# Sign Regulations in Sunland Park, New Mexico

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

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

## At a glance

Sunland Park, New Mexico regulates 59 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Sign (C-1, C-2, M-1, M-2)s in the Commercial and Industrial Zones (C-1, C-2, M-1, M-2) zoning district are capped at 4—8 feet (by street frontage) tall and 100—200 square feet (by street frontage), with a 5 feet for <300 ft frontage, 7 feet for >300 ft setback (Sec. 10-14-9(D)(1)(e)(1)). Most commercial signs in Sunland Park require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones (RE, R-1, TC, MR, MF) | 11 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Agricultural Zones (RE-1) | 13 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential Commercial Planned Unit Development (RCPUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Zones (C-1, C-2, M-1, M-2) | 16 | 12 ft (≤5 acres); 15 ft (>5 acres) | 300 square feet (≤5 acres); 400 square feet (>5 acres) | — |
| Light Commercial District (C-1) | 5 | 5 feet | 100—200 square feet | — |
| General Commercial District (C-2) | 6 | 10 feet max | 100—200 square feet | — |
| Industrial District (M-1, M-2) | 3 | 4—8 feet | 100—200 sqft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Zones (RE, R-1, TC, MR, MF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Identification Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Not in public right-of-way; at entrance/exit to residential development. | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(a) |
| Directional Sign | 4 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Not in public right-of-way | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(b) |
| Garage Sale / Private Sale / Event Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On premises during event only | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(c) |
| House or Building Sign / Nameplate | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On building | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(e) |
| Legal Notices | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On premises | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(f) |
| Model Complex Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On project site, not in public right-of-way | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(g), 10-14-11 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached (wall) sign on front facade of property where legally registered business is conducted | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(j) |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage, up to 2 total | On property; front, side, or rear (not in public right-of-way) | — | 10-14-9(A)(1)(k); 10-14-11(N) |

### Agricultural Zones (RE-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Identification Sign (Residential Zone sign) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | See residential zone standards, not in public right-of-way | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(a) |
| Directional Sign (Residential Zone sign) | 4 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | — | See residential zone | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(a) |
| Garage Sale / Private Sale / Event Sign (Residential Zone sign) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On premises during event only | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(a) |
| House or Building Sign / Nameplate (Residential Zone sign) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | On building | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(a) |
| Model Complex Sign (Residential Zone sign) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On project site, not in public right-of-way | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(a) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Residential Zone sign) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached (wall) sign on front facade | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Zone sign) | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage, up to 2 | On premises, not in public right-of-way | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(a), 10-14-11(N) |
| Freestanding Sign OR Attached Sign - Agricultural Use | — | 32 square feet (combined) | — | — | No more than one freestanding and one attached, total area max 32 sqft | On premises | — | 10-14-9(B)(1)(b) |

### Commercial and Industrial Zones (C-1, C-2, M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Drive-thru Menu Board/Directional Sign | 5 feet | 20 square feet | — | — | — | C-1 and C-2 only. On site with drive-thru use. | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(d) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (C-1, C-2, M-1, M-2) | 4—8 feet (by street frontage) | 100—200 square feet (by street frontage) | — | 5 feet for <300 ft frontage, 7 feet for >300 ft | One per lot | On property, setbacks as follows: 5 ft (0-100 ft/101-300 ft), 7 ft (301 ft or more) | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(e)(1) |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign (C-2 only) | 10 feet max | 100—200 square feet (by street frontage) | — | 6 ft (0-100 ft frontage), 7 ft (101-300 ft), 10 ft (301+ ft) | One per lot | C-2 only, required landscape planter | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(e)(2) |
| Multi-Tenant Center Sign (Shopping Center Sign) | 12 ft (≤5 acres); 15 ft (>5 acres) | 300 square feet (≤5 acres); 400 square feet (>5 acres) | — | — | One per street frontage | On each street frontage, centrally situated in landscaped area | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(f) |
| Promotional Display (Freestanding & Attached) | — | 32 square feet (per sign) | — | — | One of each type (attached/freestanding) | On premises | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(h) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Monument, Freestanding, or Attached) | Per standard sign limits for monument/freestanding/attached | Per standard sign limits for monument/freestanding/attached | — | — | One per listed use | On permitted premises | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(i) |
| Gate Entrance Sign | 10 feet (overall structure); 3 feet high x 10 feet wide (sign face) | — | 10 feet (sign face) | — | — | Across street entrance to property | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(j) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Commercial & Industrial) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached (wall) sign on front facade | — | 10-14-9(D)(1)(l) |

## Prohibited signs in Sunland Park

- Any sign not expressly permitted within this chapter, or any sign which is specifically prohibited in this chapter.
- Billboards (on- and off-premise).
- Roof signs.
- Portable signs.
- Signs in public rights-of-way.
- A sign placed or painted on any motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer or other movable device that reasonably indicates the use of such vehicle, trailer or device as a sign is prohibited. This includes the parking of such vehicle, trailer or device in such a manner as to constitute a sign, except as part of normal business activity at a legally registered business.
- A flashing, rotating or animated sign, or a sign with intermittent or varying intensity of illumination, whether deliberate or resulting from a defect in the sign or light source in residential, agricultural and industrial districts.
- Any sign constructed to resemble any official marker or sign normally erected by a city, state or federal government agency or a sign using words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- A sign advertising activities that are illegal according to federal, state laws, rules or regulations and county or city ordinances or resolutions.
- Any sign erected on, attached to or painted on retaining walls, fences, rocks or natural features which are not professionally manufactured.
- Any sign illegally placed, constructed or maintained.
- No sign shall be constructed within any public right-of-way or sidewalk nor shall any portion of any sign extend onto or over a public right-of-way or sidewalk.
- No sign shall be permitted to violate the clear-sight triangle as defined in the chapter.
- No sign shall be placed on any property without written consent of the owner(s) or owner(s)' authorized agent.
- No existing tree shall be trimmed, pruned or removed from a city right-of-way to increase the visibility of any sign, unless such work is first approved by the competent authority.
- Illumination shall not blink, flash, or fluctuate.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sunland Park

- Change of copy on legally established signs.
- Construction/renovation signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in sign area.
- Decorations for national holidays or community-wide festivals and fiestas, removed no later than five (5) days after event/holiday.
- Directional signs.
- Garage sale signs located on the property holding the event, subject to timing and removal requirements.
- Government signs.
- House or building signs or nameplates.
- Legal notices.
- Model complex signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in sign area.
- National, state, and corporate flags following accepted flag protocol.
- Political signs.
- Private sale or event signs.
- Railroad signs.
- Real estate signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in sign area (one per street frontage, up to two total signs, two sides per sign).
- Streamers.
- Vehicle signs.
- Gasoline price signs (one per street frontage, not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area).
- Directional signs visible from the public right-of-way, not exceeding six (6) square feet and four (4) feet in height.
- Information signs visible from the public right-of-way, maximum size four (4) square feet.
- Pennants, each no larger than two (2) square feet.
- Open house signs located on the property being sold, up to six (6) square feet per side (max two sides), not erected earlier than the day before and removed no later than two (2) hours after end of open house, max height four (4) feet, and cannot be mounted to trees or utility poles.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program is required for all multi-tenant commercial or industrial centers. The applicant must submit architecturally precise plans covering all signs for approval as a special use permit processed in accordance with sections 10-10-2, 10-10-4, and 10-14-6, to be approved by the planning and zoning commission. The master sign program requirements supersede other sign requirements.
- Each separate building pad immediately fronting a public street within a multi-tenant center must be made part of the master sign program.
- All signs regulated by the chapter require a sign permit from the city, except as listed under exemptions.
- New businesses must present a design and construction drawing of the proposed signs at the same time as the request for a business license or registration.
- A variance from the sign chapter may be requested and is granted by the planning and zoning commission following the procedure for a special use permit.
- Special use permits are required for: flashing, neon, or animated signs within commercial districts for entertainment-related businesses; signs on rocks or natural features which are professionally installed and manufactured; and all multi-tenant commercial or industrial centers.
- Permits for bench signs placed in the public right-of-way or on bus benches require both a special use permit approved by the planning and zoning commission and the city council.
- Changeable copy signs require approval through a special use permit by the planning and zoning commission.
- Gate entrance signs may be allowed upon approval by the planning and zoning commission of a special use permit.
- Freestanding signs applications must be accompanied by an engineer’s design drawing stamped by an engineer certified in the state.

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

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