Arvada, CO Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Large windows (OT, MX,C,I)
- Up to 25% coverage for windows over 8 sf
- Small windows (OT, MX,C,I)
- Up to 75% coverage for windows 8 sf or less
- Multifamily
- 3 sf per window, one sign per window
- Single-family
- 6 sf per building elevation, no illumination
- Temporary window signs
- Count against the same Table 6-1-5-1B limits
Summary
Arvada caps how much of a storefront window can be covered with signs under Table 6-1-5-1B: up to 25 percent of any window larger than 8 square feet in the Olde Town and Mixed-Use/Commercial/Industrial districts, or 75 percent if the window is 8 square feet or smaller. Multifamily and single-family districts instead cap window signs by a flat square footage per window or elevation.
C.Window Signs. Window signs are allowed according to the standards in Table 6-1-5-1B, Window Signs. ... Max Sign Area: 25% of the area of windows larger than 8 sf. may be covered with signs. 75% of the area of windows smaller than 8 sf. may be covered with signs. 3 sf. per sign. 6 sf. per elevation. For the purposes of the standards above, the area of the window is calculated as the total area of window panes that are situated within six inches of each other. ... Permanent applied window signs shall be affixed to the window in a professional manner (e.g., without wrinkles, bubbles, tape, etc.)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Council Policy Manual: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
" For that calculation, "the area of the window is calculated as the total area of window panes that are situated within six inches of each other," so a storefront's individually framed panes count together if they sit close enough to read as one window. Multifamily Residential and Single-Family Residential sign districts use flatter limits instead of a percentage: multifamily properties get one window sign per window capped at 3 square feet, while single-family districts allow 6 square feet per building elevation, also one sign per window.
Lighting is allowed external or internal in every district except Single-Family Residential, where window signs may carry no lighting at all. D extends the same Table 6-1-5-1B limits to temporary window signs, combining permanent and temporary coverage against the same percentage or square-footage cap.
Violations & Fines
Covering more than the allowed percentage or square footage of a window, or illuminating a window sign in the Single-Family Residential sign district where lighting is barred, violates Table 6-1-5-1B and Section 10-1-2-1. As with other LDC sign violations, a person who fails to correct the sign after notice is guilty of a misdemeanor under Section 10-1-2-2, facing a fine up to $2,650 or up to 180 days in jail under Section 1-5, with each day of the oversized sign a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signs in Arvada?
Can an apartment building put up window signs?
Can I light up a window sign at my house?
Do holiday or sale signs taped in a window count against the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arvada
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Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle window signs.