Doña Ana County, NM Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

§ 134-15 governs how many dogs and cats a single property may keep. Subsection B(12) sets the ceiling: 'The maximum allowable number of dogs, cats, or any combination thereof is 15,' and Subsection B(12)(b) exempts sites with six or fewer from needing a permit at all, meaning the permit threshold kicks in at seven animals and the hard cap sits at 15. Any site with more than six must get a multiple-animal site permit from the Animal Control Unit before operating, which requires a pre-permit inspection, payment of a fee set by Board of County Commissioners resolution, and proof of business registration if applicable; the permit is posted on the premises and is not transferable.

B: suitable enclosures with a litter box for caged cats, weatherproof housing, adequate fencing or tangle-free tethers, prompt waste removal, noise control, segregation of unneutered adults by sex and of sick animals, daily observation, and, under B(13), spay or neuter of every dog and cat on site unless the owner holds a valid litter or intact-animal permit under § 134-14. B(15) makes clear that if a zoning restriction on animal numbers per parcel is stricter than this cap, the zoning rule controls.