# Sign Regulations in Lovington, New Mexico

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lovington, New Mexico (NM)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/lovington
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Lovington, New Mexico regulates 12 sign types across 1 zoning district. Canopys in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft maximum width (12.20.240) wide, with a Cannot extend beyond point 12 inches inside the curb line. setback (Sec. 12.20.010, 12.20.220-290). Most commercial signs in Lovington 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 | 12 | — | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | All signs within 5 feet of street line must have smooth surface; no protruding parts except electrical reflectors and devices over top/front. (12.20.150) | — | Placed against and attached to the exterior front, rear or side wall of any building or other structure. | — | 12.20.010-12.20.170 |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | All signs within 5 feet of street line must have smooth surface; no protruding parts except electrical reflectors and devices over top/front. (12.20.150) | — | Supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any building. | — | 12.20.010-12.20.170 |
| Projecting Sign - Horizontal | — | — | — | See 12.20.150 for smooth surface and protrusion rules near street lines. | — | Attached to a building or structure, extends beyond building line or surface; greater in width than in height. | — | 12.20.010 (definition), 12.20.020-170 (general requirements) |
| Projecting Sign - Vertical | — | — | — | See 12.20.150 for smooth surface and protrusion rules near street lines. | — | Attached to a building or structure, extends beyond building line or surface; greater in height than in width. | — | 12.20.010 (definition), 12.20.020-170 (general requirements) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected/constructed/maintained wholly upon or over the roof of a building with principal support on the roof structure. | — | 12.20.010 (definition), 12.20.020, 160 |
| Billboard | — | — | — | See general sign requirements for street line and setback rules. | — | General definition applies: any board, fence, sign or structure erected for advertising purposes, except those specifically exempted. | — | 12.20.010, 12.20.020-170 |
| Awning | — | — | — | Cannot extend beyond point 12 inches inside the curb line. | — | Attached to a building, projecting over thoroughfare, can be raised to flat position against building. | — | 12.20.010, 12.20.220-290 |
| Canopy | — | — | 8 ft maximum width (12.20.240) | Cannot extend beyond point 12 inches inside the curb line. | — | Structure attached to a building, projecting over a thoroughfare, supported by ground/sidewalk. | — | 12.20.010, 12.20.220-290 |

## Prohibited signs in Lovington

- It is unlawful for any person to erect, repair, alter, relocate or maintain within the city any sign or other advertising structure without first obtaining an erection permit from the city manager.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a stand pipe or fire escape.
- Signs attached to any structure, pole or standard resting on any of the public streets, alleys, easements or other public ways or places are declared to be a nuisance and shall be prohibited.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or which makes use of 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.
- All signs or other advertising structures constructed on street lines or within five feet thereof shall have a smooth surface; and no nails, tacks or wires shall be permitted to protrude therefrom, except electrical reflectors and devices.
- It is unlawful for any person to maintain any sign which extends over public property which is wholly or partially illuminated by floodlights or spotlights.
- It is unlawful for any person to display upon any street or other advertising structure any obscene, indecent or immoral matter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lovington

- Real estate signs not exceeding eight square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which such signs are located only.
- Professional name plates not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Signs painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure; provided, that if such signs have raised borders, letters, characters, decorations or lighting appliances, they shall be subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter.
- Bulletin boards not over eight square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises of such institutions.
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when placed upon work under construction and not exceeding sixteen square feet in area.
- Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or dwelling house and not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and such temporary, emergency or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the city commission.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A 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.
- No explicit reference to a 'master sign plan' or required variance meeting; however, detailed plans/specifications are required for all sign permit applications.

## Full detail

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

---

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