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.
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