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Sign Permit (Free-Standing, Wall-Mounted, Temporary, and Price Reduction Signs) — Santa Fe, New Mexico · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source: https://santafenm.gov/document_center/document/9825
PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements change and vary by project — confirm current details with the building department before you submit.
Sign Permit (Free-Standing, Wall-Mounted, Temporary, and Price Reduction Signs) in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Required for construction or placement of free-standing signs, wall-mounted signs, temporary event signs, and Historic District price-reduction signs in Santa Fe. Processed through the Building Permit Division using a dedicated Sign Permit Checklist, reviewed against minimum compliance requirements including the 2015 New Mexico Commercial Code.
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
When you need this permit
- Completed City of Santa Fe Building Permit Application, submitted in person to the Building Permit Division, 200 Lincoln Avenue (blue or black ink only)
- Site Plan (minimum scale 1"=20') showing the proposed sign location, existing sign location, clear visibility triangle where applicable, existing structures, and street location/name; free-standing signs must also show setback distance from the front property line and required landscaping at the sign base
- Scaled sign elevations showing sign size, lettering styles, colors, construction details, materials, installation method, height, and foundation type/depth where applicable; existing signage must be documented with elevations and/or photographs showing square footage
- Floor plan showing lineal store frontage measurement, where applicable under Article 14-8.10, SFCC 1987
- Photograph of the area where the proposed sign will be placed
- Legal Property Description Verification (approved subdivision plat or survey plat, and warranty deed dated prior to 1962) required for free-standing and temporary signs; not required for wall-mounted signs
- Pre-requisite approvals if applicable: Address Issuance/Verification (GIS Division), Final Board or Committee Action (Current Planning Division), Floodplain Verification and Escarpment Overlay District Approval (Technical Review Division), Archeological Clearance Permit (Historic Preservation Division)
- Signs 50 sq ft or larger in size require a New Mexico State Licensed Engineer's seal for attachment details Contractor
- Signage proposed within City right-of-way requires a license agreement obtained through the Land Use Department before the sign permit
- Temporary signs are limited to advertising a civic, political, or religious event/function/activity, for a period not exceeding 30 days or the event duration plus one week (whichever is shorter); one-time special-event signage is reviewed case-by-case
- Price reduction signs in the Historic District are limited to one sign per business, two times per calendar year, one week maximum duration per permit, with a minimum of twelve weeks between permitted durations, and a maximum sign size of 12" x 24"
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Signage PermitCity of Santa Fe Planning and Land Use Schedule of Fees (effective 01/01/2021), Building Permit Activities section
$0.40 per sq ft plus $45.00 review fee
Administrative FeeFee Schedule effective 01/01/2021, Primary Building Permit Administrative Fees section; applies to building-permit-processed sign submittals as with other building-permit variants (e.g., roofing, wall/fence) in this file
$40.00
Price Reduction Sign (Historic District, one-time/OTC)Per the City's Sign Permit Checklist (revised 3/6/2020) — issued over-the-counter by the Building Permit Division with a sticker affixed to the approved sign
$47.00
Review timeline
Plan review
Not published — contact the department
Inspection process
- 1
Final Inspection
Verifies the installed sign matches approved plans (size, materials, attachment, foundation where applicable); per the general building-permit final inspection provision at NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(11), applied to sign permits as a building-permit variant
See the full Santa Fe inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- Free-standing signs 50 sq ft or larger need a New Mexico-licensed engineer's seal on the attachment details — budget time to obtain this before applying.
- Wall-mounted signs skip the Legal Property Description Verification step (approved plat/pre-1962 warranty deed) required for free-standing and temporary signs.
- Price-reduction signage is a narrow, Historic-District-only allowance: one sign per business, twice a year, one week per permit, with a 12-week gap between permits, processed over the counter for a flat $47 fee.
- Temporary signs are restricted to civic, political, or religious event advertising — not general commercial advertising — and expire after 30 days or the event plus one week.
Frequently asked questions
Santa Fe requires a sign permit (free-standing, wall-mounted, temporary, and price reduction signs) for: Completed City of Santa Fe Building Permit Application, submitted in person to the Building Permit Division, 200 Lincoln Avenue (blue or black ink only); Site Plan (minimum scale 1"=20') showing the proposed sign location, existing sign location, clear visibility triangle where applicable, existing structures, and street location/name; free-standing signs must also show setback distance from the front property line and required landscaping at the sign base; Scaled sign elevations showing sign size, lettering styles, colors, construction details, materials, installation method, height, and foundation type/depth where applicable; existing signage must be documented with elevations and/or photographs showing square footage; Floor plan showing lineal store frontage measurement, where applicable under Article 14-8.10, SFCC 1987; Photograph of the area where the proposed sign will be placed; Legal Property Description Verification (approved subdivision plat or survey plat, and warranty deed dated prior to 1962) required for free-standing and temporary signs; not required for wall-mounted signs; Pre-requisite approvals if applicable: Address Issuance/Verification (GIS Division), Final Board or Committee Action (Current Planning Division), Floodplain Verification and Escarpment Overlay District Approval (Technical Review Division), Archeological Clearance Permit (Historic Preservation Division); Signs 50 sq ft or larger in size require a New Mexico State Licensed Engineer's seal for attachment details; Signage proposed within City right-of-way requires a license agreement obtained through the Land Use Department before the sign permit; Temporary signs are limited to advertising a civic, political, or religious event/function/activity, for a period not exceeding 30 days or the event duration plus one week (whichever is shorter); one-time special-event signage is reviewed case-by-case; Price reduction signs in the Historic District are limited to one sign per business, two times per calendar year, one week maximum duration per permit, with a minimum of twelve weeks between permitted durations, and a maximum sign size of 12" x 24". If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) at (505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588 before starting work.
The Signage Permit fee is $0.40 per square foot plus a $45.00 review fee, per the City's Schedule of Fees (effective 01/01/2021). A separate flat $47.00 one-time fee applies to Historic District price-reduction signage processed over the counter.
Santa Fe does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) at (505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588 for current turnaround.
Mostly, yes — both need a completed Building Permit Application, site plan, sign elevations, and floor plan (where applicable). The one difference: wall-mounted signs are exempt from the Legal Property Description Verification (approved plat/pre-1962 warranty deed) that free-standing and temporary signs require.
Santa Fe requires 1 inspection(s) for a sign permit (free-standing, wall-mounted, temporary, and price reduction signs), in order: Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) ((505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588).
Apply through City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) at Santa Fe City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., 1st Floor (southwest entrance facing Marcy Street nearest the Convention Center), Santa Fe, NM 87501; Mailing: City of Santa Fe Building Permit Division, P.O. Box 909, Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909. Phone: (505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588, email: permitcounter@santafenm.gov. Office hours: By appointment only, 8:00 a.m.–Noon and 1:00–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. Drop-off hours for revision/amendment submittals only: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.. Official information: https://www.santafenm.gov/land-use/building-permits.
Santa Fe, New Mexico has adopted: 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (2021 IBC as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (2021 IRC as amended by the State of New Mexico), plus the City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code; 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code (2021 International Existing Building Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code (2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended by the State of New Mexico), plus City of Santa Fe UPC amendments; 2021 New Mexico Mechanical Code (2021 Uniform Mechanical Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (2020 National Electrical Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2012 New Mexico Electrical Safety Code (2012 National Electrical Safety Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code; 2021 New Mexico Historic Earthen Buildings Code; 2021 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code (2021 International Energy Conservation Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2012 New Mexico Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code (2012 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2012 New Mexico Solar Energy Code (2012 Uniform Solar Energy Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 International Fire Code, plus City of Santa Fe IFC amendments; New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) Title 14, Chapter 5: 14.5.1 General Provisions, 14.5.2 Permits, 14.5.3 Inspections; 2017 ICC A117.1-2017 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. Local amendments apply — see the Santa Fe overview page for the full list.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Santa Fe building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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