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Doña Ana County, NM Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

R5/R5L lot coverage cap
12,500 sq ft or 10% of lot, whichever greater
Driveway
Excluded from coverage calculation
Portal encroachment cap
16% of setback, max 8 feet
D1-D3 zones
Lot coverage listed as not applicable
Governing section
UDC § 350-502.C(5), Table 5.4

Summary

On rural R5 and R5L lots (5+ acres), Doña Ana County caps total lot coverage at 12,500 square feet or 10% of the lot size, whichever is greater, excluding the driveway, under UDC Table 5.4; the D1-D3 residential use zones instead leave lot coverage unregulated.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Doña Ana County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

8. Lot Coverage and Encroachments 8.1 Lot coverage: 12,500 square feet or 10% of the lot size, whichever is greater, excluding the residential access driveway 8.2 Portal: 16% of setback (maximum), but no more than 8 feet 8.3 Balcony or bay window: 8% of setback (maximum), but no more than 4 feet

View official code

Full Breakdown

" On a standard 5-acre R5 lot (217,800 square feet), the cap works out to roughly 21,780 square feet, since the ordinance takes whichever figure is larger. 10), each list "Lot Coverage: not applicable," leaving overall building footprint unrestricted in those districts aside from the individual setback and accessory-building-size limits that still apply.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the 12,500-square-foot/10%-of-lot coverage cap on an R5 or R5L parcel, or building a portal, balcony or bay window encroachment beyond the percentage-of-setback limits in Table 5.4, is a zoning violation the County can require to be removed or reduced before issuing a certificate of occupancy, and uncorrected violations can be referred for code enforcement action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a lot coverage limit on rural Doña Ana County land?
Yes, for R5 and R5L zoned lots. Table 5.4 caps total lot coverage at "12,500 square feet or 10% of the lot size, whichever is greater, excluding the residential access driveway."
Does the driveway count toward my lot coverage limit?
No. Table 5.4 specifically excludes "the residential access driveway" from the lot coverage calculation for R5 and R5L parcels.
Is lot coverage capped in the D1 residential zone?
No. Table 5.8 for the D1 Low Density Residential zone lists "Lot Coverage: not applicable," meaning the County does not cap overall building footprint there, though setback and accessory-building-size limits still apply.
Can I build a covered porch that extends into my setback?
A portal can encroach into the setback on an R5/R5L lot, but Table 5.4 caps it at "16% of setback (maximum), but no more than 8 feet," and a balcony or bay window at "8% of setback (maximum), but no more than 4 feet."

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Doña Ana County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsSetback RulesSome RestrictionsStructure Height LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome Restrictions

All Doña Ana County rules

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