# Sign Regulations in Clayton, New Mexico

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

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

## At a glance

Clayton, New Mexico regulates 9 sign types across 1 zoning district. Projecting Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 16 sq. ft. (Sec. § 154.43). Most commercial signs in Clayton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 16 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.35, § 154.36 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed parallel to the wall or printed on the wall of any building; includes signs affixed to the face of a building marquee, building awning, or a building canopy. | — | § 154.35, § 154.36 |
| Free-Standing Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Completely self-supporting structure, firmly in or below the ground. | — | § 154.35, § 154.36 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business | On a building; may project up to 2 feet from wall. | — | § 154.43 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the roof structure or parapet wall of any building. | — | § 154.35, § 154.41 |
| Off-Site Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Location other than the premises to which the sign pertains. | — | § 154.35, § 154.41, § 154.42 |
| Portable Temporary Attraction Sign Board | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.35, § 154.36 |
| Joint Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 154.35, § 154.36 |

## Prohibited signs in Clayton

- It is unlawful to erect, repair, alter, relocate or keep any sign or other advertising structure without first obtaining a sign permit from the Town Manager.
- Any sign that no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, or a product sold, must be removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure within 10 days after written notification from the Town Manager.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected or continued to be displayed at the intersection of any street in a manner that obstructs free and clear vision, or at a location where it may interfere with authorized traffic signs or signals, or where it uses words or symbols that may mislead or confuse traffic.
- No obstructions to view are allowed between 3 and 8 feet above the street level within the triangular space at street corners defined by street rights-of-way and a 25-foot line from the intersection along each street.
- On Highway 87 (First Street), no objects greater than 2.5 feet in height above street level shall be placed or maintained within the area located 10 feet back from the street right-of-way.
- A parked vehicle carrying advertising is considered a sign unless it is in operable condition and has a current, valid license tag.
- Off-site roof signs are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to erect any free-standing off-site signs.
- It is unlawful to erect any projecting sign that projects more than 2 feet from the wall of the building, or which projects beyond the end or top of the wall to which it is attached.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clayton

- Professional name plates erected flat on walls of buildings and not exceeding 4 square feet of display surface area.
- One on-site building construction sign on each construction site provided the maximum display surface area does not exceed 8 square feet.
- On a lot, one unanimated real estate sign per street frontage not more than 8 square feet in surface area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible materials.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, and such temporary, emergency, or nonadvertising signs required by law.
- Election campaign signs for the period 90 days prior to the election and removed within 10 days following the final election.
- Street banners advertising upcoming community events in the town or county.
- All signs located within a building that are not visible to the public outside the building.
- Signs painted on or affixed to glass surfaces of windows or doors pertaining to the lawful business conducted therein.
- Temporary holiday decorations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit application must include two blueprints or ink drawings of the plans and specifications and method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground.
- A variance from the requirements may be granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission through the variance process outlined in Ordinance 558 governing zoning.

## Full detail

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

---

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