Short-Term Rentals in Rio Rancho, NM (2026)
8 verified short-term rentals rules for Rio Rancho, New Mexico, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Rio Rancho requires a sworn application to the Department of Development Services naming a 24/7 local operator and including insurance proof, a site plan, and a completed inspection before permitting.
Rio Rancho Short-Term Rental Registration Rules
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.06
Applicants for a short-term rental permit under this chapter must file with the Department of Development Services a sworn application in writing or electronically as prescribed by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, Section 14-16-1, NMSA 1978, on a form to be furnished by Department of Development Services, which shall include, but is not limited to, the following information: (A) The ...
Noise Rules
Rio Rancho controls short-term rental parties through hard occupancy math: two guests per bedroom plus two, and daytime gatherings capped at double that overnight number.
Rio Rancho STR Occupancy and Party Caps
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.04(B)(7)-(8)
The maximum overnight occupancy of a short-term rental unit is limited to two people per bedroom plus an additional two people per unit. For the purposes of calculating occupancy, children under the age of two are excluded. (8) Gatherings of persons in excess of the maximum overnight occupancy prescribed above shall not exceed two times the maximum overnight occupancy. (9) The short-term ...
Taxes & Fees
Rio Rancho charges a $100 application fee plus a $300 annual permit fee for short-term rentals, and taxes them at 5% of gross rent under the city's lodger's tax.
Rio Rancho Short-Term Rental Fees And Taxes
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.08
(A) Application fee. An application for a new short-term rental permit shall be accompanied by a one-time nonrefundable application, processing, and inspection fee of $100. (1) The application fee shall be due upon submission of the application for a short-term rental permit. (2) The application fee includes an initial inspection only. A reinspection fee of $50 will be required anytime ...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Rio Rancho requires short-term rental operators to provide on-site off-street parking that scales with bedroom count, from one space up to three.
Rio Rancho STR Parking Scales With Bedrooms
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.04(B)(9)
The short-term rental operator shall provide off-street parking on site as follows: One parking space for a short-term rental unit with zero to two bedrooms available for rent; Two parking spaces for a short-term rental unit with three to four bedrooms available for rent; and Three parking spaces for a short-term rental unit with five or more bedrooms available to rent.
Occupancy Limits
Rio Rancho caps short-term rental overnight occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus two, excludes children under two from the count, and limits any gathering to double that number.
Rio Rancho Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.04(B)(7)-(8)
(7) The maximum overnight occupancy of a short-term rental unit is limited to two people per bedroom plus an additional two people per unit. For the purposes of calculating occupancy, children under the age of two are excluded. (8) Gatherings of persons in excess of the maximum overnight occupancy prescribed above shall not exceed two times the maximum overnight occupancy. (9) The short...
Insurance Requirements
Rio Rancho short-term rental operators must carry at least $250,000 in insurance coverage per unit, with proof of that coverage required as part of the permit application.
Rio Rancho Short-Term Rental Insurance Minimum
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.04(B)(4)
The short-term rental operator shall maintain short-term rental insurance coverage for each short-term rental unit in the minimum amount of $250,000 per short-term rental unit. (5) A short-term rental unit shall have a local short-term rental operator that is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, to respond to complaints regarding the operation or occupancy of the short-term renta...
Night Caps
Rio Rancho limits each short-term rental to six separate rental periods a month (October exempt) and caps citywide permits at 1% of total housing units.
Rio Rancho Caps STR Bookings and Permits
Significant RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.04(B)(10); § 123.05(D)(1)
A short-term rental unit shall not be occupied for more than six separate rental periods within a calendar month. There shall be no rental frequency limitations during the month of October each year. ... The total number of short-term rental permits issued by the Department of Development Services shall not exceed 1% of the “total housing units” in Rio Rancho as listed in “Comparative Housing C...
Host Presence Rule
Every short-term rental in Rio Rancho must have a local operator reachable by phone around the clock and able to reach the property in person within one hour of a complaint.
Rio Rancho STR Host Must Answer in 1 Hour
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 123.04(B)(5)
A short-term rental unit shall have a local short-term rental operator that is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, to respond to complaints regarding the operation or occupancy of the short-term rental unit. The short-term rental operator must be accessible by telephone and able to be physically present at the short-term rental unit within one hour of being contacted. (6) The sh...
Looking for Sandoval County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rio Rancho city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Sandoval County →