Banners & Temporary Signs in Colorado Springs
Vinyl and mesh banners for grand openings, coming-soon announcements, events, and promotions, finished for Front Range wind and planned around the city's temporary sign rules.
APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics produces banners in Colorado Springs in solid vinyl and wind-rated mesh, finished with welded or sewn hems, grommets, and pole pockets. Mesh lets roughly 30 to 40 percent of the wind pass through, which makes it the better choice on fences and large building faces. Under the current Colorado Springs sign code, a commercial banner needs a permit, is limited to 48 square feet per facade on a single-story building or 96 on a multi-story building, and can be displayed a total of 120 days per calendar year. Banners cannot be illuminated, and feather flags are prohibited. APG checks the facade allowance before printing so the banner fits the permit.
A banner is the fastest sign you can put on a building. In Colorado Springs, it is also the one with the most rules attached.
Banners do jobs a permanent sign cannot: announce a grand opening before the building sign is approved, tell people a business is coming soon, promote a seasonal sale, or mark an event. They are fast to produce, easy to hang, and inexpensive compared with permanent signs. They also wear out in wind and sun faster than most other signs on a building, and the city treats them as temporary.
This page covers the materials and finishing that keep a banner up through Front Range wind, the sizes that read from the road, and the Colorado Springs rules that decide how big, how long, and where. For signs that need no permit at all, see our window graphics page.
- Provider
- APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics, Colorado Springs, CO
- Materials
- Solid vinyl banner material and wind-rated mesh
- Finishing
- Hems, grommets, pole pockets, reinforced corners, and rope or bungee hanging
- Wind
- Mesh passes roughly 30 to 40 percent of the wind through the banner
- City permit
- Required for commercial banners in Colorado Springs
- Size limit
- 48 sq ft per facade on single-story buildings, 96 sq ft on multi-story buildings
- Time limit
- 120 days per calendar year in total
- Not allowed
- Illuminated or animated banners, feather and blade flags, banners strung between T-posts or vehicles
Vinyl vs mesh banners
Solid vinyl is the standard banner and gives the brightest colors and full opacity. Mesh is perforated so air passes through it, which makes it the better choice anywhere wind is the main risk.
| Solid vinyl | Mesh | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Full color, fully opaque, sharp detail | Slightly see-through; fine detail softens up close |
| Wind | Catches all of the wind like a sail | Passes roughly 30 to 40 percent of the wind |
| Best for | Building walls in sheltered spots, indoor use, events | Fences, large building faces, open lots, high or exposed walls |
| Viewing distance | Close and far | Best read from a distance |
Wind slits are a common request, but they do little to solve the problem. Half-moon cuts let only a small amount of air through, and the cuts become stress points where tears start. On an exposed wall or fence, mesh is the better answer, and on a sheltered wall, a well-finished solid vinyl banner with enough tie points holds up without cuts.
Hems, grommets, and pole pockets
Finishing is what keeps a banner on the wall. Most outdoor banner failures start at an edge or a grommet, not in the middle of the print.
- Hems. The edges are folded and welded or sewn, doubling the material where the grommets go. Banners without hems are fine indoors but tear quickly in outdoor wind.
- Grommets. Metal rings set into the hem for ropes, bungees, or zip ties. For wind-exposed banners, grommets every 2 feet along all four edges spread the load better than corners alone.
- Reinforced corners. Large outdoor banners get extra material at the corners, where force concentrates.
- Pole pockets. Sleeves along the top and bottom, or the sides, for a pipe or pole. They suit banners hung from a frame or bracket and keep the banner flat.
- Hanging method. Bungees let a banner flex in gusts, which takes stress off the grommets. Rigid ties on a windy wall pull grommets out faster.
We set the finishing based on where the banner will hang. Tell us the mounting surface (fence, wall, railing, or frame) and how exposed it is.
Sizes that read from the road
Banner size is set by two things: how far away people read it, and how much the city allows on that wall. A banner across a parking lot needs much larger letters than a banner beside the front door.
- Keep the message short. A grand opening banner needs the words "Grand Opening" or "Now Open," the business name, and maybe one more line. Phone numbers and long lists do not read from a moving car.
- Go big on the key words. The main message should take up most of the banner height. Letter height is what makes a banner readable, not banner width alone.
- Use high contrast. Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background. Brand colors work when the contrast holds.
- Plan to the allowance. On a single-story building, all banners on a facade together cannot exceed 48 square feet, so one 4 by 12 foot banner uses the whole allowance. On multi-story buildings, the limit is 96 square feet per facade.
Colorado Springs temporary banner rules
Under the Colorado Springs sign code adopted with Ordinance 26-01, banners on commercial and other non-single-family properties need a permit. The rules set size per facade, a yearly time limit, and where a banner can and cannot go. We confirm the current rules for each property before printing.
| Rule | What the code says |
|---|---|
| Permit | Required for banners |
| Size | 48 sq ft per facade on single-story buildings; 96 sq ft per facade on multi-story buildings |
| Number | Not limited, as long as the total size per facade is not exceeded |
| Duration | 120 days per calendar year in total |
| Placement | Not between T-posts or vehicles, not in landscaped areas, and not on utility poles or public infrastructure |
| Lighting | Temporary signs cannot be illuminated, animated, or reflective |
| Condition | Kept in good repair, without fraying, fading, or sagging |
Feather, wave, blade, and sword flags are prohibited under the current code, so they are not an option on a Colorado Springs storefront. Old banners left up past their allowed time can also hold up a permit for a permanent sign, because the city does not approve sign plans while illegal signs remain on the site. Our guide to sign permits after Ordinance 26-01 covers the full code, and properties outside city limits follow El Paso County rules instead.
Grand opening and coming-soon banners
The most common reason a business orders a banner is the gap between moving in and getting the permanent sign up. Permanent signs need design, a permit, and production, and permit review is usually the longest step. A banner tells people you are there in the meantime.
- Coming soon. Announces the business before opening and builds interest. Count the days it is up against the 120-day yearly total.
- Grand opening and now open. The highest-value banner most businesses buy. Plan it to go up the day you open and come down when the permanent sign is installed.
- Sale and seasonal. Short promotions are where the yearly time limit matters most, so plan the year's banners together.
As we read the code, it also allows a temporary banner identifying a business during a transition, as a condition of a sign permit, for up to 60 days. We can include that in the permanent sign submittal when it applies. Our sign permit services page explains how we handle permits. If you want temporary signage without a banner permit, window graphics up to 25 percent of the window area need no permit and can carry the same message.
Outdoor life and care
Banners are temporary by design, and their outdoor life depends mostly on wind, sun, and how they are hung. A banner on a sheltered wall can last through several uses, while one on an open fence in spring wind wears out much faster.
- Wind is the main wear. Constant flapping wears grommets and hems. Tight, even tension with bungees reduces it.
- UV fades color. At 6,035 feet, sun is stronger than at sea level, and south and west walls fade fastest.
- Store it right. Roll banners print side out around a tube rather than folding them, and store them dry. A creased or damp banner looks worn the next time it goes up.
- Replace it when it frays. The code requires temporary signs to be kept in good repair, without fraying, fading, or sagging, and a tired banner sends the wrong message anyway.
How a banner project runs
- Tell us where it will hangSend a photo of the wall, fence, or frame, the size you want, and how long it will be up.
- Estimate and depositYou receive a written estimate with material and finishing. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
- Design and proofWe lay out the banner for reading distance and send a proof for approval.
- Permit checkWe confirm the size against the facade allowance and help with the banner permit where it applies.
- Print, finish, and hangThe banner is printed, hemmed, and finished for its mounting. We can install it or you can hang it with the hardware provided.
Is a banner the right sign for you?
Banners are the right tool for short-term messages. They are the wrong tool for a permanent sign.
A good fit when
- You are opening soon and the permanent sign is still in permit review
- You are running a grand opening, event, or seasonal promotion
- You need a sign on a construction fence or a temporary location
- You need indoor event or trade show banners
Look elsewhere when
- You want the banner up all year, which exceeds the 120-day limit
- You want a feather flag, which the city prohibits
- You need a lit sign for night visibility
- You want to hang it on a light pole, utility pole, or in the right-of-way
The Short Version
- Solid vinyl gives the brightest color; mesh passes roughly 30 to 40 percent of the wind and suits fences and exposed walls.
- Wind slits create stress points; mesh and proper finishing are the better fix.
- Hems, reinforced corners, and grommets about every 2 feet keep outdoor banners up.
- Colorado Springs banners need a permit and are limited to 48 sq ft per facade on single-story buildings, 96 on multi-story.
- Banners can be displayed 120 days per calendar year in total, cannot be lit, and feather flags are prohibited.
- Window graphics up to 25 percent of the window need no permit and can carry the same message.
Where this information comes from
- APG project records for banner production and installation, Colorado Springs office.
- City of Colorado Springs Unified Development Code, Part 13 Signs, temporary sign standards (Ordinance 26-01): amlegal.com.
- City of Colorado Springs sign application guidance: coloradosprings.gov/signapp.
- Banners.com, mesh vs vinyl banners for windy areas: banners.com.
- NameBadge, mesh vs solid vinyl banners: namebadge.com.
Common questions
Banners FAQ
Who makes banners in Colorado Springs?
APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics produces vinyl and mesh banners in Colorado Springs for grand openings, coming-soon announcements, events, and promotions, finished with hems, grommets, and pole pockets for outdoor use.
Do I need a permit for a banner in Colorado Springs?
Yes. Under the current Colorado Springs sign code, banners on commercial and other non-single-family properties need a permit, and the total banner area on each facade must stay within the allowed size.
How big can a banner be in Colorado Springs?
In Colorado Springs, total banner area is limited to 48 square feet per facade on a single-story building and 96 square feet per facade on a multi-story building. The number of banners is not limited as long as the total stays within that size.
How long can a banner stay up in Colorado Springs?
In Colorado Springs, banners can be displayed for a maximum of 120 days per calendar year in total. The limit applies across the year, so a coming-soon banner, a grand opening banner, and a sale banner all count toward the same 120 days.
Are feather flags allowed in Colorado Springs?
No. The current Colorado Springs sign code prohibits feather, wave, blade, and sword banners.
Should I use a mesh banner or a vinyl banner?
Use mesh on fences, open lots, and large or exposed building faces, because it lets roughly 30 to 40 percent of the wind pass through. Use solid vinyl for the brightest color and sharpest detail on sheltered walls and indoors.
Do wind slits help a vinyl banner in the wind?
Not much. Wind slits let only a small amount of air through a vinyl banner, and the cuts become stress points where tears start. Mesh material and proper hems, corners, and grommets do a better job on windy sites.
Where can't I hang a banner in Colorado Springs?
In Colorado Springs, banners cannot be hung between T-posts or vehicles, in landscaped areas, or on utility poles, signposts, or other public infrastructure. Temporary signs also cannot be illuminated or animated.
Is there a way to advertise a grand opening without a banner permit?
Yes. Window signs covering up to 25 percent of a ground-floor window do not need a permit in Colorado Springs, so window graphics can carry a grand opening message while the permanent sign is in review.
Opening soon?
Tell the street you are here.
Send a photo of where the banner will hang, the size you want, and your opening date. Our team will check the size against the city allowance and send a written estimate. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.