Doña Ana County, NM Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- D1 zone height cap
- 35 feet, principal and accessory
- D3 zone principal cap
- 45 feet
- Rural T2/R5/R5L cap
- 2 stories maximum
- Governing tables
- UDC § 350-502, Tables 5.4-5.10
- Building separation
- 6 feet minimum, eave to eave
Summary
In the D1 Low Density Residential zone, the County's default single-family district, both principal and accessory buildings are capped at 35 feet under UDC Table 5.8. Height caps vary by zone: the rural T2, R5 and R5L districts instead cap principal and accessory buildings at two stories.
Table 5.8 Site Standards: D1 Zone. Low Density Residential Zone (D1 & D1L) ... 3. Building Height C Principal building height: 35 feet (maximum) D Accessory building height: 35 feet (maximum)
Full Breakdown
8 sets "Principal building height: 35 feet (maximum)" and "Accessory building height: 35 feet (maximum)" identically. 10) allows a taller 45-foot principal building height but keeps accessory buildings at 35 feet. 5) cap both principal and accessory buildings at "2 stories (maximum)" rather than a stated footage. Under § 350-502D, the Zoning Administrator may grant an administrative adjustment of up to 20% to the setbacks that define the buildable envelope, but the height maximums themselves are fixed by table, not subject to that same adjustment.
Height limits also interact with building separation: § 350-502D(6) requires at least six feet of clearance between detached buildings on the same lot, measured eave to eave or wall to wall. A property owner planning a structure above these caps needs either a rezoning or a variance reviewed under the County's variance procedure at § 350-207.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a principal or accessory building above the height cap for its zone, 35 feet in the D1 and D2 residential zones, 45 feet for a D3 principal building, or two stories in the T2/R5/R5L and T3 zones, without an approved variance is a violation the Zoning Administrator can act on through a stop-work order, and the structure cannot receive a certificate of occupancy until it is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Doña Ana County?
Are rural properties measured the same way?
Can the County grant a height variance?
How much space is required between a house and a detached garage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Doña Ana County
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