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Sign Permit in Montrose, Colorado

The City of Montrose publishes a dedicated Sign Permits page (Planning Services) requiring permits for most signage, with specific exemptions for small temporary signs. A temporary sign (banner) up to 64 square feet, with only one displayed at a time, does not require a permit. Special Event Signs (balloons, streamers, pennants, flags, human-held/human-powered signs) are valid for events of 96 hours or less, limited to 12 permits per calendar year per organization (which may be issued consecutively), on-premise only, and restricted to non-residential zoning districts. Off-premise signs along state highways require a CDOT permit before City approval.

Verified 2026-08-14 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permits are required for most signage in Montrose; submit the Sign Permit Application to Planning Services
  • EXEMPT: a temporary sign/banner up to 64 square feet, with only one displayed at any one time
  • Special Event Signs: valid for events of 96 hours or less; organizations may obtain up to 12 permits per calendar year (may be issued consecutively); permitted types are balloons, streamers, pennants, flags, and human-held/human-powered signs; all signs must be located on-premise; banners and special event signage are allowed ONLY in non-residential zoning districts
  • Balloons for special events must be smaller than a 3x3x3 cube; all other animated signs not otherwise listed are prohibited for special events
  • Off-premise signs along state highways require a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) permit before City approval

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Sign Permit FeeNot published as a numeric figure on the City's Sign Permits page as of this review. Contact Planning Services (970-240-1407) for a current fee quote.
Not published — contact the department

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Sign Permit permit actually take in Montrose?

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Inspection process

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

    Tips

    • A small temporary banner (≤64 sq ft, one at a time) is exempt from a Montrose sign permit outright — but Special Event signage has a hard 96-hour duration cap and a 12-permits-per-organization-per-year limit, and is barred from residential zoning districts entirely.
    • A sign along a state highway needs CDOT sign-off BEFORE the City will approve it — sequence that approval first if your property fronts a state route.

    Frequently asked questions

    Montrose requires a sign permit for: Permits are required for most signage in Montrose; submit the Sign Permit Application to Planning Services; EXEMPT: a temporary sign/banner up to 64 square feet, with only one displayed at any one time; Special Event Signs: valid for events of 96 hours or less; organizations may obtain up to 12 permits per calendar year (may be issued consecutively); permitted types are balloons, streamers, pennants, flags, and human-held/human-powered signs; all signs must be located on-premise; banners and special event signage are allowed ONLY in non-residential zoning districts; Balloons for special events must be smaller than a 3x3x3 cube; all other animated signs not otherwise listed are prohibited for special events; Off-premise signs along state highways require a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) permit before City approval. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Montrose Building Services (Community Development / Planning Services) at 970-252-4707 before starting work.

    Montrose does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Montrose Building Services (Community Development / Planning Services) at 970-252-4707 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Sign Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Montrose Building Services (Community Development / Planning Services) at City Hall, 400 E Main Street, P.O. Box 790, Montrose, CO 81402. Phone: 970-252-4707, email: buildingservices@ci.montrose.co.us (permit application submittal); permits@cityofmontrose.us (per search-indexed contact for Building Inspector Timothy Mazur; not independently re-verified against a live City page in this session). Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (City Hall hours, per Building Services page). Inspection scheduling: 970-240-1445, inspection hours 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m., with 24-hour advance notice required per the City's Residential/Accessory/Commercial Construction packets.. Official information: https://www.cityofmontrose.org/270/Building-Services.

    Montrose, Colorado has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Montrose Building Services page, adopted per Section 4-1-1 of the City of Montrose Municipal Code; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC); 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2018 International Uniform/Mechanical Code (IMC) (City page lists this as '2018 International Uniform/Mechanical Code'); 2018 International Uniform/Plumbing Code (IPC) (City page lists this as '2018 International Uniform/Plumbing Code'); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — note: electrical permitting and inspection itself is performed by the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA), not the City, per the City's own Residential/Accessory/Commercial Construction and Solar Permit packets; Deletions, modifications, and exceptions to the above codes are codified in Section 4-1-3 of the City of Montrose Municipal Code; full building regulations are in Title IV (Chapter 1 - Building Regulations, Chapter 4-9 - Housing Code, Chapter 11-13 - Mobile Home/Travel Home/Tiny Home Regulations, Chapter 11-9 - Outdoor Lighting, Section 4-1-4 - Plumbers and Gasfitters Licenses, Section 4-1-11 - Supplemental Building/Structure/Fence Requirements), per the City of Montrose Municipal Code as indexed on the Building Services page; The City references a forthcoming Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code page (linked from the Building Services page) but the Building Services page itself does not state an adoption/enforcement date for Montrose specifically in the content retrieved this session; not asserted as adopted here without that confirmation — see tipsAndGotchas. Local amendments apply — see the Montrose overview page for the full list.

    Yes, for most signage, with an exemption for small temporary banners (≤64 sq ft, one displayed at a time) and specific rules for Special Event Signs (96-hour max duration, 12 permits/year per organization, non-residential zones only). Contact Planning Services (970-240-1407) for current fees.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-14.

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

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