Sign Permit — Colorado Springs, Colorado · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-08-13 · Source: https://coloradosprings.gov/signapp
PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements change and vary by project — confirm current details with the building department before you submit.
Sign Permit in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Required before any permanent sign (wall, freestanding/monument, low profile, or electronic message center) is erected in Colorado Springs, plus a separate Temporary Use permit for banners and inflatable displays. Sign permitting runs through TWO agencies in parallel: the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) issues the actual construction/electrical permit and performs the structural/electrical inspection (Appendix B, Table E), while the City of Colorado Springs Planning Department's Development Review Enterprise (DRE) Division separately reviews the sign against the Unified Development Code's sign chapter (UDC Section 7.4.13) and charges its own zoning review fee under Resolution No. 191-25 (adopted Nov. 25, 2025, effective Jan. 1, 2026). Applications and plan images are submitted together through PPRBD's electronic plan review portal, but expect two distinct fee lines at checkout, not one.
Verified 2026-08-13 · Source
When you need this permit
- Unless specifically exempted, all major sign types (wall, canopy/awning, freestanding, low profile, EMC) require a sign permit prior to construction, per UDC Section 7.4.1307.A.1
- Wall signs: dimensional standards vary by use classification (Table 7.4.13-A) — e.g. Commercial/Industrial allows 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of building elevation (2 sq ft/linear ft when set back more than 200 ft from the public ROW); buildings with an elevation under 16.5 linear feet get a 25 sq ft minimum sign area regardless
- Freestanding/monument signs: dimensional standards are based on linear property frontage (Table 7.4.13-B) — e.g. Commercial/Industrial with under 160 ft of frontage is capped at 42 sq ft, 1 sign, 7 ft height; larger frontages scale by 0.35 sq ft and 0.07 ft of height per linear foot of frontage, up to a 30 ft height cap
- Electronic Message Center (EMC) signs require a compliance document submitted with the application, per PPRBD's sign application instructions; static digital/LED components (fuel price signs, time/temperature signs) count against the maximum allowable sign area and are NOT treated as EMC signs
- Exempt from a sign permit under UDC 7.4.1307.C/D: window signs up to 25% of window area (prohibited above ground level), signs permanently painted/affixed to a vehicle for advertising, and murals/works of art (unless a portion functions as a sign, in which case that portion counts toward the allowable sign area and requires permitting)
- Freestanding and Low Profile signs are assigned a separate address from the main structure by PPRBD; other sign types (wall, EMC attached to a building) use the same address as the main structure
- Temporary banners and inflatable displays require a separate City permit (not this sign permit): banners are capped at 90 days per calendar year (may be split across multiple display periods); commercial-event inflatables are capped at 14 days per event, two commercial-event permits per location per year
- Applications submitted as PDFs through PPRBD's web account (Plans > Electronic Plans > New Plan, Type of Plan = 'Sign'); paper plans are also accepted but can only be issued in person
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Review timeline
Inspection process
- 1
Final
Verify sign placement, dimensions, and mounting match the approved plan; electrical connection verified if the sign is illuminated or an EMC
See the full Colorado Springs inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- Budget for TWO separate fee lines on a typical permanent sign, not one: PPRBD's own Table E permit fee ($30, plus $30 more if the sign needs its own address) is small, but the City DRE zoning review fee ($270 per sign as of the Jan. 1, 2026 fee resolution) is the larger cost driver — together, roughly $300 for a single wall or freestanding sign.
- Window signs (up to 25% of window area, not above ground level), vehicle-mounted advertising, and most murals/works of art do not require a sign permit at all under UDC 7.4.1307 — but any portion of a mural that functions as a sign still counts toward the site's allowable sign area.
- A temporary banner or inflatable display is NOT covered by this permit type — it uses a separate City permit ($40 each under the current fee resolution), capped at 90 days/year for banners and 14 days/event (two events/year) for commercial inflatables.
- Freestanding and Low Profile signs get their own separate address from PPRBD, distinct from the main structure's address — expect the $30 Address Determination fee on top of the $30 Sign Permit fee for these sign types.
Frequently asked questions
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-13.
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Colorado Springs building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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