Sign Permit in Salida, Colorado

Salida requires a sign permit for: A sign permit is required prior to installation of any sign or group of signs whose total aggregate square footage is more than nine square feet per property, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(1)(b); signs totaling nine square feet or less per property are exempt, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(2); Buildings with multiple nonresidential tenants, or developments existing at Code adoption without a comprehensive sign plan, must create one at the time of application for any sign permit, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(1)(c); each tenant still needs a separate individual sign permit; Other permit-free categories per the Standard Sign Permit Application and Article 16-6: window signs read through the glass; one sidewalk sign per building (max 3' wide x 4' tall) for businesses in MN or MD zones, adjacent to the public entrance; temporary signs displayed fewer than 90 days per calendar year (residential: max 3 temporary signs, 9 sq ft total; nonresidential: max 1 temporary sign, 16 sq ft); Application: Standard Sign Permit Application (3-page form, Updated 1/15/2026) submitted to City of Salida Community Development, 448 E. First Street, Suite 112; requires a scaled sketch plan (dimensions, sign type, height, illumination type, image of proposed sign), a scaled site plan showing the sign's location and all other existing signs on the building/parcel, and the application fee per the adopted fee schedule; Signs projecting over a public right-of-way in a manner that could endanger the public must have supports, hangers, or fasteners certified by a Colorado-licensed structural engineer, per Sec. 16-6-40(b); Total sign area allowed is calculated per Table 6-A: 1st floor linear lot frontage x 1.0, plus 2nd floor linear lot frontage x 0.5, plus 3rd floor linear lot frontage x 0.5; Separate building and/or electrical permits for a sign may additionally be required, determined case-by-case by the Building Official, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(1)(d); All signs are subject to inspection to confirm installation/maintenance complies with the approved permit, per Sec. 16-6-50(c)(3); A sign permit expires if construction of the sign is not completed within 180 days after approval, per Sec. 16-6-50(c)(4); Creative Sign Permit (Sec. 16-6-70, separate application, Updated 4/1/2026): for signs employing design standards that differ from the General Sign Standards; requires a written statement addressing three Impact Review Standards and three Design Review Standards (Sec. 16-6-70(e)), plus public notice via postage-paid envelopes mailed to property owners within 175 feet of the subject property. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Two-agency split: City of Salida Community Development Department (zoning/fire/Land-Use-Code review and City permit fee, first step) + Chaffee County Building Safety Department (I-Code plan review, permit issuance, fees, and inspections, second step) at City of Salida: 719-539-4555 (fax 719-539-5271). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 719-539-2124 (Option 1 for inspections, Option 2 for applications/fees); fax 719-530-9208 before starting work.

In Salida, the published Sign Permit (Standard) is: $50.00. Additional published fees: Comprehensive Sign Permit — $100.00; Creative Sign Permit — $250.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Per Land Use & Development Code Sec. 16-6-50(c), the Director must determine completeness within 10 business days of submittal, then complete review and send a decision within 10 business days after the application is deemed complete.

You'll need: Standard Sign Permit Application. Depending on your project, Salida may also ask for: Creative Sign Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Salida requires 1 inspection(s) for a sign permit, in order: Sign Inspection. Schedule each through Two-agency split: City of Salida Community Development Department (zoning/fire/Land-Use-Code review and City permit fee, first step) + Chaffee County Building Safety Department (I-Code plan review, permit issuance, fees, and inspections, second step) (City of Salida: 719-539-4555 (fax 719-539-5271). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 719-539-2124 (Option 1 for inspections, Option 2 for applications/fees); fax 719-530-9208).

Apply through Two-agency split: City of Salida Community Development Department (zoning/fire/Land-Use-Code review and City permit fee, first step) + Chaffee County Building Safety Department (I-Code plan review, permit issuance, fees, and inspections, second step) at City of Salida Community Development Department: The Touber Building, 448 E. First Street, Suite 112, Salida, CO 81201. Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 104 Crestone Ave., Room 125 (2nd Floor), Salida, CO 81201 (mailing: P.O. Box 699, Salida, CO 81201). Phone: City of Salida: 719-539-4555 (fax 719-539-5271). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 719-539-2124 (Option 1 for inspections, Option 2 for applications/fees); fax 719-530-9208, email: City of Salida (zoning/land use/building permit inquiries): planning@cityofsalida.com; Commercial Permit Inquiries/Major Impact Review: kristen.hodges@cityofsalida.com. Chaffee County Building Safety Department: bdepartment@chaffeecounty.org (electronic plan submittals: eplans@chaffeecounty.org). Office hours: City of Salida Community Development: Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (per the City's own Contact Information block on the Building Permit Review page). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: operates on a 4-day work week (Monday-Thursday), inspections performed Monday-Thursday excluding federal holidays; inspection requests must arrive by 4:00 p.m. the business day before the desired inspection date (Friday afternoon requests roll to Tuesday).. Official information: https://www.cityofsalida.com/commdev/page/building-permit-review and https://www.chaffeecounty.org/departments/building_department/index.php.

Salida, Colorado has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by the City of Salida per the City's own Building Permit Review page: 'The City adopted the 2021 International Codes for Building, Residential, Existing Buildings, Plumbing, Mechanical, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas and Property Maintenance with the 2021 IECC and the 2021 National Electric Code.' Chaffee County Building Safety Department's own Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page independently confirms the same 2021 I-Code suite (IBC, IRC, IFC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC) is the edition actually enforced county-wide, including for Salida.; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — same dual-source confirmation as above; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Chaffee County's Residential Building Application requires an IECC Compliance Path Certificate, Manual J/S/D submittal, and blower-door/duct/ventilation testing by a RESNET- or BPI-certified tester; 2021 International Property Maintenance Code — named on the City's own adopted-codes list; 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 / NEC) — City of Salida's own page states '2021 IECC and the 2021 National Electric Code,' but Chaffee County Building Safety Department's Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page (the agency that actually issues and enforces electrical permits) lists the 2023 NEC as currently adopted; this is a genuine, honestly-flagged discrepancy between the City's own page text and the County's live enforced edition — applicants should confirm the currently enforced NEC edition directly with Chaffee County Building Safety Department at time of submittal; 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities — Chaffee County Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page; Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (effective July 1, 2026) and 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — Chaffee County Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page; note several IWUIC-specific submittal requirements on the County's own Residential Building Application are explicitly scoped to 'Unincorporated Chaffee County Only,' meaning some (not all) IWUIC provisions may not directly apply within Salida city limits — confirm scope with the County Building Department for any given IWUIC provision; Colorado Model Electric Ready & Solar Ready Code — Chaffee County Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page; the County's Residential Building Application requires roof load design for future solar panels and a solar-ready zone/interconnection pathway on submitted plans; Salida Municipal Code Chapter 16, Land Use and Development — governs zoning compliance, setbacks, dimensional standards, landscaping, and parking; reviewed by the City of Salida Community Development Department as the mandatory first step before any County building-permit review begins. Local amendments apply — see the Salida overview page for the full list.

Yes, if the total aggregate sign area for the property exceeds nine square feet. Signs totaling nine square feet or less, most window signs, certain sidewalk signs in MN/MD zones, and short-duration temporary signs are exempt from the permit requirement.