Channel Letter Signs
in Colorado Springs
Channel letter signs in Colorado Springs are individually fabricated three-dimensional letters, lit from inside with LED and mounted on your storefront. The retail standard here because they read cleanly at four in the afternoon and at nine at night.
These ranges and lead times are typical and are not project specific estimates. Full sign type pricing is on the custom signs page.
Front-lit or halo-lit,
and why it matters
Same fabrication, different direction of light, and a completely different look after dark. Most sets are one or the other, and combination sets do both.
Raceway or mounted to the wall?
A raceway is an enclosure the letters mount to, carrying wiring and power supplies inside so the building takes one penetration instead of many. Plenty of landlords require one, because it limits damage to the facade and comes off cleanly at the end of a lease.
Mounting letters individually looks cleaner, with nothing behind them but the wall. It needs more penetrations, more wall repair later, and landlord approval that is not always given.
A backer panel sits between the two: letters mounted to a shaped panel, which reads as deliberate and keeps the wall work in one place.
What LED changed
Lower draw, and serviceable. All illuminated signs use LED modules and remote power supplies, a lower draw than the neon and fluorescent they replaced, and serviceable without pulling the whole set down.
Even fill matters more than brightness. Modules have to be spaced for the letter shape, or you get hot spots down the middle of a wide letter and dead corners in a tight one.
Colorado winters test power supplies. A supply that dies in a January cold snap is one of the most common service calls in this trade, which is why they are mounted to be reached without a full teardown.
The part that takes the longest.
We prepare the City of Colorado Springs or El Paso County application and the landlord submission when required. Here is what you are actually waiting on.
A new sign code, as of February 2026
The City completed a repeal and replace of its sign code in February 2026 and adopted Sign Ordinance No. 26-01. Current thresholds are published in the municipal sign code, and we confirm against the current code on every project.
Wall area is calculated, not chosen
Allowable sign square footage comes from the use of the property and the length of the wall the sign sits on. Which means the answer to how big your sign can be is a measurement, not a preference.
Landlord criteria come first
Most multi-tenant properties set their own sign criteria covering size, style and mounting, and those are often stricter than the city. If a landlord requires a sign type we do not offer, we review the requirements and discuss the options with you.
Engineering and electrical
Some sign projects require engineered drawings based on the sign type, size, mounting method, and site conditions. We confirm the applicable requirements as part of the project review. Sign addressing in this region falls under the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.
If you need signage up quickly while a permanent sign goes through review, window graphics are usually the answer. Window signs do not need a permit, but they are capped at 25 percent of the window, first-floor glass only.
Channel letter signs in Colorado Springs: common questions
How much do channel letter signs cost in Colorado Springs?
Most illuminated commercial signs in Colorado Springs range from $8,000 to $15,000. Letter height and count, whether the set is front-lit or halo-lit, the mounting method, electrical work, engineering where it is required, permitting and access equipment all move the number. These ranges are typical and are not project specific estimates.
What is the difference between front-lit and halo-lit letters?
Front-lit letters have a translucent acrylic face held by a trim cap, with LEDs inside the aluminum return, so the face itself glows. Halo-lit letters, also called reverse-lit, have a solid metal face and are mounted off the wall on standoffs, so the light spills backward and outlines each letter against the building. Front-lit reads more strongly from distance and is the retail standard. Halo-lit reads as more understated and is common for professional offices.
How long does a channel letter project take?
Illuminated signs generally run four to eight weeks, and permit review is usually the longest part of that. Fabrication and installation are predictable. What is not predictable is how long the city and, on most multi-tenant properties, the landlord take to approve. Starting early is worth more than any production shortcut.
Do I need a permit for a channel letter sign in Colorado Springs?
Nearly every permanent exterior sign needs one. The City of Colorado Springs completed a repeal and replace of its sign code in February 2026 and adopted Sign Ordinance No. 26-01, and wall sign area is calculated from the use of the property and the length of the wall the sign sits on. Most multi-tenant properties also have landlord sign criteria that set size, style and mounting. We prepare the application and the landlord submission, and your estimate spells out exactly what is included.
What is a raceway and do I need one?
A raceway is an enclosure that the letters mount to, carrying the wiring and power supplies inside it so the building only needs one penetration. Many landlords require a raceway because it limits damage to the facade and is simpler to remove at the end of a lease. Mounting letters individually to the wall looks cleaner and needs more penetrations and more wall work. The building and the lease usually decide, not preference.
APG primarily installs signage produced as part of our own projects, because the installation falls under our permit. Exceptions may be considered for established national brands when complete shop drawings and specifications are provided. Each project is reviewed before we accept the installation.
Every sign type, materials and full pricing sit on the custom signs page. Interior work is on ADA and interior signs.
Matching the trucks to the building? See vehicle wraps, and finished projects in the portfolio.
Get a free quote on
your storefront sign.
Send a photo of the building and the approximate size you have in mind. We will come back with a permit read and a real estimate. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00 · By appointment only