Las Cruces requires dogs under humane physical restraint at all times off the owner's property, with a leash no longer than eight feet. Off-leash is allowed only in designated city dog parks.
Section 7-13 of the 2025 Animal Control Ordinance requires every animal to be under humane physical restraint at all times off the owner's premises; a dog at large may be impounded. 'Immediate control' means a secure collar or harness and a leash no longer than eight feet. Using a tether as confinement is prohibited under Section 7-13A-1: companion animals must be kept behind a fence, wall, or secure pen, and fixed-point tethering is limited to brief supervised situations. Dogs also need current rabies vaccination and a microchip.
Letting a dog run at large or improperly tethering it draws a correction warning or citation under Section 7-45; repeat or dangerous cases lead to impoundment and court penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
las-cruces-nm
Las Cruces lets residents put up holiday decorations without a permit. Under the Land Development Code, decorations for national holidays and community festi...
las-cruces-nm
Las Cruces caps garage and yard sale signs at 3 square feet. Under Land Development Code Sec. 36-84, off-premises directional signs are allowed only during t...
las-cruces-nm
Las Cruces allows political signs up to 32 square feet each. Under Land Development Code Sec. 36-86, signs may go up no sooner than 90 days before an electio...
las-cruces-nm
Las Cruces does not register or inspect standard long-term rentals, and conventional landlords need no city rental license. Only short-term rentals must regi...
las-cruces-nm
Las Cruces has no just-cause eviction law. New Mexico's Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act governs: a landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 day...
las-cruces-nm
Las Cruces has no rent control. New Mexico's Rent Control Prohibition Act (NMSA 47-8A-1, enacted 1991) bars every city and county from capping rent on privat...
See how Las Cruces's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.