# Sign Regulations in Vail, Colorado

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Vail, Colorado, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Vail, Colorado (CO)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/colorado/vail
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Vail, Colorado regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Flag (Noncommercial)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Flagpole max 25 ft; 8 ft clearance over walkways; 15 ft clearance over streets tall and 24 sq ft (Sec. § 11-7-1 (E)). Most commercial signs in Vail require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | Flagpole max 25 ft; 8 ft clearance over walkways; 15 ft clearance over streets | 24 sq ft | — |
| Sign District 1 (SD 1) | 6 | Max 25 ft above grade; min 8 ft clearance over pedestrian ways, 15 ft over vehicular ways | 6 sq ft per public entrance (at DRB discretion) | — |
| Sign District 2 (SD 2), Property zoned ABD, Property zoned CC3, Property zoned PA-2 | 6 | Max 25 ft above grade; min 8 ft above pedestrian ways, 15 ft over vehicular ways | 6 sq ft | — |
| Ski Base Overlay Sign District (SBO) | 1 | Awning, projecting, wall, electronic: min 8 ft clearance above pedestrianways, 15 ft above vehicularways, and not more than 25 ft above grade | Subject to design review | — |
| Residential zone districts | 2 | 8 ft above grade | 20 sq ft combined | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag (Noncommercial) | Flagpole max 25 ft; 8 ft clearance over walkways; 15 ft clearance over streets | 24 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited | On property; if projecting over public area, clearance requirements apply | — | § 11-7-1 (E) |
| Flag (Commercial) | Flagpole max 25 ft; 8 ft clearance over walkways; 15 ft clearance over streets | 24 sq ft | — | — | 2 | On property; if projecting over public area, clearance requirements apply | — | § 11-7-1 (A), (D) |
| Open House Sign | 4 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per actively listed property | At street corner from main entrance access; must not obstruct traffic or right-of-way | — | § 11-7-6 |
| Balloon (Special Event) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 11-7-7 |
| Additional Temporary Sign | 4 ft for freestanding | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 11-7-11 |

### Sign District 1 (SD 1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | Max 25 ft above grade; min 8 ft clearance over pedestrian ways, 15 ft over vehicular ways | 6 sq ft per public entrance (at DRB discretion) | — | — | 1 per public entrance | On business frontage | — | § 11-6-2 (A)(1) |
| Display Box | 6 ft above existing grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On business frontage | — | § 11-6-2 (B) |
| Window Sign | Top not more than 25 ft above grade | 6 sq ft per sign; all window signs < 15% window area | — | — | Not regulated (see area rule) | On or within 3 ft of window, visible from outside | — | § 11-6-2 (C) |
| Building Identification Sign - Wall Mounted | 25 ft above grade | See formula | — | — | 1 per building frontage (max 2) | On building frontages; up to 2 if building has two eligible frontages | — | § 11-6-3 (B)(1),(3)(b) |
| Building Identification Sign - Freestanding | 8 ft above grade | See formula | — | — | 1 per building frontage (max 2) | On building frontage facing major pedestrian or vehicular way | — | § 11-6-3 (B)(1),(3)(a) |
| Joint Directory Sign | 8 ft above grade | Variable | — | — | 1 per building, or 2 if >150 ft combined frontage | On building; 1 per building, or 2 if combined linear frontage >150 ft | — | § 11-6-3 (B)(3)(c) |

### Sign District 2 (SD 2), Property zoned ABD, Property zoned CC3, Property zoned PA-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | Max 25 ft above grade; min 8 ft above pedestrian ways, 15 ft over vehicular ways | See formula; per sign not specified, but one sign per business frontage, max 3 signs | — | — | 1 per business frontage (max 3) | On business frontage | — | § 11-6-2 (A)(2) |
| Display Box | 6 ft above existing grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On business frontage | — | § 11-6-2 (B) |
| Window Sign | Top not more than 25 ft above grade | 6 sq ft per sign; all window signs < 15% window area | — | — | Not regulated (see area rule) | On or within 3 ft of window, visible from outside | — | § 11-6-2 (C) |
| Building Identification Sign - Wall Mounted | 25 ft above grade | See formula | — | — | 1 per building frontage (max 2) | On building frontages; up to 2 if building has two eligible frontages | — | § 11-6-3 (B)(2),(3)(b) |
| Building Identification Sign - Freestanding | 8 ft above grade | See formula | — | — | 1 per building frontage (max 2) | On building frontage facing major pedestrian or vehicular way | — | § 11-6-3 (B)(2),(3)(a) |
| Joint Directory Sign | 8 ft above grade | Variable | — | — | 1 per building, or 2 if >150 ft frontage | On building; 1 per building, or 2 if combined linear frontage >150 ft | — | § 11-6-3 (B)(3)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Vail

- Animated signs that incorporate the use of movement (aside from natural wind induced movement) through revolving, rotating or otherwise moving parts.
- Signs with the illusion of movement.
- Signs (or the illumination thereof) that flash, pulse, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker or vary in intensity and/or color.
- Signs that incorporate projected images, emit any sound, or involve the use of live animals.
- Any sign for a business or service having been vacated for 90 or more days. (Does not apply to permanent signs of seasonal businesses with intent to continue.)
- Any sign or structure that is unsafe or constitutes a hazard to safety for any reason.
- Any gas filled, illuminated or fiber optic sign that is less than four feet from a window.
- Any sign or structure that obstructs ingress to or egress from a required exitway, that obstructs the view of vehicular traffic entering or exiting a public roadway, or that creates an unsafe distraction for motor vehicle operators.
- Any sign that could be confused with an official government sign (such as a traffic sign) but is not.
- Any off-premises sign that is not otherwise regulated by this title.
- All billboards.
- Pennants, banners and bunting that are not associated with a special event permit.
- Any dry erase or chalk board not approved by the provisions of this title as a specials board.
- Vehicular signs as defined by this title.
- Signs shall be constructed on private property outside of the town right-of-way and shall not project onto the town right-of-way except when permitted under a licensing agreement or a revocable right-of-way permit.
- Fluorescent, Day-Glo® and neon colors are prohibited, unless the owner of the sign has a copyright to such color.
- Sign surfaces that reflect light are prohibited and shall instead be comprised of matte or flat finishes.
- Internal illumination and fluorescent/neon light sources are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Vail

- Memorial signs, dedication plaques or tablets.
- Government signs and signs erected by government employees in the course of their work, including directional signs, to control traffic or for other regulatory purposes.
- A mural that has received approval by the Art in Public Places Board.
- Temporary decorations or displays, when they are commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday.
- Temporary or permanent signs erected by public utility companies or construction companies to warn of dangerous or hazardous conditions.
- Signage and decorations subject to a special event permit through the Town of Vail.
- Private warning signs.
- Noncommercial flags: these are unlimited in number (must conform to dimensional standards), are exempt from DRB (Design Review Board) review, but flagpoles and mounting structures require a building permit.
- Flags used for the purpose of promoting community activities or sponsors are exempt from the application procedure and require only a special events permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs in the Town of Vail are subject to the design guidelines and standards (Chapter 5 of this title) and design review.
- Any sign erected within the Town of Vail shall be regulated by this title and is subject to design review by staff and/or Design Review Board.
- A sign application for the erection of an individual sign consists of an application for design review.
- Each sign application is subject to staff review and, when applicable, Design Review Board (DRB) review.
- If a sign application does not clearly meet design guidelines and standards, or is denied by staff, it must go before the Design Review Board or may require a variance (Chapter 10).
- Sign programs (master sign plans) are required for all new or demolished/rebuilt multi-family residential and commercial projects; may be required for significant new developments or redevelopments at the discretion of staff.
- Existing multi-tenant commercial buildings are required to submit a sign program when applying for new signage.
- A sign program is required for the Ski Base Area in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 8.
- All sign programs (master sign plans) must go through the design review process.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Vail — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Vail+CO&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-vail

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