Bernalillo County permits political signs on private property under IDO §5-12 with a 6 sq ft limit in residential zones and 32 sq ft in commercial. NM Sign Act and First Amendment (Reed v. Gilbert, 2015) prohibit content-based restrictions. Signs in right-of-way are prohibited.
Bernalillo County IDO §5-12 classifies political signs as temporary signs. In residential zones (R-1, R-A), signs are limited to 6 square feet and 4 feet tall per sign, with unlimited number on a single parcel during a campaign window. Commercial zones allow up to 32 square feet. After Reed v. Town of Gilbert (576 U.S. 155, 2015), the County removed prior content-based durational limits; current rules are time/place/manner neutral. Signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, traffic control devices, or public property under NMSA §67-7-10 and County Code §66 (right-of-way encroachment). Signs may not obstruct sight triangles at intersections (IDO §5-1(D), typically 25 ft triangle at 90° intersections). Removal within 10 days of the election is recommended but not strictly enforced on private property post-Reed. The City of Albuquerque has parallel rules in IDO §14-16-5-12.
Sign in right-of-way: removed by County Public Works, no refund. Repeat offender: fine $50–$100 per sign. Sight-triangle violation: immediate removal order. No penalty for content — content-based enforcement is unconstitutional.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Bernalillo County, NM
Bernalillo County Animal Care Ordinance (Chapter 6, §6-47) — unlawful to allow an animal to persistently or continuously bark, howl, or make noise common to ...
Bernalillo County, NM
Construction noise in unincorporated Bernalillo County is regulated under the county noise ordinance (Chapter 30, Art. IV) and general nuisance provisions. B...
Bernalillo County, NM
Bernalillo County has no leaf blower-specific ban. Gas-powered blowers are widely used in unincorporated areas. General noise and air quality rules apply, wi...
Bernalillo County, NM
Bernalillo County Code Chapter 30, Article IV (Noise) establishes noise regulations for unincorporated areas. State law NMSA §30-20-1 also applies — disturbi...
Bernalillo County, NM
Commercial vehicle parking in unincorporated Bernalillo County regulated by zoning code. Off-street loading/unloading requirements in Section 21 of Appendix ...
Bernalillo County, NM
Bernalillo County Code §30 and Albuquerque §8-5-2-6 define abandoned vehicles as those left on public right-of-way for 72+ hours or inoperable vehicles store...
See how Bernalillo County's political signs rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.