Sign Regulations in Boulder, CO (2026)
3 verified sign regulations for Boulder, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Boulder treats a political sign as a noncommercial sign exempt from standard area and setback limits, but caps it at one sign, seven feet tall and thirty-two square feet, within twenty-five feet of a sidewalk in a residential zone. Section 9-9-21(d)(9)(B) lifts the one-sign limit during an active campaign, allowing extra signs in the setback up to twelve square feet each.
Boulder Political Sign Rules During Campaigns
Light RestrictionsBoulder Municipal Code § 9-9-21(d)(9), (d)(9)(B)
(9)Noncommercial Residential: A noncommercial sign, including, without limitation, a work of art or a political sign, in all residential zoning districts, that does not impede traffic safety is exempt from the total sign area and setback limitations and wind sign prohibitions of this section, subject to:...(B)Noncommercial signs within twenty-five feet of any public sidewalk adjacent to a stree...
Digital Billboards
Boulder's sign code bans off-premises billboards outright: Section 9-9-21(b)(3)(H) prohibits any commercial sign that is not appurtenant and clearly incidental to the property where it stands. On-premises electronic signs are allowed, but 9-9-21(b)(3)(G) treats any electronic message change more often than once per minute as a banned 'moving' sign rather than a permitted copy change.
Boulder Bans Off-Premises Digital Billboards
Heavy RestrictionsBoulder Municipal Code § 9-9-21(b)(3)(G), (b)(3)(H)
(G)Moving: A sign with visible moving, revolving, or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means...Electronic signs which change the message not more than once per minute are considered copy changes and not prohibited moving signs...(H)Non-Appurtenant or Off-Premises: An off-premises ...
Window Signs
Boulder exempts small window signs from a sign permit, but only within limits: Section 9-9-21(c)(1)(L) allows a non-illuminated window sign up to four square feet, no higher than twenty-five feet above grade, covering less than twenty-five percent of the window. A window sign over four square feet placed twelve feet or higher is a prohibited 'high window' sign under 9-9-21(b)(3)(D).
Boulder Window Sign Size and Height Limits
Some RestrictionsBoulder Municipal Code § 9-9-21(c)(1)(L), (b)(3)(D)
(D)High Window: A window sign exceeding four square feet in area twelve feet or more above the ground level...(L)Window: A non-illuminated window sign of no more than four square feet in area and placed no more than twenty-five feet above finished grade, if the total area of such signs fills less than twenty-five percent of the area of the architecturally distinct window, and such signs do not ...
Looking for Boulder County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Boulder city rules.
Sign Regulations in Boulder County →