By Azabache Producciones on
Medellín separates signs by area: the district process changes at 8 m²
In Medellín, a sign’s area determines its application form, while electrical review depends on the design and installation.
A 7.9 m² sign and an 8 m² sign do not use the same application form in Medellín. The city distinguishes applications for signs under 8 m² from those for visual outdoor advertising of 8 m² or more, so size is more than a design decision.
Sign installation also involves physical and electrical matters. The Visual Outdoor Advertising Registration information, published by the Medellín Mayor’s Office, applies to visual elements visible from public-use or public-domain roads.
How are advertising signs installed?
Installation begins by defining what will be visible from the public road, where the sign will be anchored, and which electrical connection it needs. A sign’s area can change the district form before installation begins. The design, facade, and type of illumination determine which technical review applies.
For temporary or short-term outdoor advertising other than flyers, the process includes authorization or a contract for the property, valid civil-liability insurance, and a foundation and structural-resistance technical assessment issued by a licensed civil engineer. Not every sign or location has the same conditions.
Team measuring a storefront facade before installing a sign. Illustrative image generated with artificial intelligence.
When a project includes an electrical installation, RETIE applies: Colombia’s technical regulation covers electrical installations, products used in them, and the people who work on them. The Ministry of Mines and Energy states that the current regulation was amended by Resolution 40284 in June 2026. Its specific application depends on the project’s design and electrical installation.
How does sign installation change from 8 m² onward?
At 8 m² or more, Medellín channels the application through the visual outdoor advertising form, which differs from the one for smaller signs. The area changes the process; it does not replace review of the structure or electrical work. The district information lists a 60-business-day response time.
Planning matters because incomplete requirements can lead to removal: the 2024 institutional report recorded 3,612 outdoor-advertising removals, including 3,595 advertising signs and banners. Professional installation coordinates the structure, access, and site conditions, as in sign installation and removal in Medellín.
Electrician checking connections inside an illuminated sign. Illustrative image generated with artificial intelligence.
There is no single production or installation timeline: it depends on the provider and the project. A useful quote states the scope, materials, installation responsibilities, and project timing in writing.
