Sign Permit Services in Colorado Springs

Who reviews a sign permit in Colorado Springs

Two agencies are involved in most permanent signs inside city limits:

• City of Colorado Springs Planning. Reviews the sign plan against the sign code, including sign type, location, and allowed area, and approves it.
• Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD). Issues the permit after the plan is approved, handles building and electrical requirements, and performs inspections. PPRBD also licenses sign contractors in the region.

Under the code, the sign plan has to be approved by Planning before the building official issues the permit. Illuminated signs add electrical requirements, and electrical work is done by a licensed Colorado electrical contractor. Outside city limits, in unincorporated El Paso County, signs follow the county's Land Development Code and county planning review instead.

What goes in the permit package

The city's code lists what a sign plan must show. We prepare each item from the site survey and the approved design:

• Site information: the location and dimensions of buildings on the site, the nearest intersections, and the zoning.
• Existing and proposed signs: size, location, and type of every sign, including the ones already on the property.
• Building elevation: wall signs drawn to scale on the elevation of the building face where they go.
• Applicant and installer: who is applying and who is installing.
• Sight visibility: where a sign near a driveway or intersection could affect visibility.
• Electronic message center details: for digital signs, manufacturer specifications, brightness rating, and dimming method.
• Owner consent: written consent from the property owner or the owner's agent, usually a signed letter.

One detail catches many applicants: the city does not approve sign plans while illegal signs remain on the site. Old banners left up past their allowed time or unpermitted signs from a previous tenant can hold up a new permit.

Signs that usually do not need a permit

Not every sign needs a city permit. Under the current code, these generally do not:

• Interior signs not visible from outside, such as lobby signs and office wall graphics. See our lobby signs and office branding pages.
• Window signs covering up to 25 percent of the window, on the ground floor. Our window graphics page covers how that cap works.
• Small building plaques, up to 6 square feet.
• Vehicle graphics, when the vehicle is in regular use and moved at least every 72 hours, rather than parked as a sign.
• A-frame signs within the code's size and placement limits, during business hours. A sign placed in the public right-of-way needs a separate revocable permit.

Banners need a permit and have time limits, and feather flags are prohibited under the current code. Rules change, so we confirm current requirements for every project before production.

Coordinated sign plans in shopping centers and business parks

Commercial centers with several tenants may operate under a coordinated sign plan, which sets the sign rules for the whole property. When one exists, a tenant's sign has to fit both the plan and the city code. The landlord's own sign criteria often add a third layer covering letter style, color, and illumination.

We check for a coordinated sign plan and the landlord's criteria during the site survey, and we get landlord approval before submitting to the city. Our page on national and multi-location brand signage covers how brand standards fit into that process.

Fees and timing

Permit fees are set by the city and PPRBD and change over time. As a reference point, the city's 2024 development review fee schedule listed permanent signs at $200 plus $1 per square foot of sign area, and PPRBD's fee schedule lists a separate sign permit base fee. Signs installed without a permit can be charged double. These ranges are typical and are not project specific estimates. We include current fees in each estimate so there are no surprises.

Neither agency publishes a fixed review time; it varies with workload and how complete the application is. In our experience, permit review is the longest step in most sign projects, which is why we submit as early as the design allows and produce the sign while the permit is in review. Typical production times run one to two weeks for vinyl and non-illuminated signs and four to eight weeks for illuminated signs, with permit review usually adding the most time.

How we handle the permit

1. Site surveyWe measure the frontage, photograph the building and existing signs, and check zoning, landlord criteria, and any coordinated sign plan.
2. Estimate and depositYou receive a written estimate that includes permit fees. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
3. Plan and consentWe prepare the sign plan and elevation drawings and collect written consent from the property owner.
4. Submittal and commentsWe submit the package and respond to reviewer comments until the plan is approved and the permit is issued.
5. Installation and inspectionWe install under the permit and coordinate the required inspections through the final walkthrough.

When to let APG handle the permit

Permits are included with APG sign projects. A few cases are worth knowing about.