Arapahoe County, CO Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage cap
- 25% of glass surface
- Permit needed
- No, if under the cap
- Measured
- All window signage combined
- Enforcing agency
- PWD Building Division
- Removal notice
- 30 days' written notice
Summary
In unincorporated Arapahoe County, signs placed in or on a window or the glass part of a door don't need a sign permit, but all such signage together can't cover more than 25 percent of the glass surface it's mounted in or on, per the Land Development Code's sign regulations.
Any signs placed in or on a window or the glass portion of a door and intended to be visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property, provided that such all such signage, measured together, do not exceed 25 percent of the glass surface on or in which it is located.
Full Breakdown
1). 3 exempts 'any signs placed in or on a window or the glass portion of a door' that are meant to be seen from a public right-of-way or an adjacent property, as long as all such signage, measured together, stays at or under 25 percent of the glass surface it occupies. The cap is aggregate, it counts every sign in that window combined, not each one separately. 2). The Sign Code's stated purposes include preventing signage from creating a nuisance by its brightness or size and not overwhelming observers with too many messages, which is the policy basis for capping how much of a storefront's glass can be turned into advertising space before it needs formal review.
Violations & Fines
Window signage that exceeds the 25 percent cap loses its automatic exemption and must go through the standard sign permit process reviewed by the PWD Building Division under §4-1.7.B.1. The County Building Inspector can order repair or removal of noncompliant signage, giving 30 days' written notice before the county removes it at the property owner's expense (§4-1.7.B.10).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signs?
What happens if my window signs cover more than 25 percent of the glass?
Do interior signs count toward the 25 percent window limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arapahoe County
Compare Arapahoe County to another location·View the Colorado sign regulations overview
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