Yard Signs & Job Site Signs in Colorado Springs
Corrugated plastic and aluminum yard signs for contractors, job sites, events, and listings, printed in quantity and built to handle Colorado sun and wind.
APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics produces yard signs in Colorado Springs for contractors, job sites, events, and property listings. Most yard signs are 4 mm corrugated plastic on wire H-stakes, which typically lasts six to eighteen months outdoors; aluminum signs last five years or more and suit signs that stay up longer. The Colorado Springs sign code treats yard and job site signs as short-term signs that must be on private property and removed after the project, sale, or event ends. The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department does not require a building permit for one temporary freestanding sign per year up to 7 feet tall and 32 square feet. Keep signs out of the public right-of-way unless the city has given permission.
A yard sign is one of the least expensive ways to tell a whole street who did the work. It only works if it is still standing and still legible when the neighbors walk by.
Contractors know the pattern. A roof goes on, a fence goes up, a kitchen gets remodeled, and the neighbors want to know who did it. A yard sign in the front yard answers that question for weeks, at a low cost per sign. Real estate agents, political campaigns, schools, and event organizers use the same format for the same reason.
This page covers yard sign materials and how long they last in Colorado Springs sun and wind, common sizes, ordering in quantity, and the rules for where temporary signs can go. For larger signs on construction fences and job sites, see our construction site signs page.
- Provider
- APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics, Colorado Springs, CO
- Materials
- 4 mm corrugated plastic, aluminum, and rigid PVC
- Hardware
- Wire H-stakes, step stakes, and metal frames
- Typical life
- Corrugated plastic six to eighteen months outdoors; aluminum five years or more
- Printing
- Single- or double-sided, in quantity runs
- City rules
- Short-term signs must be on private property and removed after the project, sale, or event
- PPRBD
- No building permit for one temporary freestanding sign per year up to 7 ft tall and 32 sq ft
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00, by appointment only
Materials and how long they last in Colorado
Corrugated plastic is the standard yard sign material because it is light, inexpensive, waterproof, and easy to stake. For a sign that stays up longer than a season, aluminum is the better investment.
| Material | What it is | Typical outdoor life | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrugated plastic | 4 mm fluted plastic board, printed on one or both sides | Six to eighteen months | Job site signs, events, campaigns, listings |
| Rigid PVC | Solid foam PVC board | Two to five years | Signs that need a smoother, sturdier face |
| Aluminum | Thin aluminum sheet, often 0.040 inch | Five years or more | Long-running signs, permanent property signs, rider signs on frames |
Those ranges come from general industry guidance, and Colorado Springs is harder on signs than many places. UV is stronger at 6,035 feet, which fades ink faster, and spring wind flexes corrugated plastic until the flutes crack at the stakes. South- and west-facing signs fade first. For a sign that will sit in a yard more than a few months, a UV laminate or aluminum keeps it legible longer. Our guide to what UV at 6,035 feet does to vinyl explains the altitude effect.
Sizes and stakes
The common yard sign is 18 by 24 inches, which fits a standard H-stake and reads well from a slow car. Larger sizes suit wider lots and busier streets.
- 18 x 24 inches. The standard for contractor, campaign, and event signs. It fits a standard 10 by 30 inch H-stake.
- 24 x 36 inches. More room for a logo and phone number; better for corner lots and busier streets.
- Larger panels. Signs over 24 by 36 inches usually need two stakes, a frame, or posts to stay upright in wind.
Wire H-stakes slide into the flutes of corrugated plastic from the bottom, so the flutes need to run vertically; we set that at production. Heavier step stakes hold better in hard, dry Colorado soil. Metal frames suit aluminum signs and listings where a rider panel gets added later.
Job site signs for contractors
A job site sign is some of the simplest marketing a contractor can buy. It sits in front of a project the neighbors are already watching, and it tells them who to call. The best ones carry very little text.
- What you do. "Roofing," "Fencing," or "Remodeling," large enough to read from the street.
- Who you are. The company name and logo, matching your trucks and website.
- How to reach you. One phone number or one web address, not both crammed in.
- Optional credibility. A license number or "Locally owned," if it fits.
Matching the yard sign to your vehicle graphics makes both work harder, because the neighbor who sees the truck in the driveway and the sign at the curb remembers one company. Our vehicle wraps page covers the truck side. Always get the property owner's permission before placing a sign, and pull it when the job is done.
Ordering in quantity
Yard signs are a quantity product. The per-sign cost usually drops as the run grows, because setup is similar whether you print ten signs or two hundred. Most contractors order enough for a season of jobs at once.
- One design, many signs. The same artwork on every sign keeps the run efficient. Versions with different phone numbers or offers add setup.
- Double-sided. Printing both sides lets a sign read in both directions of traffic, which is worth it for signs set perpendicular to the street.
- Stakes included. Order H-stakes with the signs so every sign is ready to place.
- Keep the file. We keep your artwork on file, so a reorder matches the first batch.
Proofs are sent for every new design, including any version changes. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
Temporary sign rules on private property
Yard and job site signs are temporary signs, and in Colorado Springs the sign code adopted with Ordinance 26-01 treats them as short-term signs. The code describes short-term signs as signs made of temporary materials, not permanently attached to the ground or a building, and associated with properties under construction or development, elections, and properties listed for sale or lease.
- Private property only. The code states that all short-term signs must be placed on private property.
- Removal. Short-term signs must come down at the earliest of a certificate of occupancy or final building inspection, the end of the sale or lease contract, or seven days after the event or activity.
- Size and number. The code table scales the allowed size and number of short-term signs by lot size, with a limit per lot and per street frontage. On single-family residential lots, short-term signs do not need a city permit. We confirm the current limits for the specific lot before a large order.
- General temporary sign rules. Temporary signs cannot be illuminated, animated, or reflective, cannot be attached to utility poles or public signposts, and must be kept in good repair.
Separately, the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department lists temporary freestanding signs, one per year, up to 7 feet tall and 32 square feet, among the items that do not need a building permit. That exemption covers the building permit only; the city's sign rules still apply. Properties outside city limits follow El Paso County rules. Our guide to sign permits after Ordinance 26-01 covers the rest of the code.
Right-of-way, HOAs, and where not to put signs
The most common yard sign problem is placement, not material. A sign in the wrong place can be pulled by the city, a utility crew, or an HOA, and the money spent on it is gone.
- Public right-of-way. The strip along the street, the parkway between the sidewalk and the curb, medians, and street corners are usually public right-of-way. Signs do not belong there without permission from the city.
- Utility poles and signposts. The code prohibits attaching temporary signs to utility poles, public infrastructure, and signposts.
- HOA rules. Many Colorado Springs neighborhoods have HOA covenants that limit yard sign size, number, and how long they stay up. Rules vary by association, so homeowners should check before a contractor sign goes in.
- Sight lines. Keep signs back from driveways and corners so they do not block a driver's view.
When the property line is unclear, set the sign well back toward the house. A sign a few feet inside the yard reads nearly as well as one near the curb and is far less likely to be removed.
How a yard sign order runs
- Send the detailsTell us the size, quantity, one or two sides, and how long the signs need to last, plus your logo files.
- Estimate and depositYou receive a written estimate with material and stakes. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
- Design and proofThe sign is laid out to read from the street and sent for approval.
- Print and finishSigns are printed, laminated if needed, and bundled with stakes or frames.
- PickupYour order is ready to pick up by appointment, and the artwork stays on file for reorders.
Are yard signs the right tool for you?
Yard signs work best for short, local campaigns where the sign sits close to the work.
A good fit when
- You are a contractor who wants every job site to advertise the next job
- You are promoting an event, open house, or campaign on private property
- You need a quantity of identical signs at a low cost per sign
- You want a short-term sign for a sale, listing, or project
Look elsewhere when
- You want signs along public streets or medians without permission
- The sign needs to stay up for years, which calls for aluminum or a permanent sign
- Your HOA prohibits the sign type or size
- You need a large job site sign on posts or a fence, which our construction site signs page covers
The Short Version
- Most yard signs are 4 mm corrugated plastic on H-stakes and last six to eighteen months outdoors.
- Aluminum yard signs last five years or more and suit signs that stay up longer.
- Colorado Springs UV and wind shorten sign life, especially on south- and west-facing signs.
- City code treats yard and job site signs as short-term signs that must be on private property.
- Short-term signs come down at final inspection, the end of a sale or lease, or seven days after an event.
- PPRBD does not require a building permit for one temporary freestanding sign per year up to 7 ft and 32 sq ft.
Where this information comes from
- APG production records for yard and job site signs, Colorado Springs office.
- City of Colorado Springs Unified Development Code, Part 13 Signs, temporary and short-term sign standards (Ordinance 26-01): amlegal.com.
- Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Permit Not Required list: pprbd.org.
- 4over4, aluminum vs coroplast vs PVC sign lifespan: 4over4.com.
- City of Colorado Springs sign application guidance: coloradosprings.gov/signapp.
Common questions
Yard Signs FAQ
Who prints yard signs in Colorado Springs?
APG: Advanced Printing and Graphics prints corrugated plastic, PVC, and aluminum yard signs in Colorado Springs for contractors, job sites, events, and listings, in single signs or quantity runs with stakes.
How long do corrugated plastic yard signs last?
Corrugated plastic yard signs typically last six to eighteen months outdoors. In Colorado Springs, strong UV at altitude and spring wind can shorten that, especially on south- and west-facing signs.
What size is a standard yard sign?
The standard yard sign is 18 by 24 inches on a 10 by 30 inch wire H-stake. A larger 24 by 36 inch sign suits corner lots and busier streets.
Do yard signs need a permit in Colorado Springs?
Under the current Colorado Springs sign code, short-term yard signs on single-family residential lots do not need a city permit, but they must be on private property and removed on time. Size and number limits scale by lot size, so larger or commercial sites should be checked first.
Can I put a yard sign in the strip between the sidewalk and the street?
Usually not. The strip between the sidewalk and the street is usually public right-of-way, and yard signs do not belong there without permission from the city. The Colorado Springs code requires short-term signs to be placed on private property.
When does a job site sign have to come down?
Under the Colorado Springs code, short-term signs must be removed at the earliest of a certificate of occupancy or final building inspection, the end of the sale or lease contract, or seven days after the event or activity.
Does PPRBD require a permit for a temporary sign?
The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department does not require a building permit for one temporary freestanding sign per year that is no more than 7 feet tall and 32 square feet. City sign rules still apply.
Can my HOA restrict contractor yard signs?
Yes, in many cases. Many HOAs set rules on yard sign size, number, and display time. Rules vary by association, so homeowners should check their covenants before a contractor sign is placed.
Should I choose aluminum or corrugated plastic for a yard sign?
Choose corrugated plastic for short-term yard signs and large quantities at a low cost. Choose aluminum for signs that stay up longer, since aluminum typically lasts five years or more outdoors.
Planning a season of jobs?
Let every job sell the next one.
Send your logo files, the size and quantity you need, and how long the signs need to last. Our team will send a written estimate with material and stake options. Once the estimate is approved and the deposit is received, our team will begin the design and proofing process.
From the guide library