Longmont's Relaxed Approach to Sign Regulations: What's Allowed

Longmont maintains 106 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with sign regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Longmont falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Garage Sale Signs

Longmont prohibits placing any signs — including garage-sale, yard-sale, and similar temporary signs — in the public right-of-way. All signs are regulated by LMC Chapter 15.06; off-premise garage sale signs on utility poles, traffic signs, hydrants, or trees are subject to removal by the City and to the civil penalty schedule of $100 / $200 / $500.

Key details: Code Section: LMC Chapter 15.06 (Signs); LMC 6.44.090 (Garage Sales). Public Right-of-Way: No signs of any kind permitted. Attachment Ban: No utility poles, traffic signs, hydrants, trees or fences. On-Premise Only: Sign must be on property where sale occurs. Sale Duration Cap: 3 consecutive days; 12 days/year per location.

Signs in the public right-of-way are removed by Code Enforcement. Civil penalty schedule: $100 first violation, $200 second, $500 third or subsequent.

The rules around garage sale signs in Longmont lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Political Signs

Longmont allows political election signs on private property only, with permission of the owner. They cannot be placed in the public right-of-way, attached to utility poles, street signs, traffic signals, hydrants, trees or fences, and must not obstruct driver sightlines. Sign rules are codified in LMC Chapter 15.06, and HOAs are further preempted by Colorado's CCIOA political-sign statute (C.R.S. 38-33.3-106.5).

Key details: Code Section: LMC Chapter 15.06 (Signs). Right-of-Way: Prohibited — private property only. Attachment Ban: No utility poles, traffic signs, hydrants, trees or fences. HOA Display Window (State): 45 days before election to 7 days after (C.R.S. 38-33.3-106.5). Max HOA Size (State): Lesser of local ordinance or 36" x 48".

Improperly placed signs may be removed by Code Enforcement. Civil penalties: $100 first violation, $200 second, $500 third or subsequent (Longmont Code Enforcement civil-penalty schedule). Report at 303-651-8695.

Longmont is more permissive than most cities when it comes to political signs. That said, there are still limits.

Holiday Displays

Longmont does not impose a calendar-based limit on residential holiday lights or seasonal decorations. They are exempt from sign-permit requirements under LMC Chapter 15.06 so long as they are not used as commercial signage, do not obstruct driver sightlines, and do not create a glare or nuisance complaint. Excessive brightness or off-premise placement can still trigger LMC nuisance provisions.

Key details: Permit Required: No — exempt from LMC Chapter 15.06 sign permitting. Calendar Limit: No fixed take-down date in city code. Right-of-Way: Decorations may not encroach. Glare: May not aim lights at neighbors or motorists. Noise/Audio: Subject to LMC 10.20 quiet hours (10 p.m. - 7 a.m.).

No automatic violation for residential holiday displays. Citations apply only when a display creates a nuisance, obstructs the right-of-way, blocks sight triangles, or violates noise/quiet-hour limits. Civil penalty schedule: $100 / $200 / $500.

Longmont is more permissive than most cities when it comes to holiday displays. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Longmont gives residents more room on sign regulations. 3 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

All of the above reflects Longmont's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.