# Sign Regulations in Las Cruces, New Mexico

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Las Cruces, New Mexico (NM)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/las-cruces
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NM/Las_Cruces/codes/Land_Development_Code?nodeId=PTIIIDECO_CH36SI)

## At a glance

Las Cruces, New Mexico regulates 28 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the UD University District Overlay (UD-UAZ University Avenue Zone, UD-TZ Transition Zone, UD-CZ Convention Zone) zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 24 sf, with a 5 ft from ROW/property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 38-44.J.6.c). Most commercial signs in Las Cruces require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FC Flood control zoning district | 1 | — | — | — |
| OS-R Open space—Recreation zoning district, OS-NC Open space—Natural/conservation zoning district | 1 | — | — | — |
| H Holding zone district | 1 | — | — | — |
| CBD Central business district and Main Street Plaza overlay zone, DT Downtown Transect Zoning District, GU General Urban Transect District, MS Main Street Transect District | 10 | 12 in. letter height | 75% of sloping plane, 75% of valence | — |
| UD University District Overlay (UD-UAZ University Avenue Zone, UD-TZ Transition Zone, UD-CZ Convention Zone) | 7 | 20 in. letter height | 50 sf per wall (greater if set back 100 ft or more, with approval) | — |
| AdM Avenida de Mesilla Gateway overlay zone district | 5 | 6 ft | 250 sf per business (single business); for business/shopping centers, total based on total Avenida de Mesilla frontage | — |
| WMIP West Mesa Industrial Park overlay zone district, LCIIP Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park Overlay Zone District (Commercial District, Manufacturing/Warehousing/Distribution District, Aerospace/Aviation/Defense District, Value Added Agriculture District) | 5 | 80 ft | 450 sf | — |
| AOD Las Cruces International Airport Operations Overlay Zone District (Precision instrument runway approach zone, Horizontal zone, Conical zone, Transitional zones) | 1 | May not exceed height limits established for each subzone; see precise descriptions for zones | — | — |
| LAO Lohman Avenue overlay district | 2 | 7 ft | 40 sf | — |
| IDO Infill development overlay district | 1 | — | — | — |
| PUD Planned unit development | 1 | — | — | — |
| NMO North Mesquite Neighborhood overlay zone district (North Mesquite R-1, North Mesquite R-2, North Mesquite R-3, North Mesquite R-4, North Mesquite O-1, North Mesquite C-1, North Mesquite C-2) | 3 | 5 ft | 6 sf per side, max total 12 sf | — |
| SMO South Mesquite Neighborhood overlay zone district (R-1a, R-2, R-3, R-4, O-1, O-2, C-1, C-2) | 3 | 5 ft | 6 sf per side, max total 12 sf | — |
| AOD Alameda Depot Neighborhood Overlay (ADO-1, ADO-2, ADO-3, ADO-4, ADO-5, ADO-6) | 4 | 4 ft | 50 sf per wall | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### CBD Central business district and Main Street Plaza overlay zone, DT Downtown Transect Zoning District, GU General Urban Transect District, MS Main Street Transect District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 3 sf. per 1 linear foot, up to 90% width of tenant space | 90% of width of tenant space | — | 1 per frontage | Building frontage | — | Sec. 38-43.N/Table 10. General Sign Restrictions; Table 11. Specific Sign Regulations. |
| Awning Sign | — | 75% of sloping plane, 75% of valence | — | — | 1 sloping plane, plus 1 valence per awning | On awning | — | Table 10. General Sign Restrictions. |
| Banner | — | 48 sf. | — | — | 1 per frontage | Building exterior | — | Table 10. General Sign Restrictions. |
| Projecting Sign | 8 in. copy height | 6 sf. | — | — | 1 per tenant | Mounted perpendicular to building wall, hangs with 8 ft. clearance to grade | — | Sec. 38-43.N/Table 10 and Projecting Sign regulations. |
| Sidewalk Sign (Sandwich Board/A-frame) | — | 8 sf. | — | — | 1 per tenant | On sidewalk in front of business | — | Table 10. General Sign Restrictions; Sec. 38-43.S. |
| Suspended Sign | — | 6 sf. | — | — | 1 per entry | Suspended above entry | — | Table 10. General Sign Restrictions. |
| Window Sign | 12 in. letter height | 25% of glazed area | — | — | 1 per window | On window | — | Table 10. General Sign Restrictions. |
| Wall Mural Sign | — | 3 sf. per 1 linear ft. up to 90% width of tenant space | — | — | 1 per frontage | Building wall | — | Table 10. General Sign Restrictions. |

### UD University District Overlay (UD-UAZ University Avenue Zone, UD-TZ Transition Zone, UD-CZ Convention Zone)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Commercial/nonresidential) | — | 50 sf per wall (greater if set back 100 ft or more, with approval) | — | — | One per business or use per building facade, max 3 per facade | Ground floor only, attached flat against building wall | — | Sec. 38-44.J.6.b |
| Wall Sign (Multifamily residential) | — | 32 sf each, max 2 per building with 8+ units, 1 per wall | — | — | Max 2 (1 per wall) | Building wall | — | Sec. 38-44.J.6.b |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sf (6 sf per sign face) | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Projecting from building at ground floor, 8 ft clearance, up to 4 ft projection | — | Sec. 38-44.J.6.b |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of glass area | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 38-44.J.6.b |
| Awning Sign | 20 in. letter height | — | — | — | — | On awning/canopy only | — | Sec. 38-44.J.6.b |
| Ground Sign | 3 ft | 24 sf | — | 5 ft from ROW/property lines | 1 per lot | At least 5 ft from ROW and property lines, clear sight triangle | — | Sec. 38-44.J.6.c |
| Banner (Temporary promotion) | — | 25 sf | — | — | 1 per business at a time | On permanent building only | — | Sec. 38-44.J.6.e |

### WMIP West Mesa Industrial Park overlay zone district, LCIIP Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park Overlay Zone District (Commercial District, Manufacturing/Warehousing/Distribution District, Aerospace/Aviation/Defense District, Value Added Agriculture District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Interstate Frontage) | 80 ft | 450 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding at street frontage; at park entrances | — | LCIIP 38-46.G.8.e |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (All other lots) | 18 ft | 50 sf | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Freestanding at street frontage; at entrances | — | LCIIP 38-46.G.8.e |
| Building Mounted Sign | — | 10% of building facade | May not project more than 15 in from wall | — | — | Mounted on building facade | — | LCIIP 38-46.G.8.f |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Lots <10 acres) | 8 ft | 64 sf | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | LCIIP 38-46.G.8.g |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Lots ≥10 acres) | 8 ft | 96 sf | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | LCIIP 38-46.G.8.g |

## Prohibited signs in Las Cruces

- Moving, flashing, or animated signs including but not limited to searchlights, streamers and spinners (Downtown and Ch. 36 reference).
- Inflatable signs, such as but not limited to balloons, gas inflated signs or similar inflated signs.
- Portable signs (except allowed sidewalk signs in certain districts).
- Flags, other than those specifically allowed in Chapter 36, Signs.
- Outdoor image projections (signs projected from an external light source onto a building or structure) or any other similar devices.
- Billboards and all other off-premises signs (multiple overlay districts including University District, Avenida de Mesilla Gateway, Alameda Depot Overlay, SMO).
- Pole signs (typically not allowed, except as noted in specific overlays or when replacing existing legally permitted pole signs).
- Permanent banners.
- Pennants, streamers, and other fluttering devices, whether temporary or permanent (unless explicitly allowed for special events/temporary use and within time limits).
- Real estate, construction, contractor and 'coming soon' signs over 12 square feet in area or over five feet tall.
- Political signs over 12 square feet in area or over five feet tall.
- All other signs as prohibited in section H of the Las Cruces Sign Code or Chapter 36 of the LCMC.
- Electronic moving/digital/variable message display signs (generally prohibited in SMO, Alameda Depot Overlay, etc.).
- Window signs (in Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park, unless otherwise provided).
- Banners in Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park (prohibited sign type).
- No sign shall be illuminated to create a nuisance, traffic hazard, or excessive glare to adjacent property.
- No sign may obscure important building elements such as windows, cornices, or architectural details.
- Sign structures may not be placed in a manner that interferes with, covers, or otherwise disrupts the intended purpose of important architectural building features.

## Signs exempt from permit in Las Cruces

- Normal maintenance activities as verified by the city’s building official or designee are exempt from remodel, renovation, or alteration provisions in all overlay and special districts with respect to building and sign requirements.
- Signs projecting into rights-of-way require a revocable permit and are otherwise prohibited unless specifically allowed.
- Signs that do not require a permit must nonetheless meet all requirements of the pertinent sections (most overlays reference this in sign regulations).
- Pedestrian-oriented signs or vehicular directional signage within public right-of-way or on city property are exempt from certain signage standards (e.g., language requirements in the Industrial Park Overlay).
- Changeable copy for display cases, suspended, kiosk, ground, and sidewalk signs, and at community and regional parks, does not require a permit (Downtown section).
- Restoration or rehabilitation of an existing building does not trigger new parking or on-site stormwater retention requirements, unless otherwise required by County or State code (Downtown and overlays).
- Existing legally permitted off-premise signs are considered nonconforming and regulated under nonconformity provisions; their existence does not require immediate compliance unless they are altered, relocated, or removed.
- State- or nationally-funded projects requiring state-level historic preservation officer review are exempt from local design review requirements (SMO).
- Temporary signs/displays for events are often allowed with restrictions, and sometimes do not require full permit review (when allowed, see sign code or overlay for details).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new development, signage, and renovations in overlay and special zoning districts generally require city approval/submittal and review (including pre-application meetings in many overlays like University District, Alameda Depot, Lohman Avenue, Mesquite Neighborhood overlays, Avenida de Mesilla Gateway, and Industrial Park overlays).
- Sign permits are required for all new or modified signs within all overlay and special zoning districts, with review and approval by the City’s sign administrator or appropriate city staff.
- In some overlay districts, sign permits must be submitted and reviewed at the time of building permit for the larger project; in others, sign permits may be approved separately (Lohman Avenue, University District, Avenida de Mesilla, etc.).
- Submittal or review of a 'Master Sign Plan', comprehensive sign submittal, or sign location/rendering as part of building/site plan application is either required or strongly encouraged in most overlay districts (University District, Alameda Depot, Avenida de Mesilla Gateway, etc.). See application requirements for development within the specific overlay.
- Any sign projecting into or over a public right-of-way requires an encroachment agreement or revocable permit in addition to the sign permit (all overlays where projecting signs are possible).
- Applications for numerical variance or sign variances must be processed through city staff and (if applicable) through formal variance hearing processes (Planning and Zoning Commission, University District Design Review Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, depending on overlay requirements).
- For PUD (Planned Unit Developments) and Infill Development Processes, signage standards may be set as part of the required Concept Plan/Final Site Plan, subject to approval by Planning and Zoning Commission and/or City Council.
- Alameda Depot and South Mesquite overlays: Sign elevation and details must be included in development application materials and will be reviewed for compatibility as part of site plan/design review. Certificate of Appropriateness may be required in historic districts.
- Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park: All signs must comply with the City sign code except as outlined in the Park regulations; monument/joint tenant signage and building signage need to follow adopted Park signage plans.
- Many special/overlay districts require review of overall sign program/plan, including number, type, style, placement, and illumination methods as part of the architectural review package.
- Nonconforming sign structures become subject to compliance upon certain triggers: cumulative expansion, sign removal, property vacancy for one year, or change in use, per the nonconformity standards in each overlay (see overlays for details).

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

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