Sign Regulations in Colorado Springs, CO

If you live in Colorado Springs or are thinking about moving there, sign regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Colorado Springs has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of sign regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Digital Billboards

Colorado Springs' sign code has no digital-billboard track: Section 7.4.1308.C bans any sign whose digital message changes "except those permitted by this part," and the only changing-message signs the code permits, EMC signs, are restricted to on-site business advertising, which off-premise billboards by definition are not.

Key details: Digital changing signs: Banned unless an on-site EMC. EMC restriction: On-site business messaging only. Max new billboard size: 245 sq ft. Billboard faces: 2 per structure, max. Billboard zones: MX-L, LI, GI, BP (conditional use).

A sign erected with a changing digital face that does not qualify as an on-premise EMC violates the prohibited-signs bar in Section 7.4.1308.C. The Building Official or Manager may order the sign repaired, brought into compliance, or removed under Sections 7.4.1308 and 7.4.1309, and an unpermitted billboard structure is also subject to denial or revocation of the conditional use permit required under Section 7.4.1310.C.2 for any new off-premise sign.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Colorado Springs actively enforces its digital billboards requirements.

Holiday Displays

Colorado Springs treats inflatable displays as temporary signage, not decoration. Under City Code § 7.4.1307.E.3, a non-residential business can run an inflatable display up to 14 days per event, with no more than two permits issued per property per calendar year. Inflatables are barred outright at residential uses, can't attach to fences or poles, need a 1.5x-height setback, and can't carry a sound system.

Key details: Residential use: Inflatable displays not permitted. Display duration: 14 days per event. Annual permit cap: 2 permits per property per year. Setback: 1.5x the display's height. Sound system: Not allowed.

An inflatable display at a residential use, one exceeding 14 days, a third permit in the same calendar year, a wind-dancer 'tube man' style unit, or one lacking the 1.5x-height setback is a Sign Code violation citable under the City's general UDC compliance authority, § 7.1.106, and can result in an order to remove the display.

Compared to other cities, Colorado Springs takes a harder line on holiday displays. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Window Signs

Window signs in Colorado Springs can't cover more than 25% of the window area they're displayed in, under Table 7.4.13-D of the Sign Code. No permit is required for a compliant window sign, but it must stay at ground level: signage placed above the ground floor is prohibited outright. Interior or exterior lighting of window signs is allowed.

Key details: Size cap: 25% of the window area. Permit required: No. Placement limit: Prohibited above ground level. Lighting: Permitted. Governing section: Table 7.4.13-D, City Code § 7.4.1307.B.

A window sign that exceeds 25% of the window's area or that's mounted above ground level is out of compliance with Table 7.4.13-D and can be cited under the City's general UDC compliance authority, § 7.1.106, for removal or reduction to the permitted coverage.

Garage Sale Signs

Colorado Springs treats a garage-sale sign as a "Short Term Sign" under Table 7.4.13-E: no permit needed, but it must sit on private property, stay under the table's size/height/setback caps, and come down within seven days after the sale ends.

Key details: Permit: None required for Short Term signs. Max size: 6 sq ft (lots up to 1 acre). Max height: 10 feet. Setback: 5 feet from lot line. Placement: Private property only.

The Building Official or Manager enforces the sign standards administratively; a sign left up past the seven-day removal window, placed on public right-of-way, or attached to a utility pole or street sign can be ordered removed at the owner's expense under the general temporary-sign provisions in Section 7.4.1307.E.1(c)-(d). Signs abandoned 30+ days are separately declared a nuisance under Section 7.4.1308.M.3 and can be ordered removed by the property owner.

The Bottom Line

Colorado Springs is tougher than many cities when it comes to sign regulations. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Colorado Springs, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Colorado Springs's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.