How Centennial Handles Sign Regulations: A Practical Guide
Centennial maintains 86 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Centennial falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Garage Sale Signs
Garage sale signs in Centennial are regulated as Yard Signs: no permit or cap on quantity, but each sign is capped at 6 square feet, 5 feet tall, and set back 5 feet from property lines.
Key details: Permit required: No permit for garage sales. Max sign area: 6 sq ft per sign. Max sign height: 5 feet. Property-line setback: 5 feet minimum. Paper sign display limit: 90 days per year.
Signs that exceed the size, height, or setback standards, or that stay up beyond the permitted display period (paper/cardboard signs: 90 days per year under § 12-6-504), are Code violations subject to removal and enforcement.
Digital Billboards
Centennial caps digital billboard brightness at 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured with a calibrated meter 175 feet from the sign 30 minutes after sunset or before sunrise.
Key details: Max brightness: 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light. Minimum display time: 8 seconds per message. Transition limit: under 1 second, no effects. Measurement point: 175 feet from sign, right-of-way. Repair deadline: 48 hours after notice.
LDC violations are minor offenses; the City can issue cease-and-desist and stop-work orders, and municipal court may fine up to $2,650 per day of continuing violation (§§ 12-15-201, 12-15-302, 1-4-10).
Holiday Displays
Centennial exempts holiday lighting from its exterior lighting standards as long as it stays up no more than 90 nights in any 12-month period.
Key details: Max. nights energized: 90 per 12 months. Blinking lights: allowed for holidays only. Applies to: all land uses.
Holiday lighting energized past 90 nights in a rolling 12-month period loses its exemption and must comply with the City's standard connected-load and lighting-zone limits, enforceable through code compliance.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Centennial gives residents more flexibility on holiday displays.
Window Signs
Centennial caps window signage by requiring 50% to 80% window transparency, depending on zone district, instead of a flat coverage percentage.
Key details: Min. transparency, CG/UC/EC-MU/I: 50%. Min. transparency, AC/EC-N/EC-LI/BP/ED/OSR: 80%. Neon signs in windows: count as opaque.
Window signage that pushes a storefront below its district's minimum transparency percentage is a Land Development Code sign violation, enforced through the City's sign permit and code compliance process.
The Bottom Line
Centennial's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Centennial is broadly strict or permissive.
This guide is based on Centennial's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.