PROHIBITED SIGNS
Colorado Springs City Code § 7.4.1308
in effect7.4.1308: PROHIBITED SIGNS:
The following signs and sign types are prohibited:
A. Any sign erected or painted upon light poles, retaining walls, fences, rocks, trees, or natural features, unless the sign is otherwise permitted by this part.
B. Any rotating, pulsating, or oscillating beacon of light, searchlight, or HID strobe light, or any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of varying intensity or projecting imagery, except as used by law enforcement or other governmental actors or agents performing official duties.
C. Any sign with a digital electronic message that changes in any manner, except those permitted by this part.
D. Any sign with direct or indirect lighting that causes glare into or upon any residential lot or tract adjacent to the lot or tract where the sign is located.
E. Any private sign that is an imitation of an official government street, protective, or warning sign and placed such that the sign may cause traffic or other hazards, including, but not limited to, signs that are copies of or likely to be confused with any official government street, protective, or warning sign.
F. The parking of any motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailers, semi-trailers, portable storage units, or other movable devices in a manner that constitutes a freestanding or off premises sign.
G. Any sign attached directly to a flat roof.
H. Animated Sign: A sign with visibly moving, revolving, or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means, or signs with optical illusion of movement by means of a design that presents a pattern capable of reversible perspective giving the illusion of motion or changeable copy, except for traditional barber poles and gauges and dials that may be animated to the extent necessary to display correct measurement.
I. Any sign that is structurally unsafe, is not maintained, is dilapidated, has a missing sign face, or otherwise constitutes a hazard to health or safety.
J. Feather, wave, blade, or sword banners and signs.
K. Pavement markings being used as anything other than traffic control, such as colored logos, lettering, or branding.
L. Signs on City property or public rights-of-way without an approved revocable permit.
M. Nonconforming, Abandoned, And Nuisance Signs:
1. Nonconforming Signs:
a. Any legally established sign in existence when this part is enacted, which does not conform with the standards or rules of this part, shall be considered legal-nonconforming and may remain in the same location so long as:
(1) The sign is not raised, lowered, removed, replaced, structurally altered, or abandoned.
(2) If fifty percent (50%) or more of the sign area of a legal-nonconforming sign is destroyed, regardless of fault, the nonconforming sign may not be repaired and shall be removed.
b. A legal-nonconforming sign may continue in existence and function only if the sign is maintained and kept in good condition. Should a legal-nonconforming sign not comply with this section, said sign will no longer be considered legal-nonconforming and must be brought into compliance with this part.
2. Abandoned Signs:
a. A sign is abandoned if it is no longer in use by the person or entity displaying it.
b. Signs that will be used by a new person or entity may remain in place, but the sign face must be replaced as applicable and be kept in good condition.
3. Nuisance Signs: Signs abandoned for a period of thirty (30) or more days are hereby declared a nuisance. The Building Official or Manager may require abandoned signs be replaced or removed by the property owner. (Ord. 26-01)
Source: City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/coloradospringsco/latest/coloradosprings_co/0-0-0-53726Fetched: 11/1/2026