
Address Sign Exclusion From Area
Numbers and letters used for addressing are not included in the calculation of sign area if they are not more than 14 inches in height
Max Signs Per Building
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Nonconforming Signs Abandonment
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Paint And Finish Maintenance
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Sign Maintenance Requirements
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Attached Signage Maximum Area
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Decorative Sign Display Duration
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Detached Signage Maximum Area
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Elimination Of Nonconforming Sign Requirement
in full report
Exclusion From Sign Area Calculation Requirement
in full report
Wall Sign Projection Limit
in full report

10 more general standards rules in the full report →

Ground Signs

Ground Sign Type
Monument and pylon/pole
Ground Sign Formula
Monument: 8 sq ft; Pylon: 32 sq ft
Ground Sign Max Height
in full report
Ground Sign Setback
in full report
Signs For Full Service Hospitals Allowance
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3 more ground signs rules in the full report →

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Illumination

Digital Billboard Brightness Adjustment
Digital Billboard: Digital Billboard shall have capability to adjust brightness level in response to ambient light changes
Digital Billboard Brightness Limit
Digital Billboard: Digital Billboard shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light
Emc Illumination Measurement Criteria
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Electronic Message Center Illumination Limits Requirement
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Sign Design Program Flexibility Maximum Area
in full report
Awning Illumination
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Dark Sky Requirements
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5 more illumination rules in the full report →

Permit Process

Signs Permitted Before Effective Date Permit Requirement
If a permit for a sign has been issued in accordance with all City ordinances in effect prior to the effective date of this Article, and provided that construction is begun within six months of the effective date of this Article and diligently pursued to completion, said sign may be completed in accordance with the approved plans on the basis of which the permit has been issued, subject thereafter, if applicable, to the provisions of this LDC regarding nonconforming signs.
Sock Signs And Temporary Wall Sign Permit Requirement
Sock Signs and Temporary Wall Signs; zones AC, BP, CG, EC, ED, I, OSR, UC: Sock signs and temporary wall signs are permitted in CG, AC, UC, EC, BP, I, ED and OSR districts, and may be installed upon issuance of a building permit.
Msp On File
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Permit Time Frame
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Permit Submission Process
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3 more permit process rules in the full report →

Prohibited Signs

Prohibited Sign Locations
Signs may not be placed in locations with less horizontal or vertical clearance from authorized communication or energized electrical power lines than prescribed by State of Colorado laws and regulations

Temporary Signs

Temporary Signs Per Tenant
CG, AC, UC, EC, BP, I, ED, and OSR districts; zones AC, BP, CG, EC, ED, I, OSR, UC: Only one banner per tenant per principal building
Temp Signs Allowed
Yes
Temp Sign Rules
in full report

1 more temporary signs rule in the full report →

Variance Appeals

Conditional Use Permit Process
Meeting dates 2nd or 4th Thursday of every month; application deadline 1 month before meeting; cost $500 and up; process time 3-6 months

Window Signs

Window Sign Allowable Area
80%

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