Colorado Springs, CO Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
- Removal
- Within 7 days after the sale
Summary
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.
4. Short Term Signs: These signs are intended to be displayed for a limited period of time, consist of temporary materials and are not permanently affixed to the ground or mounted to a building. These signs are frequently associated with activities or events such as properties under construction or development, election proceedings, or properties actively listed for sale or lease. In addition to allowances outlined in Table 7.4.13-E, the following standards apply to short term signs: a. Placement: The placement of all short term signs must occur on private property. b. Removal Parameters: Temporary signs will be removed upon the earliest of: (1) Issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or final building inspection; (2) The sale or lease contract has ended; or (3) Seven (7) days following the event or activity. (Ord. 26-01)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 26-23, passed June 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
" No sign permit is required for this category on single-family residential property. 13-E sets the dimensional envelope for that residential Short Term row: up to 6 square feet per sign on lots up to one acre (32 square feet on larger lots), a maximum of five signs on a lot up to one acre, one sign per street frontage once a sign exceeds 6 square feet, a 10-foot height cap, and a minimum 5-foot setback from the lot line. Two placement-and-removal rules apply directly.
First, placement: "The placement of all short term signs must occur on private property", a garage-sale sign cannot be staked in the public right-of-way, a median, or a neighbor's yard without permission. " So a two-day garage sale's signage has a hard seven-day outer clock even if the seller forgets to pull it. 1: no illumination, animation, or reflective material; must stay in good repair without fraying or sagging; and cannot be zip-tied or nailed to public infrastructure, utility poles, or street signposts. B.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for my garage sale sign in Colorado Springs?
Can I put my garage sale sign on a street corner or utility pole?
How long can a garage sale sign stay up after the sale?
How big can a garage sale sign be on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colorado Springs
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