# Sign Regulations in Gallup, New Mexico

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gallup, New Mexico (NM)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/gallup
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-30
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.gallupnm.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/2054?fileID=10479)

## At a glance

Gallup, New Mexico regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Monuments in the Mixed-Use (MXN, MXC) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 70 sq ft, with a Conform to Table 10-4-14 setback (Sec. Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6). Most commercial signs in Gallup require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential (RR, SFR, MFRL, MFRM, MFRH) | 2 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Mixed-Use (MXN, MXC) | 7 | 10 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| Commercial (GC, HC) | 12 | 50 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| Industrial (I) | 10 | 50 ft | 400 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per side (64 sq ft total) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Mixed-Use (MXN, MXC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | 20% of awning | — | — | — | On awning (on-premise) | — | Table 10-4-15 (Awning Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 10 ft | 70 sq ft | — | Conform to Table 10-4-14 | 1 per street frontage | On-premise | — | Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Marquee Sign (Theater/Performance Venue Only) | 5 ft above the parapet wall | 35% of façade area | — | — | 1 per theater or performance venue | Attached to building serving theater or performance venue | — | Table 10-4-15 (Marquee Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iii-2; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Projection Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Projected from building facade | — | Table 10-4-15 (Projection Sign); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iii-2; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Roof Sign | 5 ft above the parapet | 35% of roof area | — | — | 1 per establishment | On roof | — | Table 10-4-15 (Roof Sign); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of unit façade area per tenant | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage, plus 1 additional sign if >750 linear feet of street frontage | Building facade | — | Table 10-4-15 (Wall Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | Table 10-4-15 (Window Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |

### Commercial (GC, HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 10 ft | 200 sq ft | — | Conform to Table 10-4-14 | 1 per street frontage, plus 1 additional sign if >600 linear feet of street frontage | On-premise | — | Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole (Adjacent to Interstate) | 50 ft | 200 sq ft | — | Conform to Table 10-4-14 | Included in freestanding sign allowance: 1 per street frontage, plus 1 additional sign if >600 linear feet of street frontage | On-premise; adjacent to interstate | — | Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole (Other Locations) | 25 ft | 200 sq ft | — | Conform to Table 10-4-14 | Included in freestanding sign allowance: 1 per street frontage, plus 1 additional sign if >600 linear feet of street frontage | On-premise; locations not adjacent to interstate | — | Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Marquee Sign (Theater/Performance Venue Only) | 5 ft above the parapet wall | 35% of façade area | — | — | 1 per theater or performance venue | Attached to building serving theater or performance venue | — | Table 10-4-15 (Marquee Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iii-2; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Roof Sign | 5 ft above the parapet | 35% of roof area | — | — | 1 per establishment | On roof | — | Table 10-4-15 (Roof Sign); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Off-Premise Freestanding Pole Sign (I-40) | — | 400 sq ft | — | Setback minimum 30 ft | 1 per lot | Off-premise; property along Interstate 40 (I-40) | — | 10-4-F-g-1; Table 10-4-17; 10-4-F-g-3 |
| Off-Premise Freestanding Pole Sign (Principal Arterial) | — | 300 sq ft | — | Setback minimum 15 ft | 1 per lot | Off-premise; property along Principal Arterial | — | 10-4-F-g-1; Table 10-4-17; 10-4-F-g-3 |
| Off-Premise Directional Pole Sign (Urban Arterial) | — | 72 sq ft | — | Setback minimum 15 ft | 1 per lot | Off-premise; property along Urban Arterial (Directional Signs only) | — | 10-4-F-g-1–2; Table 10-4-17; 10-4-F-g-3 |

### Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 10 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Conform to Table 10-4-14 | 1 per street frontage, plus 1 additional sign if >750 linear feet of street frontage | On-premise | — | Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole (Adjacent to Interstate) | 50 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Conform to Table 10-4-14 | Included in freestanding sign allowance: 1 per street frontage, plus 1 additional sign if >750 linear feet of street frontage | On-premise; adjacent to interstate | — | Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole (Other Locations) | 25 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Conform to Table 10-4-14 | Included in freestanding sign allowance: 1 per street frontage, plus 1 additional sign if >750 linear feet of street frontage | On-premise; locations not adjacent to interstate | — | Table 10-4-15 (Freestanding Signs); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Projection Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant per frontage | Projected from building facade | — | Table 10-4-15 (Projection Sign); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iii-2; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Roof Sign | 5 ft above the parapet | 35% of roof area | — | — | 1 per establishment | On roof | — | Table 10-4-15 (Roof Sign); 10-4-F-f-i; 10-4-F-e-iv-1–4,6 |
| Off-Premise Freestanding Pole Sign (I-40) | — | 400 sq ft | — | Setback minimum 30 ft | 1 per lot | Off-premise; property along Interstate 40 (I-40) | — | 10-4-F-g-1; Table 10-4-17; 10-4-F-g-3 |
| Off-Premise Freestanding Pole Sign (Principal Arterial) | — | 300 sq ft | — | Setback minimum 15 ft | 1 per lot | Off-premise; property along Principal Arterial | — | 10-4-F-g-1; Table 10-4-17; 10-4-F-g-3 |
| Off-Premise Directional Pole Sign (Urban Arterial) | — | 72 sq ft | — | Setback minimum 15 ft | 1 per lot | Off-premise; property along Urban Arterial (Directional Signs only) | — | 10-4-F-g-1–2; Table 10-4-17; 10-4-F-g-3 |

## Prohibited signs in Gallup

- Signs extending over or located within the public right-of-way or an easement, unless authorized through a Revocable Permit.
- Signs located within the clear sight triangle (Section 10-4-B-c).
- Signs that resemble or imitate official government signs or purport to have official status.
- Signs that conflict with the functioning or line-of-sight of any official control device.
- Signs that obstruct clear vision or access, or otherwise pose a safety hazard to pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists.
- Signs with audible devices.
- Signs with mechanical movement (moving parts or rotation) and/or flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights (except neon lights may flash).
- Signs that are not clean, legible, and in a state of good repair.
- Abandoned signs on properties that are vacant, unoccupied, or where the use has been discontinued for three months.
- No sign or sign structure may obstruct free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window, or other required access way.
- No sign may be attached in a manner that interferes with any opening required for ventilation, except as allowed by building/fire code (e.g., transom windows).
- No sign may be suspended by nonrigid attachments that allow it to swing in the wind, unless otherwise exempted by the Land Development Standards (banner signs on rigid poles may move).
- No sign may be constructed within any public utility or drainage easement.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gallup

- Changing the advertisement or message on an approved sign designed for replaceable copy does not create a new sign and does not require a sign permit.
- Painting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure, with no structural changes, does not require a sign permit.
- Temporary signs may be erected without obtaining a sign permit if they comply with Table 10-4-18 standards; they do not count toward maximum number or sign area allowed on a property.
- Painting of wooden signs and painting of lettering on walls do not require state contractor licenses.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Plan is required for all commercial or institutional development on properties of 10 or more acres or that contain multi-tenant buildings or multiple buildings.
- Planning and Zoning Commission approval of the Master Sign Plan is required before any sign or building permits are issued for such properties.
- Existing Master Sign Plans and agreements made before the effective date remain in effect and are not superseded.

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

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