Lakewood, CO Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- None required
- Max consecutive days
- 60 days
- Max total per year
- 90 days
- Applies
- Citywide, any zone
Summary
Lakewood exempts decorative holiday light displays from a sign permit, but caps how long they can stay up: 60 consecutive days, and no more than 90 days total, per calendar year.
B. Decorative Lighting Displays:
1. Decorative Lighting Displays shall not displayed for more than 60 consecutive days or 90 days total per calendar year.
C. De Minimis Area Signs:
1. De Minimis Area signs shall be limited to two signs on each building elevation that is visible from the public way or adjacent property.
2. De Minimis Area signs shall not be illuminated.
D. Directional Signs:
1. Directional signs shall not exceed 4 feet in height and 12 square feet in area.
2. Directional Signs shall not be located closer than 20 feet to one another.
3. Directional Signs on residential (R) zoned properties with multifamily or institutional uses shall be limited to four per property.
4. Directional Signs on non-residential (R) zoned properties shall be limited to six per property with the exception of properties with drive-through facilities where Directional Signs shall be limited to eight per property.
5. Directional signs on residential (R) zoned properties with single family and duplex uses shall be prohibited.
E. Flags:
1. Flags shall not be larger than 60 square feet in area.
2. Flagpoles may be freestanding or mounted on a building and the flag pole installation may be temporary or permanent
3. Flagpoles shall be limited to three per property.
Full Breakdown
The Zoning Ordinance treats holiday and other decorative light displays as an exempt sign type under Article 9, so no sign permit is required to put them up. Section 17.9.2.2.B limits Decorative Lighting Displays, defined elsewhere in the Ordinance as 'Holiday or other light displays that do not display a commercial message', to no more than 60 consecutive days, and no more than 90 days total, in any calendar year. Running past either limit takes the display outside its exemption.
Violations & Fines
A display left up longer than 60 consecutive days, or shown more than 90 days total in a year, loses its exempt status and can draw a code enforcement notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for holiday lights in Lakewood?
How long can holiday lights stay up in Lakewood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Colorado sign regulations overview
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Holiday Displays in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle holiday displays.