# Sign Regulations in Los Lunas, New Mexico

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Los Lunas, New Mexico (NM)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/los-lunas
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NM/Los_Lunas/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.56SICO)

## At a glance

Los Lunas, New Mexico regulates 35 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Monuments in the COM/INS (C-1, C-2, S-U (commercial/institutional)) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 200 ft², with a Min 3 ft from existing or planned sidewalks. setback (Sec. 17.56.200, Table: 'Freestanding Monument'). Most commercial signs in Los Lunas require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SFR (A-R, R-R, R-1, R-3, M-H, S-U (residential), TOD-R (residential), any non-conforming residential use in any commercial zone) | 15 | 10 ft | 64 ft² | — |
| MFR (R-2, TOD-R (multi-family residential), S-U (multi-family residential), any multi-family use in any commercial zone) | 17 | 10 ft | 64 ft² | — |
| COM/INS (C-1, C-2, S-U (commercial/institutional)) | 18 | 24 ft | 242 ft² | — |
| IND (M-1) | 18 | 24 ft | 242 ft² | — |
| MU (TOD-MU) | 14 | 10 ft | 32 ft² | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 3 ft | 8 ft² | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### MFR (R-2, TOD-R (multi-family residential), S-U (multi-family residential), any multi-family use in any commercial zone)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Monument | 10 ft | 12 ft² | — | — | 1 | — | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Freestanding Monument' |
| Subdivision Monument | — | 64 ft² | — | — | 1 | At subdivision entrance | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Subdivision Monument' |
| Freestanding Pedestal/Pylon | 10 ft | 12 ft² | — | — | 1 | — | — | 17.56.200 Table: 'Freestanding Pedestal/Pylon' |
| Temporary Sign (Private Property Aggregate) | 6 ft (freestanding) | 8 ft² (per sign) | — | — | — | On private property | — | 17.56.070(C)(1)-(4) |
| Temporary Sign (Development/Construction at subdivision entrance) | 6 ft | 32 ft² | — | — | 1 | Subdivision entrance or model home | — | 17.56.070(C)(3) |
| Open House Sign (Public Right-of-way) | 3 ft | 3 ft² | — | — | 4 | Within 1/2 mile of open house | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Open House', Temporary Signs In Public Right-of-Way |
| Garage Sale Sign (Public Right-of-way) | 3 ft | 3 ft² | — | — | 4 | Within 1/2 mile of garage sale | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Garage Sale' (Notes 15), Temporary Signs In Public Right-of-Way |
| Real Estate Sign (Private Property) | 10 ft | 12 ft² | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage for listed property | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Real Estate', Temporary Signs on Private Property |

### COM/INS (C-1, C-2, S-U (commercial/institutional))

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arcade/Hanging Sign | — | 12 ft² | — | — | 1 per tenant space | — | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Arcade/Hanging' |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance, 1 per wall | On building wall | — | 17.56.200 Table: 'Wall'; 17.56.020 'Wall sign' definition |
| Freestanding Monument | 20 ft | 200 ft² | — | Min 3 ft from existing or planned sidewalks. | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Freestanding Monument' |
| Freestanding Pedestal/Pylon | 20 ft | 200 ft² | — | Min 3 ft from existing or planned sidewalks. | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | 17.56.200 Table: 'Freestanding Pedestal/Pylon' |
| Freestanding Signs on Pad Sites | 5 ft | 32 ft² | — | — | 1 per pad site | Pad site | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Freestanding Signs on Pad Sites' |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 ft² | — | — | 1 per tenant space / business | No projection beyond pedestrian walkway. Not permitted within 300 ft of a residence. | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Projecting Sign', note 12. |
| Bulletin Board | 6 ft | 16 ft² | — | — | 1 | — | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Bulletin Boards' |
| A-Frame/Portable Sign | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | — | Not to block or obstruct sidewalk or visibility | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'A-Frame/Portable' |

### IND (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arcade/Hanging Sign | — | 12 ft² | — | — | 1 per tenant space | — | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Arcade/Hanging' |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance, 1 per wall | On building wall | — | 17.56.200 Table: 'Wall'; 17.56.020 'Wall sign' definition |
| Freestanding Monument | 20 ft | 200 ft² | — | 3 ft min. from existing/planned sidewalks | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Freestanding Monument' |
| Freestanding Pedestal/Pylon | 20 ft | 200 ft² | — | Min 3 ft from existing or planned sidewalks. | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | 17.56.200 Table: 'Freestanding Pedestal/Pylon' |
| Freestanding Signs on Pad Sites | 5 ft | 32 ft² | — | — | 1 per pad site | Pad site | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Freestanding Signs on Pad Sites' |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 ft² | — | — | 1 per tenant space / business | No projection beyond pedestrian walkway. Not permitted within 300 ft of a residence. | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Projecting Sign', note 12. |
| Bulletin Board | 6 ft | 16 ft² | — | — | 1 | — | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'Bulletin Boards' |
| A-Frame/Portable Sign | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | — | Not to block or obstruct sidewalk or visibility | — | 17.56.200, Table: 'A-Frame/Portable' |

## Prohibited signs in Los Lunas

- Abandoned signs as defined in this code.
- Animated signs; signs with visible moving, revolving or rotating parts, noise making, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices that have a changing brightness or intensity of color.
- Billboards.
- Roof signs.
- Signs that exceed two square feet in area on vehicles or trailers that are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying the sign.
- Signs with exposed incandescent, metal halide, or fluorescent light bulbs.
- Signs with direct illumination by incandescent light bulbs rated at above three hundred seventy-five lumens.
- Signs that contain a beacon of any type and/or contain a spotlight providing direct illumination to the public.
- Signs displayed in such a manner as to create a traffic hazard, whether by a location within fifteen feet of the pavement edge in either direction of an intersection that are greater than three feet in height, or otherwise obstructing the clear sight triangle; designed in a manner as to be confused with an authorized traffic sign, signal or device; or utilizing the words 'stop,' 'look,' 'drive-in,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- Signs on trees, rocks or other natural objects; or on any human-constructed object not intended to support a sign, such as a utility pole, light pole, or fire escape; whether attached or painted onto such object.
- All signs not expressly permitted under this chapter or exempt from regulation in accordance with the previous section are prohibited in the village.

## Signs exempt from permit in Los Lunas

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the property line of the lot or parcel on which the sign is located.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message, place name, or logo.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, except that the decorations may contain sponsor names that are uniform in design with no other advertising, logos or any other words or graphics that are unique to a sponsor.
- Traffic control signs on private property, such as 'Stop,' 'Yield' and similar signs, the faces of which meet department of transportation standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for any new nonresidential development (including tenant or use) seeking sign permit approval for all or part of a development, campus, shopping center or business park greater than five acres in size.
- Approval of a master sign plan is by the planning and zoning commission; approval is required before individual sign permits are issued for such development.
- All permanent signs for developments governed by a master sign plan must conform to the approved master sign plan.
- A sign permit will not be issued for any sign unless it is consistent with the master sign plan and all requirements of this chapter.
- A common signage plan may be filed voluntarily by owners of shopping centers (with two or more independent retail or commercial establishments on one lot) or by owners of two or more contiguous lots (disregarding intervening streets) to allow shared use of freestanding signage and consistent standards.
- No sign shall be erected, placed or maintained except in conformance with the approved common signage plan, if one exists.
- The application for a master sign plan must include detailed site plans, sign area calculations, locations, types, and other required information as specified in Section 17.56.100.
- Amendments to master and common sign plans must be approved through the specified process (by planning and zoning commission for master sign plans) and include a schedule for bringing nonconforming signs into compliance within three years.
- Sign applications for special exceptions and off-premises advertising require approval by planning and zoning commission or through a conditional use permit, respectively, in a public hearing process.
- A master sign plan must be submitted as part of, or in conjunction with, any required final approval for a master plan, planned unit development, office/business/industrial park development or building permit application for approvals for a site subject to the master sign plan requirement, or may be processed simultaneously.
- A sign permit of any kind will not be issued for any sign unless the sign is consistent with any approved common signage plan, master plan, or master sign plan in effect for the property.

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

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