# Sign Regulations in Anthony, New Mexico

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Anthony, New Mexico (NM)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/anthony
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Anthony, New Mexico regulates 27 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Billboard (Controlled Access Highways and Major Arterials)s in the Performance District, Community District, Village District zoning district are capped at 45 feet; not more than 30 feet above grade level of roadway served tall, 672 square feet (plus up to 40 sq ft for cutouts, but cutouts not more than 10% of sign area), and 48 feet wide (Sec. § 150.180(B)(1)(a)). Most commercial signs in Anthony require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Performance District, Community District, Village District | 12 | 45 feet; not more than 30 feet above grade level of roadway served | 672 square feet (plus up to 40 sq ft for cutouts, but cutouts not more than 10% of sign area) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Performance District, Community District, Village District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard (Controlled Access Highways and Major Arterials) | 45 feet; not more than 30 feet above grade level of roadway served | 672 square feet (plus up to 40 sq ft for cutouts, but cutouts not more than 10% of sign area) | 48 feet | — | — | Along controlled access highways (I-25, I-10) on non-residential property. In the Performance District also along major arterials. | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(a) |
| Construction Sign (Attached/Wall or Freestanding/Pole) | — | 32 square feet per sign | — | — | One per street frontage | On the lot where construction is occurring | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(b) |
| On-premises Sign (Freestanding: Ground, Pole, Portable, <300-600 ft street frontage) | — | 100 square feet | — | At least 5' behind all property lines; 30' behind property lines fronting controlled access highway; Outside clear sight triangle | One per lot | Lots with less than 300–600 ft street frontage | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(c)2 |
| On-premises Sign (Freestanding: Ground, Pole, Portable, 300–600 ft street frontage) | — | 150 square feet | — | At least 5' behind all property lines; 30' behind property lines fronting controlled access highway; Outside clear sight triangle | One per lot | Lots with 300–600 ft street frontage | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(c)3 |
| On-premises Sign (Freestanding: Ground, Pole, Portable, >600 ft street frontage) | — | 200 square feet for one sign OR two signs of up to 100 square feet each | — | At least 5' behind all property lines; 30' behind property lines fronting controlled access highway; Outside clear sight triangle | One per lot (200 sq ft) OR two signs (100 sq ft each) | Lots with more than 600 ft street frontage | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(c)4 |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | One per lot | On or within a base above grade, detached from any building | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(c)5 |
| Future Use Sign (Attached/Wall/Window or Freestanding/Pole) | — | 32 square feet per sign | — | — | One per lot | On property | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(d) |
| Personal Opinion/Political Sign (Attached/Wall/Window or Freestanding/Pole) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per lot | On property | — | § 150.180(B)(1)(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(a) |
| Drive-through Restaurant Menu/Ordering Board | — | 24 square feet | — | — | One per lot | — | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(b) |
| For Sale/For Rent/For Lease Sign (on vehicles, buildings, land, etc.) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(c) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | Not in public rights-of-way or public property | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(d) |
| Historical Marker, Plaque, Cornerstone | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(e) |
| Open House Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Not in public rights-of-way or public property | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(i) |
| Vehicle/Trailer Sign (Painted on Operating Vehicles) | — | — | — | — | — | On business vehicles/trailers (not for advertising only) | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(m) |
| Window Sign - Event Ads (Home Tours, Fairs, Carnivals, Fiestas, etc.) | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | § 150.180(B)(3)(o) |

## Prohibited signs in Anthony

- Signs that have changing light, color or motion effects, whether deliberate or resulting from a defect in the sign (including blinking, flashing, chasing and strobe lights and exposed neon; alternating color lights; rotating beacons; skylights; 'eye catcher' devices with more than 15% reflective area; signs with animated and rotating parts; signs that emit smoke, steam or other visual matter).
- Vertical and horizontal stacking of billboard faces.
- Billboards as attached signs.
- Signs placed in or over the public right-of-way or public property.
- Signs placed on vehicles or trailers that indicate the primary use of it as a sign (excluding vehicles or trailers used in legitimate business activities and legally permitted portable signs).
- Signs attached on rocks, trees, outcroppings or other natural features.
- Signs placed on light or utility poles, retaining walls, fences or other similar features (except development signs incorporated into a wall).
- Banners, pennants, streamers and other fluttering devices, except on a temporary display basis as described.
- Attached signs placed above the top of the roofline of a building.
- Freestanding signs placed inside the clear sight triangle, or where they might obscure traffic warning or control signals, pedestrian crosswalks, or handicapped curbside ramps.
- Signs that block doors, opening windows, air vents, stairs or ramps.
- Signs built and displayed without sign permits, if a permit is required.
- Any sign not expressly allowed in this Sign Code.
- A non-conforming sign may not be altered, changed in shape or size, raised, replaced, or moved unless it brings the sign into closer compliance with the code.
- No non-conforming sign or billboard shall advertise or identify an object, person, institution, business, product, service, event or location that is no longer in existence or relevant, or bear an illegible message.
- Reusing a sign declared abandoned is illegal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Anthony

- Directional signs listing entrances, exits and parking locations (one per curb cut plus one per 5,000 square feet of lot space; up to 4 feet tall and 6 square feet).
- Drive-through restaurant menu and ordering boards (one per lot, up to 24 square feet).
- For sale, for rent, and for lease signs on vehicles, boats, trailers, personal property, buildings, land, or real estate.
- Garage sale signs displayed only while the event is in progress, not placed in public rights-of-way or on public property; up to 3 square feet of face area.
- Historical markers, plaques, and cornerstones.
- Legitimate holiday decorations.
- National, state, and local flags.
- Newspaper and mailboxes.
- Open house signs displayed only while the event is in progress, not placed in public rights-of-way or on public property; up to 6 square feet of face area.
- Public utility warning and underground utility identification signs.
- Signs, notices, placards, certificates, and official papers authorized or required by statute, government agency, or court.
- Signs for restrooms; credit card logos accepted; trading stamps; trade/Chamber of Commerce membership; business hours; gasoline and car wash signs for pumps, oil racks, vacuum cleaners, supply racks; vending and newspaper machines.
- Signs painted on vehicles and trailers currently operating, registered, used in legitimate business activities, and not for advertising.
- Street numbering, address and family name signs, and newspaper box subscriber's newspaper logo.
- Window signs that advertise home tours, fairs, carnivals, fiestas, and similar events.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before the erection, re-erection, construction, alteration, placement, or installation of all regulated signs.
- A separate electrical permit is required where signs are illuminated electrically.
- A site plan must be provided with the sign permit application.
- No explicit mention of a 'Master Sign Plan' or requirement for a variance meeting for sign approval is found in the provided ordinance text.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Anthony, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Anthony+NM&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-anthony

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