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Banners on Main Street
The City of Aspen provides space to hang banners and flags on the Main Street and in the downtown core on Light Posts with the intent of celebrating significant anniversaries of local non-profit organizations and for prominent local, regional, national, and international events.
Reservations will be taken each year on the first business day in November for the upcoming year.
Spaces are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis with preference as follows:
- Non-profit events within Aspen which are free to the public;
- Free community events taking place within Aspen sponsored by a non-profit;
- Non-profit events that take place in Aspen and charge a fee for participation;
- Free community events sponsored by other than a non-profit taking place within Aspen;
- Events taking place outside of the City are considered last.
All applications must be submitted online and paid in full prior to hang date. Please click on the banner type you wish to submit an application for.
Aspen is proposing updates to the Banner Program to improve installation, broaden participation, and make applications and payments simpler—public feedback is encouraged.
Aspen is considering updates to the Banner Program and invites community input. Proposed changes include:
- Using mesh material for easier installation and to support the recycled‑bag initiative
- Increasing the number of banner spaces; moving to single‑sided banners (retiring double‑sided) to accommodate more applicants
- Revising fees (Main Street single‑sided from $67/week to $150/week; light‑pole banners from $20/pole to $40/pole, with the 30‑pole total from $600 to $1,200)
- Transitioning applications and payments to the Aspen Permitting Portal for streamlined online submissions, secure payment, and improved reservation tracking
Please submit comments via email, engineeringhelp@aspen.gov. Please submit by Feb 1,2026
Light Pole Banners/Flag
Online Form
Fill out our online form if you are interested in banners or flags on light posts along main street and in the downtown core. Please make sure to read our provided policies on this page.
Light Pole Flag Policies
The City of Aspen provides space to hang flags in the downtown core on Light Posts with the intent of celebrating significant anniversaries of local non-profit organizations beginning at the 10th year anniversary and for prominent local, regional, national, and international events. Banner and flag applicants shall be handled on a first come, first serve basis. Applicants may be asked to alternate light posts with other organizations. The City reserves the right to prioritize City sponsored events over other applicants.
The City of Aspen Engineering department will facilitate the hanging of banners and flags on light posts
in accordance with Municipal Code 26.510.030 (B)(3), which states “any such temporary sign which extends over or onto a public right-of-way shall be erected and maintained in such a manner as to not interfere with or obstruct access, activity, or vision along any such public right-of-way and shall be subject to the written approval of the Engineering Department.”
Applicants are required to submit an application to the Engineering Department showing the dimensions, design and colors of the proposed banners or flags at least three (3) months prior to the event.
The following criteria and procedures shall apply to all requests for flag placement on light posts:
- The applicant shall be required to submit and application to the Engineering Department office showing the dimensions, design and colors of the proposed banners or flags at least three (3) months prior to the event.
- Commercial advertising may not take up more than 30% of the total banner and/or flag area.
- Political advertising on or located in the public right-of-way on public property (even by a non-profit organization) is prohibited per the Aspen Municipal Code 26.510.120 © (3)(b)(2).
Time Limit for Display
The display of banners and flags on the Main Street light posts shall not exceed fourteen (14) days or the duration of the event, whichever is less.
Banner and flag approvals are not guaranteed and will only be hung upon availability of the Electric and/or Parks Department staff. The length of time that a banner is to be hung is not guaranteed, and may be shortened at the discretion of the City. The Engineering Department may determine which banners are to be given priority when there are multiple requests for the same time period
Reservations will be taken each year on the first Monday in November for the upcoming year.
Size and Material Requirements
All proposed banners should meet the City’s specifications for size, mounting and material.
- Banners shall be 2’ in width by 4’ in height to be compatible with the mounting system on the light posts.
- Must have a 2 inch pocket to slide into the lightpole
- Must have 1 inch grommets (see placements below)
- Banners and flags must be made of nylon, plastic or similar durable material. Paper is not allowed.
- Please note, we cannot hang banners that are incorrect size/material, and are not responsible for for any reimbursement shall this be the case.
Fees
An installation fee of $20 per flag shall be charged. There are a total of thirty (30) light posts on Main Street and in the downtown core with brackets for mounting flags.
*Please note that, reservations for the 14 day allowed period may not be booked back to back.
Payments must be made in full prior to hang dates.
Only checks accepted. All checks should be dropped off at City Hall (427 Rio Grande Place) attention Engineering Department.
Drop Off
Flags shall be delivered to the Electric Department at 219 Puppy Smith Road one (1) week prior to the event.
A late fee of $100 will be imposed if banners/flags are not delivered on time. Late banners and flags will be hung based on availability of City of Aspen staff.
Pick Up
Banners and flags must be picked up within one week (1) after the display period. The City of Aspen assumes no responsibility for and may discard banners left over 7 days
Main Street Banners
Online Form
Fill out the Banner Application online. Be sure to read the policy document thoroughly.
Main Street Banner Policies
The City of Aspen provides space for banners across Main Street with the intent of advertising events for non-profit organizations. The City of Aspen Engineering Department will facilitate the hanging of banners across Main Street in accordance with Municipal Code 26.510.030 (B)(3), which states, “any such temporary sign which extends over or onto a public right-of-way shall be erected and maintained in such a manner as to not interfere with or obstruct access, activity, or vision along any such public right-of-way, and shall be subject to the written approval of the City of Aspen.”
The following criteria and procedures shall apply to all requests for banner placement over Main Street:
- A Main Street Banner Application and Banner Policy and Procedure form must be obtained from the City of Aspen Engineering Office and completed by the party making the request and returned to the City of Aspen Engineering office no less than thirty (30) days prior to the date requested to hang the banner.
- The exact legend of the banner must be indicated in writing (see specific area on application form or attach separate sheet). For your benefit, it is found that banners are most visually effective when kept simple; i.e., event, date, organization and logo.
- No commercial advertising will be allowed, except in cases where a sponsoring entity's name is part of the name of the event. In such cases, the organization promoting the event may not construct the banner such that sponsoring entity's commercial name is the most overwhelming aspect of the banner and the sponsor's name and logo shall be no more than thirty percent (30%) of area of the sign.
- No political advertising on or located in the public right-of-way on public property (even by a non-profit organization) is prohibited per Aspen Municipal Code 26.510.120 (C)(2)(b)(2).
Time Restrictions
One banner, per event, may be hung for a maximum of 14 days or the length of the event, as per Municipal Code 26.510.030 (B)(3)(b). Banner approvals and placement are not guaranteed and will only be hung upon availability of the Electric Department staff.
The length of time that a banner is to be hung is not guaranteed and may be shortened at the discretion of the City. Based on his/her judgment as to the best interest of the City, the Engineering Department may determine which banners are to be given priority when there are multiple requests for the same time period.
Only single-sided spaces are available during the months of January, February, March, June, July, and August. Double-sided spaces are available the remaining months in the year. Spaces are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis.
Reservations will be taken each year on the first Monday in November for the upcoming year.
Banners specifications
- We are transitioning to mesh banners to be the required standard material for all banners
- semi-circular wind holes in banner; only needed if not using mesh material
- metal rivets at all corners, and every 24 inches along the top and bottom of the banner; and
- size will be twelve (12) feet in length and three (3) feet in width.
- For a local banner vendor, please contact the Yellow Pages under “Banners”
- Please note, we cannot hang banners that are incorrect size/material, and are not responsible for for any reimbursement shall this be the case.
Fees
- Single Sided Banners: A fee of $67 per week
- Double Sided Banners: A fee of $165 per week
Payments must be made in full (30) days prior to hang date.
Only checks accepted. All checks should be dropped off at City Hall (427 Rio Grande Place) attention Engineering Department.
All organizations will be charged the same rate, accordingly.
Drop Off
All banners should be delivered directly to the City Electric Department, located at 219 Puppy Smith Road, by noon the Friday prior to the Monday hang date.
Any banner not delivered by noon on Friday is subject to an additional $50 charge.
Pick Up
Banners must be picked up from the Electric Department within three (3) days after the display week(s).
The City of Aspen assumes no responsibility for banners, and any banners left more than seven (7) days will be repurposed or discarded.
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Physical Address
427 Rio Grande Place
Aspen, CO 81611
Mailing Address
427 Rio Grande
Aspen, CO 81611
Phone: 970-920-5080