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Mesa County, CO Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
No, for qualifying holiday displays
Duration limit stated
None specified in Section 9.03.A.3
Size limit stated
None specified for this exemption
Applies in
Any zone district
Still subject to
Section 9.02 prohibited-sign rules

Summary

Mesa County exempts temporary holiday decorations and displays from its sign permit requirements, letting property owners in any zone district put up seasonal displays without a Chapter 9 sign permit.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Mesa County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Temporary decorations or displays clearly incidental, customary and commonly associated with national or local holiday celebrations.

View official code

Full Breakdown

4 for non-illuminated temporary signs, which caps unlit temporary signage at six square feet each (up to six per acre, one of which may reach thirty-two square feet during active construction). 09. 02 list of prohibited signs (such as strings of light bulbs not permanently mounted on a rigid background) remain subject to those separate restrictions even when installed for a holiday.

Violations & Fines

A holiday display that strays into a prohibited-sign category under Section 9.02, such as one that could be mistaken for a traffic signal or that hangs unsecured in a way that creates a hazard, loses its exempt status and can be ordered removed or repaired by the Director under Section 9.12's maintenance and removal authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for holiday lights in unincorporated Mesa County?
No. LDC Section 9.03.A.3 exempts temporary decorations or displays that are incidental, customary, and commonly associated with national or local holiday celebrations from the sign permit requirement in any zone district.
Is there a time limit on how long holiday displays can stay up?
The code text does not set a specific number of days for this exemption; Section 9.03.A.3 only requires that the display be temporary and customarily associated with a holiday celebration, unlike the 30-day banner limit that applies to wind-driven signs under Section 9.04.
Can a holiday display still be cited by the county?
Yes. Even an exempt holiday display remains subject to the prohibited-sign rules in Section 9.02, such as bans on signs confused with traffic controls or unsecured signs that swing and create a hazard, and can be ordered removed under Section 9.12.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Mesa County

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsDigital BillboardsSome RestrictionsWindow SignsFew RestrictionsGarage Sale SignsLight RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Mesa County rules

Compare Mesa County to another location·View the Colorado sign regulations overview

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