Las Cruces bans keeping wild and exotic animals that are dangerous by nature, including big cats, bears, wolves and hybrids, primates, venomous snakes, and alligators. Domestic ferrets are allowed.
Section 7-34 of the 2025 Animal Control Ordinance prohibits owning, harboring, or keeping any species barred by state or federal law, plus any wild or exotic animal that is potentially dangerous in its natural life. The named list includes wolves, coyotes, foxes and canine hybrids; lions, panthers and feline hybrids; all bears; raccoons and coatimundis; non-domestic mustelids; primates; skunks; bats; venomous snakes and gila monsters; alligators, crocodiles and caimans; and venomous fish and piranha. Domestic ferrets are exempt. Veterinary facilities and state-permitted wildlife rehabilitators are also exempt.
Keeping a prohibited exotic animal can lead to seizure of the animal and citation under Section 7-45, with each day of possession a separate offense and possible 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 exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.