Lake County staff outline electronic sign limits, drive-thru and canopy rules as sign code moratorium continues

Lake County planning staff told the commission on Feb. 10 that a temporary moratorium on new sign permits is in effect through March 19 while the county drafts a revised sign code. Planning staff reviewed draft approaches used in other Colorado communities and sought direction on three topics that had not yet been discussed in prior study sessions: electronic message boards, drive-thru signage and gas-station/canopy signs.

Melissa Kendrick (planning staff) said the county has a moratorium for signage until March 19 and that a public hearing on the sign code was scheduled for Feb. 24. She asked commissioners for direction on electronic message boards, including limits on brightness and transition speed and whether signs should be allowed to animate. “What they’re looking at are signs similar to their monument signs,” she said while summarizing other jurisdictions’ approaches. Staff presented examples from Buena Vista, Platteville and Breckenridge: limits on brightness or nits, requirements that messages hold for several seconds, and rules that prohibit animated or continuously flashing content.

Commission comments and staff guidance Commissioners and staff generally favored stricter limits on electronic message boards than a free-form approach. Suggestions included: prohibit animation and rapid transitions, require static messages to hold for several seconds before changing, and apply an overnight dimming standard or a specified luminance limit (staff noted other codes reference measures such as foot-candles or nits). Commissioners asked staff to consult manufacturers and CDOT guidance to confirm industry standards and any state transportation rules that could affect signs adjacent to state highways.

On drive-thru signage, staff proposed allowing up to two menu/service signs per drive-thru service lane with a maximum area of 16 square feet and a maximum height of 6 feet, 9 inches. Commissioners suggested drive-thru signs should be capable of dimming and should be turned off when the business is closed.

For gas stations and fueling/recharge canopies, staff proposed that canopy signage be limited (for example, to one sign per street frontage or two signs per canopy), that canopy signage not exceed the canopy height, and that signage on canopies be unlit (so canopy branding is visible but not illuminated beyond functional canopy lighting). Commissioners discussed whether the code should treat fossil-fuel pumps and electric vehicle charging canopies equivalently; several members suggested a single "fueling/recharge canopy" standard would be appropriate.

Next steps Staff said the draft sign code will be revised to reflect the commission’s direction — notably: (1) require static electronic messages (no animation), slow transitions and brightness/dimming controls; (2) require drive-thru menu/signage to be dimmable and off when businesses are closed; and (3) limit canopy signage on fueling/recharge facilities and prefer unlit canopy sign elements, with overall lighting standards applied to ensure safety and dark-sky compliance. Staff will also seek manufacturer specifications and consult CDOT and other communities for technical thresholds and will present a revised draft at the Feb. 24 public hearing.