Grand Junction City Zoning Code

On a parcel of less than one acre, up to six such signs are allowed, so long as each sign is not greater than six square feet in area, except in that one of these signs may be up to 32 square feet in area when construction is occurring on a parcel or a subdivision of land is being developed.

On a parcel of one acre or larger, up to six such signs per acre are allowed, so long as each sign is not greater than six square feet in area, except that one sign per acre can be up to 32 square feet in area.

The maximum brightness levels for signs shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles over ambient light levels. Measurements of light are based on the area of the sign versus measurement of the distance. Using a footcandle meter, brightness shall be in conformance with the following distance table:

The measurement shall be conducted at least 30 minutes after sunset or 30 minutes before sunrise. Certification must be provided to the City upon installation that the sign has been preset to automatically adjust the brightness to these levels or lower. Re-inspection and recalibration may be periodically required by the City at the permitee's expense, to ensure that the specified brightness levels are maintained at all times.

Interactive signs are prohibited.

All new electronic display signs shall have photocell technology that will be used to dim the displays for appropriate nighttime viewing from dusk to dawn or when ambient light conditions warrant such changes.

A permit is required for placement or display of any new sign, except where otherwise stated or where specifically exempted by the provisions of this section.

Touching up, repainting, or changing existing letters, text, symbols, graphics, or other content is considered maintenance and repair and does not require a permit.

Only a licensed sign contractor can obtain a Sign Permit.

All signs shall be permanent in nature except for those nonpermanent signs allowed under GJMC § 21.10.030.

All exterior signs shall be engineered to withstand a minimum wind load of 30 pounds per square foot.

No sign shall be placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface located on public property including the posting of handbills except as expressly authorized by this section.

Regardless of sign allowances by zone district, no single sign shall exceed 300 square feet in area.

The total surface area of one sign face of freestanding signs and projecting wall signs shall be counted as part of the maximum total surface area allowance. Sign enhancement features such as bases, pillars, and other decorative elements as part of monument signs shall not be counted as part of the maximum square footage of the sign, provided such features do not exceed the size of the sign face.

The total surface area of all sign faces of roof signs shall be counted as part of the maximum total surface area allowance.

For measurement of different shapes of signs, see the graphics below.

The total surface area of three-dimensional figures shall be counted as part of the maximum sign allowance.

The area of flush wall signs with backing or a background that is part of the overall sign display or when backed by a surface which is architecturally a part of the building shall be measured by determining the sum of the area of each square, rectangle, triangle, portion of a circle or any combination thereof which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of each word, written representation (including any series of letters), logo or figure including all frames, face plates, nonstructural trim or other component parts not otherwise used for support.

The area of a I sign shall be determined to be the sum of the area of each of the smallest perimeter enclosing the limits of each work and written or graphic representation, including letter, number, character, and/or logo used for advertising, offering, or merchandising a product, or for service identification. The area of a mural painted on a wall shall not be included in the sign area calculation.

Only one display face is measured if the sign faces are parallel or form an interior angle of less than or equal to 60° provided that the signs are mounted on the same structure. If the faces are of unequal area, then sign area is equal to the area of the larger face.

The light from any illuminated sign shall be so shaded, shielded and directed that the light intensity or brightness shall not be objectionable to surrounding areas.

Neither the direct or reflected light from a light source shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares or approaches to public thoroughfares.

No exposed reflective type bulb or incandescent lamp, which exceeds 40 watts, shall be used on the exterior surface of a sign to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.

Electrical service provided to illuminated signs may require an electrical permit from the Building Department.

Date the sign was erected; and

Name of person, firm, or entity responsible for its construction and erection.

One permanent monument sign up to 32 square feet in area is allowed at a multi-unit apartment/condominium building/complex and on each common area parcel that abuts a public right-of-way; for purposes of this subsection, "common area parcel" means a parcel that is owned by a homeowners' association for the benefit of all lot owners in a planned community, common interest community or condominium.

For a nonresidential use in a Residential zone district, one sign not to exceed 24 square feet in area is allowed per street frontage.

Location. Permitted signs may be anywhere on the property. If freestanding, the top shall not be over eight feet above the ground. If building-mounted, the sign shall be flush-mounted and shall not be mounted on a roof of the building or project above the roof line.

Illumination. Indirect or internal illumination only shall be utilized for letter faces and/or logos.

The MU-1 zone district provides a transition from residential to commercial development. Those properties within the MU-1 zone district which have an underlying land use designation including "Residential" in the title are frequently developed with existing residences or are adjacent to residences and require more restrictive sign regulations to maintain compatibility. The standards within this subsection apply only to properties within the MU-1 zone district with a land use designation with "Residential" in the title. For standards applicable to properties within the MU-1 zone district with a Mixed Use, Commercial, or other land use designation, refer to GJMC § 21.10.080(d).

Flush wall signs and monument signs shall be the only sign types allowed.

Signs shall be located at least 10 feet behind the front property line. Total sign area shall not exceed 25 square feet per street frontage. The sign allowance for one street frontage may be transferred to a side of a building that has no street frontage, but cannot be transferred to another street frontage. Monument signs shall not exceed eight feet in height.

Signs may be externally illuminated; no other illumination of signs is allowed. All lights used for illumination of signs shall be arranged so as to confine direct light beams to the lighted sign and away from adjacent residential properties and out of the direct vision of motorists passing on adjacent streets. Illumination of signs shall comply with GJMC Chapter 21.11 and shall be limited to authorized business hours.

The area of flush wall signs and monument signs shall be calculated as per the graphics shown under GJMC § 21.10.070(b).

This section shall apply to the MU-2, MU-3, P-2, CG, I-OR, I-1, and I-2 zone districts.

Signs in the Mixed-Use and Industrial zone districts may include facade signs, flush wall signs, freestanding signs, projecting signs and roof signs. All signs allowed in Residential zone districts are also allowed in Mixed-Use and Industrial zone districts.

Permitted signs may be anywhere on the premises except as specifically restricted in this subsection (see specific sign type and pertinent zoning regulation). The total amount of signage to be allowed on any property shall not exceed the sign allowance as calculated in accordance with Subsection (d)(5)(ii) or (d)(7)(ii) of this section, whichever is greater. No single sign may be larger than 300 square feet. No projecting sign may exceed the allowances in Subsection (d)(6) of this section.

Unless specifically prohibited, all of the following signs may be illuminated within the limits allowed under GJMC § 21.10.070(c) and GJMC Chapter 21.11.

Signs may project up to 72 inches from the face of the building if located eight feet or more above grade. They shall not project beyond the back of curb, nor within two feet of the edge of the roadway if there is no curb. Total area per sign face shall not exceed one-half square foot per linear foot of building facade. If the projecting sign is the only sign mounted on the building, the minimum sign allowance shall be 12 square feet.

Freestanding signs shall comply with the following requirements:

Flush wall or freestanding sign(s) with text so small as to not be readable with normal eyesight from a public right-of-way are allowed, so long as such sign does not exceed 32 square feet in area. Such signs shall not count toward the total sign allowance or the maximum freestanding sign allowance.

No outdoor advertising sign shall be erected higher than 40 feet above the level of the street or road upon which the sign faces, or above the adjoining ground level if such ground level is above the street or road level. No outdoor advertising sign shall have a surface or face area exceeding 300 square feet in area or containing less than 15 square feet in area.

For each square foot of surface or facing of the sign, two feet of space from adjacent outdoor advertising signs shall be maintained. Such distances shall be determined by using the largest sign as criterion. For example, no sign can be erected closer than 600 feet to an existing 300-square-foot sign. A maximum of one outdoor advertising sign shall be allowed per lot or parcel of land.

Outdoor advertising signs that are illuminated by indirect or external illumination shall use only downward facing, downcast light to confine direct light beams to the sign and out of the direct vision.

Prohibited signs are signs that do not comply with the laws, rules, and regulations of the State of Colorado as now or hereafter enacted or amended. See § 43-1-401 C.R.S., et seq.

The Director shall require the owner of the sign and/or the owner of the premises upon which it is located to remove or repair any such sign. In cases of immediate danger to the public due to the defective nature of a sign, the Director may have the sign removed and assess the costs of the removal against the property. Such assessment shall constitute a first and prior lien on the property, equivalent to ad valorem taxes, and shall be collected in the same manner as the real estate taxes on the property.

All signs shall be safe and maintained in good appearance as well as safety including the replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for proper maintenance. Failure to properly maintain a sign shall be a violation of this Code.

Signs are allowed on otherwise vacant property so long as a permit is obtained (unless a permit is otherwise expressly not required) and so long as the sign allowance for the zone district is adhered to. However, a sign structure that has no content or is "blank" and has fallen into disrepair and which is located on property which is unoccupied for a period of 12 consecutive months or more shall be deemed abandoned.

An abandoned sign is prohibited; the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises shall remove the sign and supporting structure. An abandoned sign which is not removed in a timely manner may be removed by the Director under the provisions of this section.

All signs and advertising for regulated cannabis stores shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Colorado Marijuana Code, any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, the provisions of this chapter and of Chapter 5.13 GJMC, and the City's ordinances and regulations regarding signs and advertising.

No sign shall use the terms "pharmacy,""pharmacist,""pharmaceutical,""rx," or any other similar variation of such terms as its corporate, business, or "doing business as" name, so as to prevent a reasonable person from concluding such business is involved in the practice of pharmacy, as regulated by Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacists, C.R.S. Article 22 of Chapter 12.[1] Additionally, no regulated cannabis stores may use any of the above terms or any similar variation thereof in any of its signs, placards, promotional, or advertising materials. Additionally, no signs that mimic or allude to pharmacy or medical related symbols, including but not limited to medical style crosses regardless of proportions or colors, shall be used or displayed in nonmedical regulated cannabis stores.

No sign shall include advertising material that is misleading, deceptive, or false or that, as evidenced by the content of the advertising material or by the medium or the manner in which the advertising material is disseminated, is designed to appeal to persons under 21 years of age.

For properties that lie within an existing overlay district regulated by GJMC Title 22, 24, 25, 26, or 27 the specific regulations within the overlay shall apply.

For all other properties within the City, only flush wall mounted signs or monument signs shall be allowed. Maximum sign allowances shall be calculated according to the provisions of this chapter and subject to the following limitations:

Sign-wavers or other natural persons standing in the public. No regulated cannabis stores shall advertise with sign-wavers or other natural persons within the buffering distances from specified land uses as provided in GJMC § 21.04.030(d)(8)(iii).

Any advertisement contained within a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation within the City or on the internet, which may include coupons.

Any nonconsumable merchandise or accessories.

A booth at an adult event or job fair where the only items distributed are company or educational materials and no other items are distributed, shown, or sold.

Business cards within the business or handed directly to an individual who is over the age of 21.

Showing a government-issued verification of age or military status, or registration for a charitable event, or similar item the showing of which, without providing a separate printing to the business, entititles the holder to a discount for a particular product or service.

Company materials and educational materials distributed inside the cannabis business.