17.116.010 Consistency with State and Federal Requirements.

     Advertising devices and signs shall be permitted only when consistent with the Colorado "Outdoor Advertising Act" as set forth at CRS 43-1-401 et. seq.; the Colorado Division of Highways’ Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Outdoor Advertising; the Federal "Highway Beautification Act of 1965", and the National policy for advertising devices as set forth at 23 U.S.C. Sec. 131 and National standards and regulations promulgated pursuant to such provisions.

17.116.020 Consistency with traffic control devices.

     No private advertising device nor sign shall be permitted which is so designed, erected, illuminated, operated, or maintained in such location that it conflicts with or detracts from the effectiveness of an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal or constitutes to menace to public safety. No private advertising device or sign shall resemble an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal.

17.116.030 Public property.

     No private advertising device or sign shall be located or otherwise encroach on public property, including road right-of-way, without prior written approval of the Board of County Commissioners and issuance of a revocable permit.

17.116.040 Application.

     The Director of Planning and Development shall issue a zoning permit for only advertising devices and signs as set forth herein.

17.116.050 Exemption.

     The following advertising devices and signs shall be in compliance with Sections 17.116.010 through 17.116.030 but shall be exempt from the other requirements of this Title:

     A. Advertising devices, directional--public places;

     B. Advertising devices, official;

     C. Temporary real estate signs as "For Sale" and "For Lease" subject to the following limitations:

     1. On each of the premises’ front yards the sign faces do not exceed two sign faces,

     2. No sign face shall exceed six (6) square feet in an agricultural or residential, except A-1, A-2, and R-6, zone districts, nor exceed ninety-six (96) square feet in an A-1, A-2, R-6 or other zone districts,

     3. The sign is not animated and not illuminated,

     4. The sign is on-premises, and

     5. The sign is removed within twenty (20) days after sale/lease/rental of the premises;

     D. Temporary political signs for matters which a special, primary or general election has been scheduled, such as "Vote For Smith" and "Vote ‘Yes’ On #2" subject to the following limitations:

     1. In an A-1, Agricultural, A-2, Agricultural, Business, or Industrial Zone District, no sign face shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.  In an A-3, Agricultural, an A-4, Agricultural, or any Residential Zone District, no sign face shall exceed six (6) square feet.

     2. The sign is not animated and not illuminated.

     3. The sign is not established sooner than ninety (90) days prior to the first scheduled primary, special, or general election date and is removed within twenty (20) days after the final special or general election date.

     4. Signs may be placed in the immediate vicinity of precinct caucuses and county assemblies, only on the day of the event.  Signs shall be removed within 24 hours of those events.

     5. Signs in all zone districts shall meet setback requirements for accessory structures.

     E. Temporary special sales of personal goods, such as "Yard Sales," subject to the following limitations:

     1. On each of the premises’ front yards the sign faces do not exceed two (2) sign faces,

     2. No sign face shall exceed six (6) square feet in an agricultural or residential, except R-6, zone district, nor exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in an R-6 or other zone district,

     3. The sign is not animated and not illuminated,

     4. The sign is on-premises,

     5. The event does not exceed three (3) days in duration, and

     6. The sign is not established sooner than one (1) day prior to event and is removed immediately after the event;

     F. Special event signs for events conducted by schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations, such as "Fall Carnival," provided the sign is on-premises;

     G. Signs not exceeding a total sign area of two (2) square feet and no sign face exceeding one (1) square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, postbox numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations;

     H. Flags and insignia of any government except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion;

      I. Legal notices; identification, informational or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies;

     J. Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights;

     K. Signs directing and guiding traffic, and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter, and approved by the Director of Planning and Development or Public Works Director;

     L. Temporary decorations or displays incidental to the use of the premises which are customary and commonly associated with national, local or religious holidays or family event celebrations.

17.116.060 Home occupation.

     One (1) sign shall be permitted on a single parcel of land if the following tests are met:

     A. The property owner/tenant has completed a Home Occupation Disclosure Form;

     B. The sign does not exceed a total sign area of one (1) square foot and is mounted flat against the exterior wall of a principal or accessory structure or is located on/in a window pane or door pane in such a manner that the sign is not illuminated or animated.

17.116.070 Advertising devices--On-premises.

     A. An on-premises advertising device is an accessory use when established in conjunction with the commercial or industrial use permitted in the zone district in which the device is located. On-premises advertising devices, unless excepted herein, are subject to the requirements set forth in Table 1; however, the Pueblo County Planning Commission may impose more restrictive requirements in conjunction with a special use permit as shall be required to promote the public health, safety and general welfare.

     B. Exceptions to Table 1.

     1. Informational and incidental signs with a sign face area of six (6) square feet or less, such as "telephone," "restroom," logos and prices affixed to gasoline pumps, and deposit boxes for nonprofit organizations may be exempted from inclusion in Table 1 by the Director of Planning and Development when in his or her professional opinion their display is primarily for public information and incidental to the conduct of business.

     2. Window displays incorporating placards, pennants, merchandise, pictures or models of products or services offered on premises, shall be exempt from inclusion in Table 1.

     3. Development and gateway signs shall not be regulated by Table 1 but shall be regulated pursuant to Sections 17.116.090 and 17.116.100.

TABLE 1. ON-PREMISES ADVERTISING DEVICES (1)
Zone District Sign Faces (Max.) Single Sign Face Area (Max. Sq. Ft.) Total Sign Area (Max. Sq. Ft.) Height (Max.) Single Dimension (Max.) Illuminated Animated
A-1 THRU A-3 3 100 300 50' 12' YES NO
A-4 AND R-A R-1 THRU R-5 2 100 200 50' 12' YES NO
R-6 3 300 900 50' 25' YES YES
R-7 AND R-8 2 100 200 50' 12' NO YES
O-1 1 20 20 50' 6' YES (3) NO
B-1 3 300 700 50' 25' YES NO
B-4 5 600 1,800 50' 50' YES YES
I-1 THRU I-4 3 720 1,540 50' 50' YES YES
S-1 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
S-3(4) 3 300 700 50' 25' YES NO
S-4 2 300 600 50' 25' YES NO
P-1 (per business premises) 3 720 1,540 50' 50' YES YES

(1) Standards shown are for single-business premises. Multiple-business premises, other than O-1, shall be allowed 1 additional sign face and 200 sq. ft. of additional total sign area for the second and each subsequent business provided said sign face and area are used to advertise said business(es). In the O-1 District, no additional sign faces are allowed for multiple-business premises, but an additional 5 sq. ft. of total sign area is allowed for the second and subsequent businesses provided said area is used to advertise said business.

(2) Advertising devices only as provided in the special use permit.

(3) Signs shall be illuminated solely by stationary, shielded light sources directed to the sign; or by internal light sources producing not more than one-foot candle of illumination at a distance of four feet from the sign.

(4) All advertising devices are subject to the Flood Hazard Area Development Regulations.

17.116.080 Advertising devices--Off-premises.

     A. Off-premises advertising devices, unless exempted herein, are subject to the requirements set forth in Table 2.

     B. Exceptions to Table 2.

     1. Development signs shall not be regulated by Table 2, but shall be regulated pursuant to Section 17.116.090.

     2. Gateway signs shall not be regulated by Table 2, but shall be regulated pursuant to Section 17.116.100.

     C. Special Use Permits. The Pueblo County Planning Commission may approve a special use permit for an off-premises advertising device in any zone district in which the device is permitted as a use-by-review. The Commission shall consider matters of public health, safety, and general welfare in its deliberations, specifically including an affirmative finding of the following:

     1. Ownership and liability, including the provision of liability insurance, are established;

     2. Maintenance of the sign and sign site are provided; and

     3. The proposed off-premises advertising device does not significantly reduce the exposure of existing on-premises advertising devices located on surrounding properties.

     D. Spacing. No two off-premise advertising devices on the same side of the roadway shall be spaced less than five hundred (500) feet apart. For the purpose of this subsection, a sign structure having back-to-back sign faces shall be interpreted as one device. Nonconforming off-premises advertising devices and proposed off-premises advertising devices having a valid building permit shall be included in measuring the spacing distance.

TABLE 2. OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING DEVICES
Zone District Uses by Right Uses by Review* Sign Faces (Max.) Single Sign Face Area (Max. Sq. Ft.) Total Sign Area (Max. Sq. Ft.) Height (Max.) Single Dimension (Max.) Illuminated Animated
A-1 X 2 300 600 50' 25' YES YES
A-2 X 2 300 600 50' 25' YES YES
R-6 X 2 300 600 50' 25' YES YES
B-4 X 2 720 1,440 50' 50' YES YES
I-1 X 2 720 1,440 50' 50' YES YES
I-2 X 2 720 1,440 50' 50' YES YES
I-3 X 2 720 1,440 50' 50' YES YES
S-4 X 2 300 600 50' 25' YES NO
P-1 X X 2 720 1,440 50' 50' YES YES

Note: *Uses by Review constitute Uses by Board Approval.

17.116.090 Development signs.

     The Director of Planning and Development is authorized to permit development signs in any zone district as follows:

     A. Construction identification signs during the period of construction or substantial rehabilitation on the premises, which shall be deemed to commence upon issuance of a building permit and terminate thirty (30) days after issuance of a certificate of occupancy, shall be regulated as follows:

     1. On each of the premises’ front yards one sign face not exceeding one hundred (100) square feet nor exceeding twelve (12) feet in dimension shall be allowed;

     2. The matters represented on the sign shall be limited to the name, logo and use of the premises, and the names and logo of owners, developers, architects, contractors and suppliers;

     3. The sign shall not be animated and not illuminated; and

     4. The maximum height shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet.

     B. Model home signs identifying residential structures which are being offered for construction in the subdivision or development in which the model is situated shall be regulated as follows:

     1. One sign per model is permitted with a sign face not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet nor exceeding eight (8) feet in dimension;

     2. The matters represented on the sign shall be limited to "model home," name and logo of the subdivision and developer/contractor, and the name and other information related to the price and features of the model;

     3. The sign shall not be animated and not illuminated; and

     4. The maximum height shall not exceed ten (10) feet.

17.116.100 Gateway signs.

     The Pueblo County Planning Commission may approve gateway signs in any zone district as a use-by-review requiring the issuance of a special use permit; however, the Commission must make an affirmative finding of the following:

     A. Ownership and liability, including the provision of liability insurance, are established;

     B. Maintenance of the sign and sign site are provided;

     C. The content of the sign is limited to the area’s name and logo;

     D. The location and design of the sign are consistent with the area;

     E. The sign is not animated and illumination (if any) is not obtrusive to surrounding properties and public roads;

     F. The sign face does not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet; and

     G. The maximum height does not exceed six (6) feet.

17.116.110 Animation.

     Animated signs, where permitted, shall be fenced or otherwise constructed to protect the general public from any moving component located in the area from the ground surface to a height of fourteen (14) feet.

17.116.120 Illumination.

     Illuminated signs, where permitted, shall be illuminated in a manner that the light is not directed at adjacent properties or public ways, and the intensity not be obtrusive to adjacent properties or public ways.

17.116.130 Setbacks.

     The minimum required setback for private and advertising devices are as follows, and shall be measured from the closest component of the sign (wheels, poles, frames, lights) to the property line.

     A. No sign shall encroach upon the sight-distance triangle area.

     B. No sign, including wall signs, may encroach into the public right-of-way without the prior written approval of the Board of County Commissioners and issuance of a revocable permit, and no sign shall encroach on an adjacent parcel or lot of record without prior written and recorded easement by the affected property owner(s).

     C. Wall, roof and window signs shall have the setback established by the structure upon which they are applied.

     D. Informational and incidental on-premise signs, authorized pursuant to Section 17.116.070(B)(1), may have a setback up to zero feet or as otherwise required by the Director of Planning and Development. The setback requirements for "Gateway" sign shall be established by the Pueblo County Planning Commission.

     E. Free standing and projecting signs shall have the setbacks required of accessory structures; except where the accessory structure setbacks are less than the following, then the following shall be the minimum setbacks:

 

Front yard 15'

Side yard  5'

Rear yard 15'

 

     F. The Director of the Department of Planning and Development may authorize signs with a lesser setback, but in no circumstances a setback less than five feet, on the basis of a site development plan if all the following findings can be made:

     1. The proposed sign will not impede driver and pedestrian visibility along the public right-of-way or while entering or leaving the premises; and

     2. The surrounding area is substantially improved in a manner so as to significantly reduce the proposed sign’s exposure; or

     3. The proposed sign is in an approved parking lot or plot plan design.

17.116.140 Prohibited Signs or Advertising Devices.

     1. The following advertising devices and signs shall be prohibited:

     A. Portable, wheeled, or mobile signs or advertising devices except for operable and licensed motorized vehicles and licensed trailers used in the pursuit of regular day-to-day business having the name of the permitted use and service(s) offered or the name of the permitted used for hauling of materials, equipment, and/or merchandise.

17.116.150 Advertising Restrictions for Marijuana Establishments.

  1. This section shall apply to Marijuana Establishments defined in Section 17.04.040, Definitions.
  2. “Advertise, advertising or advertisement” means the act of drawing the public’s attention to a Marijuana Establishment’s premise or name in order to promote the sale of marijuana or marijuana products.
  3. This section is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other restrictions set forth in this Chapter 17.116.
  4. The following advertising devices and signs shall be prohibited:
    1. Billboards, sign-spinners, A-frames, sandwich boards, sidewalk signs, or curb signs;
    2. Signs on motor vehicles or other moving signs;
    3. Animated signs, neon signs, flashing signs, or electronically controlled signs;
    4. Any sign that is not kept in good repair. Good repair means, at a minimum, that the sign is properly anchored, does not contain cracks, broken wood, missing letters or symbols and is protected from the elements and against decay and rust by the periodic application of a weather-coating material;
    5. Streamers, balloons, flags, or inflatable displays;
    6. Leaflets or flyers excluding bona-fide business cards;
    7. Signs or displays outside of the premises that advertise potency, strain, character, class, or other statement that implies the effects of the consumption of marijuana; and
    8. Advertisements that use numbers in relation to the price of marijuana (i.e., any prices, ½ off, free 1/8th).
  5. A Marijuana Establishment shall not use any neon or fluorescent paint that is luminescent or gives off visible light through fluorescence, phosphorescence, or radioluminescence in any advertisement located on the premise or building.
  6. The prohibitions in this paragraph 17.116.150 (D) shall not apply to:
    1. Any advertisement contained within a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation within the County; or
    2. Advertising which is purely incidental to sponsorship of a charitable event by a Marijuana Establishment.
  7. A Retail Marijuana Establishment must display a green cross or a steel or wood circular sign containing the number “64” in order to designate the premises.  This sign must be located on the exterior of the premises. The form requirements for such sign shall be provided by, and all such signs shall be approved by, the Pueblo County Planning and Development Department.
  8. All signs by Marijuana Establishments shall meet all other requirements of this Code.