# Sign Regulations in Roswell, New Mexico

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Roswell, New Mexico (NM)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-mexico/roswell
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NM/Roswell/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_APXAZO_ART60SI)

## At a glance

Roswell, New Mexico regulates 20 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 5 ft above average grade of nearest public right-of-way tall and 35 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 7.2 (A-H)). Most commercial signs in Roswell require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 4 | 5 ft above average grade of nearest public right-of-way | 35 sq ft | — |
| Commercial/Industrial Districts (C-2, C-4, I-1, I-2) | 11 | 45 ft from ground to highest point | 672 sq ft per side | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 6 sq ft DSA | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | One per entrance | At each entrance to a subdivision | — | Sec. 6.1 |
| Apartment Complex Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | One per entrance | At each entrance to an apartment complex | — | Sec. 6.2 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to three per property | — | — | Sec. 7.1 |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft above average grade of nearest public right-of-way | 35 sq ft | — | — | One | — | — | Sec. 7.2 (A-H) |

### Commercial/Industrial Districts (C-2, C-4, I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard Sign - Non-Digital | 45 ft from ground to highest point | 672 sq ft per side | 25 ft | — | — | Along state or federal highways or as zoning allows | — | Sec. 8.1; Sec. 10.B (all) |
| Billboard Sign - Digital | 45 ft from ground to highest point | 672 sq ft per side | 25 ft | — | — | Along state or federal highways or as zoning allows | — | Sec. 8.1, 9; Sec. 10.B.2, 8; Sec. 10.C |
| Freestanding Sign / Monument Sign | 35 ft from natural grade to highest point; minimum 10 ft above ground for clearance | — | — | Freestanding signs: 5 ft from property lines; Monument/pole cover: 10 ft from property lines | One per lot (two if frontage exceeds 500 ft with 200 ft separation) | On-premise; must meet setback requirements | — | Sec. 8.2; Sec. 10.A.1-2 |
| Apartment Complex Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | One per entrance | At each entrance to apartment complex | — | Sec. 8.3 |
| Directional/Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-premise | — | Sec. 8.4; also see Sec. 3 (exempt) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-premise | — | Sec. 8.5 |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to wall of building | — | Sec. 8.6 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 8.7 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Governmental Entity Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 3.1 |
| Construction Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property under construction | — | Sec. 3.2 |
| Directional/Information Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 3.3 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 3.4 |
| Enclosed Building Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Inside a closed building | — | Sec. 3.5 |
| Nameplate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 3.6 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Within window | — | Sec. 3.7 |
| Hand-held Sign | — | 6 sq ft DSA | — | — | — | Held by an individual | — | Sec. 3.8 |

## Prohibited signs in Roswell

- It is unlawful to erect or place signs located in a residential district advertising a home occupation.
- It is unlawful to erect or place signs which resemble official government signs or which could conflict in any way with the proper functioning or line-of-sight of any official traffic control device.
- It is unlawful to erect or place signs which obstruct access or pose a safety hazard to pedestrians or motorists.
- It is unlawful to erect or place signs incorporating any noisy mechanical device (whistles, horns, noise makers, sirens or any other noisy audible devices).
- It is unlawful to erect or place signs located within the sight triangle of any property.
- It is unlawful to erect or place signs attached or otherwise affixed in any way to utility poles, light poles, rocks, trees or other natural features that are located in, on, or over public right-of-way and/or any easements.
- It is unlawful to erect or place any flashing and/or continuous scrolling freestanding display signs.
- It is unlawful to erect or place signs within rights-of-way or easements, except signs abutting private property that are permitted by the property owner and otherwise conforming.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where its position, working, illumination, shape, symbol, color, form, or character may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or interfere with, mislead, confuse or disrupt traffic flow or traffic safety.
- It is unlawful to change, modify, or otherwise deviate from the terms and conditions set forth in the original building permit application without written approval by the building inspector and the planning and zoning department.
- It is unlawful to alter or modify an on-premise sign into a billboard sign and/or alter or modify a billboard sign into an on-premise sign without complying with this article.
- Signs shall not have any exposed electrical components.
- Signs shall not list or lean more than 15 degrees from their originally intended position.
- Signs must be regularly maintained and kept in good and safe structural condition by the owner.

## Signs exempt from permit in Roswell

- Signs placed by a governmental entity are allowed without a building permit in all zoning districts.
- Construction signs are allowed without a building permit in all zoning districts.
- Directional/information signs are allowed without a building permit in all zoning districts.
- Temporary signs relating to particular occurrences or events, including holidays, special events, real estate sales, garage sales, and elections, are allowed without a building permit if removed no later than five days after the occurrence or event.
- Any sign located within the confines of an enclosed building is allowed without a building permit in all zoning districts.
- Nameplates are allowed without a building permit in all zoning districts.
- Window signs are allowed without a building permit in all zoning districts.
- Any hand-held sign, symbol, or display on any person (not to exceed six square feet DSA) is allowed without a building permit in all zoning districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs constructed or erected along any state or federal highway must apply and receive a sign permit from the New Mexico Department of Transportation per state statute.
- A new sign, relocation of an existing sign, alteration of sign height, or varying the DSA of a sign (except those exempted in Section 3) requires a building permit from the city.
- A request for a variance must comply with Article 3 of this appendix.
- A site plan showing location of all necessary property lines to scale is required for sign setback compliance.

## Full detail

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

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