City Council - Jeanne Robb, District 10

Election Signs (Section 59-537(9), Denver Revised Municipal Code)

• Election signs are limited to posting on private property and only with the owner’s consent.
• Election signs cannot be placed on the public right of way. To be certain that you are not placing signs on the right of way, don’t place them on the tree lawn between the curb and the sidewalk and keep them at least 3 feet back from the sidewalk.
• Election signs are limited to wall, window and ground signs not more than six feet above grade.  Placement on a fence is considered to be ground mounted.
• No sign shall exceed an area of 8 square feet.  Signs must be maintained in a clean, orderly and sightly condition.
• Signs must not be illuminated or animated and must not flash, blink or fluctuate.

Did you know that it is illegal to post signs on public property? (Section 3-1 Denver Revised Municipal Code). 

• Public property includes roadway median strips, bridges, utility poles and boxes, street signs and sign posts. 
• Public property also includes some areas that are not as obvious, such as the tree lawn area between detached sidewalks and the curb, and parkways on major streets.  Additionally, most properties have an easement in the front of their property extending between 10-20 feet back from the curb. This easement is considered public property.  It is against the law to post signs in this area as well. 
• The law allows the City to remove signs that are in violation and to bill the person responsible for putting up the sign for the cost of its removal.

Real Estate Signs (Section 59-537(7), Denver Revised Municipal Code)

• Real Estate signs cannot be placed on the public right of way. To be certain that you are not placing signs on the right of way, don’t place them on the tree lawn and keep them at least 3 feet back from the sidewalk.
• Real Estate signs are limited to one per street frontage. That is, if you have an interior lot, you may only have one sign. If you have a corner lot, you may have one sign facing each street.
• Real Estate signs cannot be illuminated and cannot be animated.
• Real Estate signs are limited to wall, window, or ground signs. They can be no larger than 5 square feet, and may be located no more than 6 feet above grade.

Temporary Commercial Signs (Section 59-537(6), Denver Revised Municipal Code)

• Temporary commercial signs must identify or advertise a temporary activity or sale of a business use located on the property.
• Temporary commercial signs must be maintained in a clean, orderly, and sightly condition.
• Temporary commercial signs may only be displayed for 45 days per sign or copy. That is, after 45 days, you must change or remove the sign.
• Temporary commercial signs may be illuminated only from a concealed light source, and the illumination cannot flash, blink, or fluctuate.
• Temporary commercial signs cannot be animated.
• Temporary commercial signs are limited to window signs, banners with commercial advertising, wall signs or posters which have been treated to be shielded from the elements, streamers which are attached to vehicles located only on the front row of retail car sales lots, or window graphics consisting of paint or decals applied directly to the window glazing.
• Temporary commercial signs cannot exceed 50% of the maximum permitted sign area for the allowed use on the property or exceed 75 square feet.

Prohibited Signs (Section 59-537(6), Denver Revised Municipal Code)

• All portable signs such as “sandwich board” signs are specifically not allowed on public or private property.
• Parked motor vehicles or trailers are not allowed to be located so that they serve as an advertising device for a use, product, or service.

You may view the entire Sign Code (Section 59-536 DRMC) on the Internet by clicking here and going to “Section 59-536”.  You may also purchase a copy of the Sign Code from the Cashier in the Webb Municipal Building at 201 W Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80202.