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Real Estate Signs

A real estate sign advertises the sale, rental or lease of the land or building upon which the sign is located. Real Estate Signs shall not be illuminated. These signs must be located back from the front property line as determined by the specific zone district.

These signs do not require a permit to be erected but shall comply with specific zone district requirements regarding size, location, duration of display and other specifics. Signs shall not be placed in the City right of way (i.e. sidewalks, green belts, street medians, parks, etc.). Signs found on any City of Longmont right-of-way will be confiscated and owners will be contacted.

15.06.020  A:3 Applicability and Purpose.

The purpose of this title is to promote the public safety and welfare by regulating signs in keeping with the following objectives:

1. To improve the visual environment and foster economic development while providing adequate standards for meeting sign owners' needs;
2. To benefit the public and sign owners through improved sign legibility, readability and visibility;
3. To provide equal opportunity for the display of commercial messages;
4. To ensure that the design, construction, installation, repair and maintenance of signs will not interfere with traffic safety, or otherwise endanger public safety;
5. To ensure that city rights-of-way are not appropriated to private use or used in a manner inconsistent with the public interest;
6. To reduce incompatibility between signs and their surroundings;
7. To ensure that adequacy of message opportunity will be available to sign users without dominating the visual appearance of the area. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

17.04.040  Conflicts with other provisions.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed a waiver of the provisions of any other ordinance or regulation applicable to signs. Signs located in areas governed by several ordinances and/or applicable regulations shall comply with all such ordinances and regulations. If there is a conflict between this title and any other ordinance or regulation, the more stringent shall apply. Nothing contained herein shall conflict with the provisions of the Colorado Outdoor Advertising Act, CRS Section 43-1-401 et seq. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

17.08.080 Display of signs—Exempt from permit.

The following nonilluminated signs may be erected in compliance with this title without the issuance of a sign permit. Such signs may be permitted in addition to all other signs permitted and shall conform to setbacks and other physical characteristic requirements per Chapter 17.20.

1. Real estate signs;
2. Construction signs;
3. Election signs;
4. Yard/garage sale announcements;
5. Public signs;
6. Ideological signs;
7. Memorial signs;
8. Flags;
9. Holiday decorations;
10. On-site information signs;
11. Window signs. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

17.16.020 Back-to-back signs permitted—Area.
All signs other than wall signs may be back to back, and each side may have an area not to exceed the maximum stated for each respective type of sign. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

17.16.030 Number of signs limited.

No one use may utilize more than four signs per street frontage, and no one use shall exceed a maximum number of five signs. The following number of each type of sign is allowed for any one use provided the maximum number of five signs is not exceeded:

1. No more than two wall signs per building, one per approved wall area;
2. No more than one projecting sign;
3. No more than one freestanding sign, except as permitted per Section 17.20.010;
4. Pedestrian-oriented under-awning or under-canopy signs and signs exempt from permit per Section 17.08.080 are not counted toward the maximum. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

17.16.040 Projecting signs.
Projecting signs are not permitted on the same wall as a wall sign, but must be located on an approved wall area. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

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17.12.320 Real estate sign - Defined

"Real estate sign" means a sign which advertises the sale, rental or lease of the land or building upon which the sign is located. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

17.08.080 Display of signs—Exempt from permit.
The following nonilluminated signs may be erected in compliance with this title without the issuance of a sign permit. Such signs may be permitted in addition to all other signs permitted and shall conform to setbacks and other physical characteristic requirements per Chapter 17.20.

1. Real estate signs;
2. Construction signs;
3. Election signs;
4. Yard/garage sale announcements;
5. Public signs;
6. Ideological signs;
7. Memorial signs;
8. Flags;
9. Holiday decorations;
10. On-site information signs;
11. Window signs. (Ord. 0-89-4 § 1 (part))

17.20.010 Permitted signs by zoning district.
Types of signs permitted in the respective zoning districts of the city are as follows:

Residential Zones E1, E2, R1, R2, R3, RLE FREESTANDING - Real Estate Signs Only
Note: All signs non-illuminated, Model Home Signs Only - Landscape area required.

Residential Zones, E1, E2, R1, R2, R3, RLE WALL - Real Estate Signs Only
Note: All signs non-illuminated.

Commercial Zones C1, C2, CBD, CM, CS FREESTANDING - Real Estate Only
Note: All signs non-illuminated, No required landscape area

Commercial Zones C1, C2, CBD, CM, CS WALL - Real Estate Signs Only
Note: All signs non-illuminated.

Industrial Zones M1, M2, BLI, GI, MIU FREESTANDING - Real Estate Signs Only
Note: All signs non-illuminated

Industrial Zones M1, M2, BLI, GI, MIU WALL - Real Estate Signs Only
Note: All signs non-illuminated.

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