Temporary Political Sign Rules – City of Albuquerque

Governing Authority:
Temporary political signs are regulated under the City of Albuquerque’s Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), Section 14-16-5-12(I), and Administrative Instruction No. 1-17.

Number of Signs Permitted:
No more than four (4) temporary signs may be placed on a single premises.

Maximum Sign Area:
The combined area of all temporary signs on a premises may not exceed sixteen (16) square feet.

Maximum Sign Height:

• Where a wall exists on the lot, no sign shall exceed four (4) feet in height above the top of the highest wall.

• Where no wall exists, no sign shall exceed eight (8) feet in height.

Prohibited Locations:

• Temporary signs may not be attached to or affixed to any residential building or accessory structure.

• Placement of signs in common areas, including homeowner association areas and private easements, is prohibited unless express permission has been granted by the property owner.

• Temporary signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way. This includes, but is not limited to, street medians, sidewalks, traffic signal poles, streetlight poles, utility poles, stop signs, and similar infrastructure.

• Signs may not be placed within the clear sight triangle as defined in the IDO.

Display Period

One (1) temporary sign may be displayed for a period of up to sixty (60) consecutive days prior to an election and for ten (10) consecutive days following the election.

Please note that while the IDO allows for a 60-day display period, the City’s Planning Department may cite property owners who install signs on private property prior to this timeframe. Candidates and the public are advised to contact the Planning Department for further clarification regarding sign timing and compliance on private property.

Private Property and Enforcement Jurisdiction

Administrative Instruction No. 1-17 governs the enforcement of signage regulations on public property. Improperly placed signs in the public right-of-way are subject to removal by the City.

Issues related to the timing and placement of signs on private property fall under the enforcement jurisdiction of the City of Albuquerque Planning Department. Property owners may be subject to citation for non-compliant sign installation, including placing signs more than 60 days prior to an election.

For inquiries related to private property enforcement, please contact:

City of Albuquerque Planning Department

Phone: (505) 924-3860

Website: https://www.cabq.gov/planning

Off-Premise Political Advertising (Billboards)

Political advertising may be placed on off-premise signs, including billboards, provided that the sign has been properly reviewed and permitted in accordance with applicable City regulations. All such signage must comply with the requirements set forth in the Integrated Development Ordinance and any related administrative guidance.

Candidates and committees are responsible for ensuring that off-premise signs are lawfully permitted prior to installation. The City of Albuquerque Code Enforcement Division oversees the permitting process for off-premise signage.

For questions related to billboard advertising or to obtain specific permitting requirements, please contact:

City of Albuquerque Code Enforcement Division

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (505) 924-3850

Website: https://www.cabq.gov/planning/code-enforcement-zoning

Improperly Placed Signs and Retrieval Procedures

Signs removed from public property during election season will be temporarily stored by the City at the following location:

City of Albuquerque – Pino Yards Facility
5501 Pino Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109

Signs may be retrieved for a period of up to twenty (20) days following the conclusion of the applicable election. Individuals must check in with the security guard and present a valid photo identification. Retrieval is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

After 20 days, unclaimed political signs will be disposed of by the City. All other illegal signs collected outside of election season or unrelated to political campaigns may be discarded immediately upon collection.