Project Overview

Moving into Phase 2:

The second phase will reconfirm the community’s goals for the entire sign code, engaging the public in conversations about size, color, lighting, location, technology, and materials. Additionally, the second phase will increase the legibility of the sign section, by reorganizing and clearing up code language.

Phase 1 focused on content neutral standards:

Within the last few years, many jurisdictions across the nation have updated their sign codes in response to the United States Supreme Court case, Reed v. Town of Gilbert. These updates have clarified their regulations are content neutral. Content neutral sign regulations do not vary standards such as size, location, and duration based on the message of the sign.

In a review of the City of Fort Collins current sign standards, it was found some were based on the message of the sign. City staff began looking closer at message based standards and began the process to offer content neutral solutions.

In preliminary discussions with citizens, business owners and sign contractors concerning a content neutral update to the sign standards, we received comments that other sections of the code could also be updated.