# Sign Regulations in Albuquerque, New Mexico

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Albuquerque, New Mexico (NM)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/albuquerque
- **Data last verified:** 2025-07-09
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuqido/0-0-0-13080)

## At a glance

Albuquerque, New Mexico regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Portable Signs in the Mixed-use Zone Districts (MX-T, MX-L, MX-M, MX-H, MX-FB, MX-FB-ID, MX-FB-FX, MX-FB-AC, MX-FB-UD) zoning district are capped at 3 ft. tall, 6 sq. ft. per side, 2 sides max per sign., and 2.5 ft. wide (Sec. 14-16-5-12(F)(4)(b) Table 5-12-4). Most commercial signs in Albuquerque require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zone Districts (R-A, R-1, R-MC, R-T, R-ML, R-MH) | 6 | 6 ft. (Freestanding) | 24 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed-use Zone Districts (MX-T, MX-L, MX-M, MX-H, MX-FB, MX-FB-ID, MX-FB-FX, MX-FB-AC, MX-FB-UD) | 11 | Letters/images may not exceed 18 in height. | 75 sq. ft. | — |
| Non-residential Zone Districts (NR-C, NR-BP, NR-LM, NR-GM, NR-PO, NR-SU) | 5 | 26 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (local or collector street); 200 sq. ft. (arterial/interstate); 300 sq. ft. (within 200 ft of through lane of interstate and visible) | — |
| Planned Development (PD) | 1 | — | Per approved Site Plan - EPC. | — |
| Planned Community (PC) | 1 | — | Per approved Framework Plan. | — |
| Overlay Zones | 1 | — | May be set by Overlay (CPO/HPO/VPO). | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 7 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential Zone Districts (R-A, R-1, R-MC, R-T, R-ML, R-MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Low-density Residential) | — | R-A: 4 sq. ft.; R-1, R-T: 2 sq. ft.; R-ML, R-MH: 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On the residential structure, only for a use accessory to the primary residential use; 1 per dwelling. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(1) Table 5-12-2; 14-16-5-12(E)(5)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Multi-family Residential) | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building per street frontage | 1 per building per street frontage. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(1) Table 5-12-2 |
| Yard Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling | In yard; 1 per dwelling in lieu of wall sign if dwelling is more than 30 ft. from street. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(1) Table 5-12-2 |
| Monument Sign (Multi-family Residential) | 4 ft. | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage (multi-family only) | 1 per street frontage serving multi-family development. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(1) Table 5-12-2 |
| Building-mounted or Freestanding Sign (Non-residential Uses in Residential Zone) | 6 ft. (Freestanding) | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(1) Table 5-12-2 |
| Window Sign | — | Limited to signs not discernible from public right-of-way (R-ML, R-MH); prohibited in R-A; not specified in others. | — | — | — | On windows; only in R-ML, R-MH zone districts, as long as not discernible from public right-of-way. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(1) Table 5-12-2 |

### Mixed-use Zone Districts (MX-T, MX-L, MX-M, MX-H, MX-FB, MX-FB-ID, MX-FB-FX, MX-FB-AC, MX-FB-UD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (MX-T, MX-FB-ID) | — | — | — | — | N/A (not numerically limited by code) | On building façade. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Wall Sign (MX-L) | — | — | — | — | N/A | On building façade; not closer than 2 ft to edge of abutting frontage. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Canopy Sign | Letters/images may not exceed 18 in height. | — | 50% of building frontage width (MX-FB-AC, MX-FB-UD: full building frontage width) | — | 1 per establishment frontage | On vertical canopy surfaces | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Marquee Sign | 3 ft (MX-FB-AC, MX-FB-UD: 5 ft) | Same as max wall sign for establishment | — | — | 1 per theater or performance venue frontage | Projection: 50% of the sidewalk width or 10 ft. from the facade, whichever is less. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | Same as allowable size of freestanding sign. | Projection: 30 in. from façade (different in special areas - see code) | — | 1 per establishment | On building; over sidewalk or street. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Rooftop Sign (Small Areas Only) | 15 ft. or 25% of building height, whichever is less. | 75 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | On building roof (restricted to mapped small areas) | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(3) Small Areas; 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Freestanding Sign (by street frontage) | MX-T, MX-FB-ID: 9 ft.; MX-L: 18 ft.; Other MX/NR-C/NR-LM/NR-GM: 26 ft. | MX-T, MX-FB-ID: 50 sq. ft.; MX-L: 100 sq. ft.; Other MX/NR-C/NR-LM/NR-GM: 100 sq. ft. (local or collector), 200 sq. ft. (arterial or interstate), 300 sq. ft. (within 200 ft of through lane of interstate and visible). | — | — | 1 per premises per street frontage | On premises (1 per premises per street frontage) or on designated Joint Sign Premises. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3, 5-12(F)(2)(b), 5-12(F)(4)(a) |
| Portable Sign | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per side, 2 sides max per sign. | 2.5 ft. | — | 1 per establishment | In front of the establishment; may be in public right-of-way/sidewalk with clear widths. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(4)(b) Table 5-12-4 |

### Non-residential Zone Districts (NR-C, NR-BP, NR-LM, NR-GM, NR-PO, NR-SU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (NR-C, NR-LM, NR-GM) | — | — | — | — | N/A | On building façade. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Wall Sign (NR-BP, NR-SU, NR-PO) | — | — | — | — | Per approved plan | As shown on approved Master Development Plan or Site Plan EPC. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Freestanding Sign (NR-C, NR-LM, NR-GM) | 26 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (local or collector street); 200 sq. ft. (arterial/interstate); 300 sq. ft. (within 200 ft of through lane of interstate and visible) | — | — | 1 per premises per street frontage | On premises or Joint Sign Premises; 1 per premises per street frontage. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3, 14-16-5-12(F)(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (NR-BP, NR-SU, NR-PO) | — | Per approved plan. | — | — | Per approved plan | As specified in approved plan; 1 per premises per street frontage unless otherwise restricted. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |
| Other Sign Types (NR-BP, NR-SU, NR-PO) | — | Per approved plan. | — | — | Per approved plan | Per approved plan. | — | 14-16-5-12(F)(2) Table 5-12-3 |

## Prohibited signs in Albuquerque

- Any sign contributing to confusion of traffic control or resembling traffic control lighting; unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device that purports to be or imitates official traffic control devices or railroad signs or signals; unauthorized sign that attempts to control traffic on any public right-of-way or private way; or sign that hides or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control devices or any railroad signs or signals.
- Any sign located in a clear sight triangle.
- Any on-premises sign that advertises an activity, business, product, or service no longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located for more than 30 calendar days after the vacancy or change of business that causes the sign to become inaccurate.
- Any rotating, pulsating, or oscillating beacon of light; searchlight; or HID strobe light.
- Any sign with an audible device.
- No sign or part of a sign shall be located on any property without the consent of the owner, holder, lessee, agent, trustee, or other party controlling the use of such property.
- Signs shall not be located within public waterline or sanitary sewer easements.
- No sign may have overhead wiring to supply electric power, except for a freestanding off-premises sign where underground power cannot be accessed from the site.
- Freestanding sign structures shall not use guy wires, bracing, or external supports.
- Signs may not exceed applicable luminance limits and must have dimming controls, as specified in Tables 5-12-1 and 5-12-6.
- Electronic signs shall have only static messages and images; transition between messages/images on an electronic sign shall not exceed 1 second and shall not include any visual effects during that time.
- The failure to immediately cease demolition, development or land disturbance activity upon the discovery of an archaeological resource is a violation subject to penalties.

## Signs exempt from permit in Albuquerque

- The provisions of this Section 14-16-5-12 shall not apply to any sign erected or required to be erected by any State or federal governmental agency, or public utility provided that the size, height, location, type and illumination of the sign comply with these provisions to the maximum extent practicable, including compliance with the New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act, as regulated by the State.
- Any sign legally erected before the effective date of this IDO that is no longer in compliance with the standards in this Section 14-16-5-12 may be retained in use, subject to the provisions of Subsection 14-16-6-8(F) (Nonconforming Signs).
- Changing the advertising copy or message, including the interchange of the sign face, on an approved painted or printed sign structure or on a marquee or similar approved sign, provided that the size of the sign is not changed, shall not require a sign permit provided that they comply with the standards applicable to that type of sign in this IDO.
- Painting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure unless a structural change is made, shall not require a sign permit provided that they comply with the standards applicable to that type of sign in this IDO.
- Temporary signs may be erected without obtaining a sign permit, provided that they comply with the standards in Table 5-12-7.
- Portable signs, when in compliance with Table 5-12-4, do not require a permit.
- For signs in the public right-of-way, see Section 8-2-2-1 of ROA 1994 and the DPM.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In NR-BP, NR-SU, PD, or PC zone districts, off-premises signs are only allowed if maximum number, size, height, and location are specifically authorized in the EPC or City Council decision approving such zone district, including an associated Master Development Plan or Site Plan.
- Dimensional standards in NR-PO sub-zones shall be determined in the approval of a Master Plan, Natural Resource Management Plan, standards specified by the implementing Department, or standards appropriate to a Site Plan approval for a park or open space owned or managed by an entity other than the City.
- Dimensional standards in NR-SU shall be determined in the approval of a Site Plan - EPC as part of the approval of a Zoning Map Amendment to the NR-SU zone district.
- For lots 5 acres or greater adjacent to Major Public Open Space, an approved Site Plan - EPC is required prior to any platting action.
- In the PD and NR-SU zone districts, and for development in any zone district on a site 5 acres or greater adjacent to Major Public Open Space, an approved Site Plan - EPC is required prior to any platting action.
- In the NR-BP zone district, a Master Development Plan is required for lots 20 acres or more prior to platting action. For lots less than 20 acres zoned NR-BP, a Site Plan is required prior to development, but the property may be subdivided before or after a Site Plan is approved.
- An Alternative Signage Plan is allowed on sites of at least 5 acres in Urban Centers within select zone districts, and must be reviewed and decided pursuant to Subsection 14-16-6-5(C)(2)(c) (Alternative Signage Plan).

## 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 7 zoning districts in Albuquerque — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Albuquerque+NM&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-albuquerque

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/albuquerque