Colorado · Sign permitting

Commercial sign permits in Colorado.

Commercial sign permitting in Colorado is governed almost entirely at the city or county level through municipal land-use codes, so requirements, fees, and timelines vary sharply by jurisdiction. On private property a sign typically needs a zoning/sign permit plus, where applicable, a building permit and a separate electrical permit for illumination. A distinctive statewide layer applies to off-premise/paid signage near state highways, regulated by CDOT.

What makes Colorado different

Colorado's patchwork is steep: a Front Range commercial corridor, a Boulder historic block, and an Aspen resort core operate under entirely different codes, review bodies, and timelines, so a sign that's over-the-counter in one city can take months of design review in another (Aspen's Historic Preservation Commission agendas can be booked months out).
Colorado's 2021 Outdoor Advertising Act amendment (SB21-263) changed the trigger for a state CDOT billboard permit from the old on-premise/off-premise line to whether the display is paid or compensated, a content-neutral test the 10th Circuit upheld in 2023.
One illuminated sign commonly needs three separate approvals — a zoning/sign permit, a building permit, and an electrical permit — and Denver notes a sign exempt from one code may still require a permit under another.

Statewide rules that apply broadly

CDOT outdoor advertising

Off-premise/paid signage near state highways requires a CDOT Outdoor Advertising permit; signs within 660 feet of highway right-of-way are subject to size, lighting, and spacing controls under the federal Highway Beautification Act. Since SB21-263 (2021), the test for whether a CDOT permit is required turns on whether the display is paid or compensated rather than on-premise versus off-premise.

The typical permit process

01Determine the property's zoning district and confirm the sign type, size, height, and illumination are allowed under the local sign code.
02Submit a sign/zoning permit application with a site plan and sign drawings to the city's development-review office; some cities (Denver) review zoning submissions same-day, others run a multi-day to multi-week plan check.
03Obtain a building permit where required (in Colorado Springs no sign permit issues until the building permit, if applicable, has been issued).
04Obtain a separate electrical permit for any illuminated or electrically connected sign.
05If the property is in a historic or landmark district, secure historic design review first (a Certificate of Appropriateness in Denver, a Landmark Alteration Certificate in Boulder, Historic Preservation Commission review in Aspen).
06If the sign projects into the public right-of-way, obtain a right-of-way or revocable permit from the transportation department.
07For off-premise/paid signage near a state highway, apply separately to CDOT for an Outdoor Advertising permit, then install and pass inspections.

Notable jurisdictions

Denver

Signs are governed by the Denver Zoning Code. A zoning permit is required for most private-property signs and is often reviewed in person the same day; separate building and electrical permits apply, right-of-way signs need a Department of Transportation and Infrastructure permit, and historic districts require a Certificate of Appropriateness from Landmark Preservation. Certain temporary on-site signs are allowed up to 45 days without a permit.

Colorado Springs

Signs are regulated under the Unified Development Code. A sign plan approval and sign permit are required before erecting any non-exempt sign, and no sign permit issues until the building permit (if applicable) has been issued. Review runs through the Development Review Enterprise's online portal.

Boulder

The sign code (B.R.C. 9-9-21) has detailed exemptions. Landmarks and Historic Preservation District properties need a Landmark Alteration Certificate before permitting, and projecting or suspended signs crossing into city right-of-way need a revocable permit; the downtown pedestrian area adds right-of-way lease requirements.

Aspen

A resort/historic-district regime where most exterior changes, including signage, trigger design review against the city's commercial and historic design standards. Historic Preservation Commission agendas can be booked months ahead, materially lengthening timelines, and historic-district signage favors muted, non-illuminated designs.

Fort Collins

Sign regulations sit within the city Land Use Code, administered as zoning permits through development-review services. Confirming the statewide pattern that even mid-size Front Range cities run signs through their own code rather than a state standard.

On timelines

Timelines are highly jurisdiction-dependent. Denver states most zoning permit submissions are reviewed the same day in person, while larger, illuminated, freestanding, or right-of-way signs — and anything triggering historic/landmark review — commonly run several weeks because of stacked reviews. In resort towns like Aspen, historic commission calendars can be booked months out. Treat any single number as an estimate and confirm with the specific city.

What adds review, time, or cost

An illuminated sign commonly needs three approvals: a zoning/sign permit, a building permit, and an electrical permit.
Historic and landmark overlays require design review before the permit (Denver Certificate of Appropriateness, Boulder Landmark Alteration Certificate, Aspen HPC).
Signs projecting into the public right-of-way require a separate right-of-way or revocable permit.
Off-premise/paid signage near a state highway requires a CDOT Outdoor Advertising permit.

Cities set their own exemptions. Denver, for example, allows certain temporary on-site commercial signs without a permit for up to 45 days and exempts very small projecting and real-estate signs from zoning permits. A sign exempt from one code may still need a permit under another. Confirm locally.

Questions people ask

When do I need a state (CDOT) sign permit in Colorado?

For off-premise or paid signage near a state highway. Since the 2021 Outdoor Advertising Act amendment (SB21-263), the test is whether the display is paid or compensated rather than the old on-premise/off-premise distinction, a content-neutral approach the 10th Circuit upheld in 2023.

How many permits does an illuminated sign need in Colorado?

Commonly three: a zoning/sign permit, a building permit, and a separate electrical permit. Historic districts and right-of-way projections add further approvals.

Why does Aspen take so long?

Aspen routes most exterior changes, including signs, through Historic Preservation Commission design review, and its HPC agendas can be booked months ahead, so timelines there run far longer than a Front Range commercial corridor.

Sources

Informational only, not legal advice. Sign codes and fees change and vary by jurisdiction — confirm current requirements with the local department before you rely on them.

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