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Sign Permit in Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Glenwood Springs requires a sign permit application before installing a new sign or altering/modifying an existing sign, per the City's Signs page (cogs.us/329/Signs), which directs applicants to the Sign Code (Municipal Code Article 070.040.110) for complete requirements and encourages contacting a Community Development Department planner for site-specific guidance. Electrified signs additionally require a separate electrical permit issued by the State of Colorado, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Properties with multiple buildings or multiple commercial tenants must obtain a Master Sign Permit before individual tenant sign permits can be issued.

Verified 2026-08-13 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A sign permit application must be completed before installing a new sign or before altering or modifying an existing sign, per the City's Signs page and Municipal Code Article 070.040.110 (Sign Code)
  • Electrified signs additionally require a separate electrical permit issued by the State of Colorado, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), not the City
  • Many sign types do not require a permit as long as they comply with that sign type's own requirements — the City's Sign & Banner brochure provides a quick overview of permit-exempt sign types
  • Properties with more than one building on site, or more than one commercial tenant in a building, must have an approved Master Sign Permit before the Community Development Department can issue any individual tenant sign permits; tenants in a multi-tenant building must obtain a copy of the approved Master Sign Permit and submit it with their own sign permit application
  • Special sign requirements apply to businesses in the Downtown and Glenwood Meadows shopping areas — contact the Community Development Department for district-specific rules
  • Prohibited signs include: A-frame/sandwich board signs (except downtown), beacons and search lights, flashing or moving signs, portable and wheeled signs, roof signs (except downtown), and signs in the public right-of-way except as allowed by the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council
  • No numeric sign-permit fee schedule or review-timeline figure was found published on the City's Signs page as of this review

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Sign Permit FeeContact the Glenwood Springs Community Development Department (970-384-6450) for a current fee quote
Not published as a numeric figure on the City's Signs page

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Sign Permit permit actually take in Glenwood Springs?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

    See the full Glenwood Springs inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

    Tips

    • If your property has more than one building or more than one commercial tenant, you need an approved Master Sign Permit BEFORE individual tenant sign permits can be issued — budget extra lead time if the property doesn't already have one on file.
    • Electrified signs need a separate State of Colorado DORA electrical permit in addition to the City's sign permit — these are two different permitting authorities.
    • A-frame/sandwich board signs and roof signs are prohibited citywide except specifically in the downtown area — don't assume these sign types are allowed elsewhere in Glenwood Springs.
    • The City has issued a scam alert warning about fraudulent emails requesting permit and land-use application fees — verify any fee request by calling 970-384-6450 directly rather than following email payment links.

    Frequently asked questions

    Yes, before installing a new sign or altering/modifying an existing sign, though some sign types are exempt if they comply with that type's own requirements. Electrified signs also need a separate State of Colorado electrical permit.

    In Glenwood Springs, the published Sign Permit Fee is: Not published as a numeric figure on the City's Signs page. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Glenwood Springs does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Glenwood Springs Building Department (Community Development Department) at 970-384-6450 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Sign Permit Application. Depending on your project, Glenwood Springs may also ask for: Master Sign Permit Application; Electrical Permit (State of Colorado DORA). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Glenwood Springs Building Department (Community Development Department) at 101 W. 8th Street, Second Floor, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601. Phone: 970-384-6450, email: Building@cogs.us. Office hours: Glenwood Springs City Hall Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Mondays-Thursdays (closed Fridays), per the City's Contact Us footer. Building Department direct line 970-384-6450; Fax 970-945-8582; Inspection Line (24-hour automated request system) 970-384-6432; Building Official Victor Meraz, 970-384-6410.. Official information: https://www.cogs.us/283/Building-Department.

    Glenwood Springs, Colorado has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (IBC), with local amendments — adopted by Ordinance No. 06, Series of 2022 (effective 90 days after second publication, passed 03/03/2022), repealing and reenacting Title 060 of the Glenwood Springs Municipal Code in its entirety; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), with local amendments; 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), with local amendments; 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), with local amendments; 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), with Appendices D (Fire Apparatus Access Roads), H (Hazardous Materials Management Plan/Inventory Statement), and J (Building Information Sign) adopted; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC); 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) and 2020 National Electrical Safety Code — administered exclusively by the State of Colorado, not the City (see localAmendments); Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC, based on the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code) — state-mandated statewide program (C.R.S., administered by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control); the City's own Building Department page states enforcement in Glenwood Springs 'Starts Wednesday, July 1st, 2026,' consistent with the statewide April 1, 2026 local-adoption deadline and July 1, 2026 full-compliance deadline for jurisdictions with mapped Wildland-Urban Interface area; IBC Appendices adopted: Appendix C (Group U-Agricultural Buildings), Appendix E (Supplementary Accessibility Requirements), Appendix G (Flood-Resistant Construction), Appendix I (Patio Covers), Appendix J (Grading); IRC Appendices adopted: Appendix AE (Manufactured Housing Used As Dwellings), Appendix AF (Radon Control Methods), Appendix AG (Piping Standards for Various Applications), Appendix AH (Patio Covers), Appendix AJ (Existing Building and Structures), Appendix AM (Home Day Care), Appendix AQ (Tiny Houses), Appendix AT (Solar-Ready Provisions); Full Title 060 (Construction Building Codes and Regulations) text available via library.municode.com/co/glenwood_springs; Ordinance 2022-06 PDF hosted directly by the City. Local amendments apply — see the Glenwood Springs overview page for the full list.

    A permit required for properties with more than one building on-site or more than one commercial tenant, which allocates the property's total allotted signage across its tenants. It must be approved before the City will issue individual tenant sign permits.

    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 Glenwood Springs building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

    Other permits in Glenwood Springs

    Residential Building Permit (New Construction, 4 or Fewer Units)Residential Addition / Remodel Permit (Including New Accessory Structures)Electrical Permit (Issued by the State of Colorado, Not the City)Plumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRoofing Permit (Re-Roofing)Solar PV PermitEV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station PermitAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitDemolition PermitFence / Retaining Wall PermitCommercial Building Permit (Including Tenant Improvement / Commercial Remodel)Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System PermitChange of Use / Change of Occupancy

    Sign Permit in other cities

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