Public Conduct in Santa Fe, NM (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Santa Fe, New Mexico, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Santa Fe bans panhandling that touches, blocks, follows, or curses at the person solicited, and treats panhandling by a group of two or more as aggressive per se. The Santa Fe Police Department enforces Section 20-2.3(D) of the SFCC 1987 citywide, alongside separate location bans near ATMs, bus stops, banks, and schools.
Santa Fe Aggressive Panhandling Ban
Significant RestrictionsSFCC 1987 § 20-2.3(D)
D.Panhandling in an aggressive manner is prohibited, including any of the following actions:(1)Touching the solicited person without the solicited person's consent;(2)Panhandling a person while such person is standing in line and waiting to be admitted to a commercial establishment;(3)Blocking the path of a person being solicited or the entrance to any building or vehicle;(4)Following behind, a...
Skateboarding Rules
Section 12-3-6 of Santa Fe's traffic code bans roller skates, coaster wagons, skateboards, and similar toy vehicles from city streets outright. The only exception is crossing a street on a marked crosswalk, where the rider is treated exactly like a pedestrian, with all the same rights and duties.
Santa Fe Bars Skateboards From City Streets
Heavy RestrictionsSFCC 1987 § 12-3-6
No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster wagon, skateboard, toy vehicle, or similar device, shall go upon any street except while crossing a street on a crosswalk and when so crossing, the person shall be granted all of the rights and be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians as provided for in this ordinance.
Loud Party Ordinance
Santa Fe's Nuisance Abatement Ordinance declares a party of two or more people causing peace-disturbing noise a 'loud or unruly gathering' and a public nuisance, holding the property owner liable for abatement fines even if they weren't present.
Santa Fe Loud or Unruly Gathering Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsSanta Fe City Code (SFCC 1987) Section 10-9.3
Loud or unruly gathering means a party or gathering of two (2) or more persons at or on a property, who are causing noise that disturbs the peace or obstructs public streets, including crowds of people who have spilled into public streets.
Loitering Rules
Santa Fe's loitering law is narrow and age-specific: Sections 16-13.7 and 16-13.8 make it a petty misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to hang around a saloon without a parent or guardian, and equally unlawful for the saloon's owner or operator to let them. There is no general adult loitering or vagrancy offense in the city code.
Santa Fe bars minors from loitering in saloons
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe City Code §§ 16-13.7, 16-13.8
16-13.7 - Loitering of minors. A.Loitering of minors consists of a person under the age of twenty-one (21) years attending, frequenting or loitering in or about a saloon without being accompanied by the parent or guardian of the person.B.Whoever commits loitering of minors is guilty of a petty misdemeanor (For state law see Section 30-20-10 NMSA 1978). Those minors under the age of eighteen (18...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
The Santa Fe Smoke Free Ordinance bans smoking on outdoor patios of restaurants and bars, and within 25 feet of any outdoor eating or drinking area. Violators face infraction fines starting at $100 under Section 10-6.
Santa Fe Outdoor Patio Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsSanta Fe City Code (SFCC 1987) Sections 10-6.5(V) and 10-6.7(B)
V. Outdoor patios of restaurants and bars. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any owner, operator, manager or other person who controls any establishment or facility may declare that entire establishment or facility as a nonsmoking establishment. ... Smoking is prohibited within twenty-five feet (25') of an outdoor eating or drinking area of a restaurant or bar. The owner, man...
Jaywalking
Santa Fe requires pedestrians who cross outside a marked or intersection crosswalk to yield to all vehicles, and bars crossing anywhere but a marked crosswalk between two signalized intersections, under City Code Section 12-6-14.4. Diagonal crossing at intersections is also barred unless a traffic-control device authorizes it.
Santa Fe Mid-Block Crossing Rule
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe City Code § 12-6-14.4
A.Every pedestrian crossing a street at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the street.B.Any pedestrian crossing a street at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the street.C.Between adjac...
Public Alcohol Use
Santa Fe makes it unlawful to drink, possess an open container of, or serve alcoholic liquors in any public place, public club or private club unless that establishment holds a valid license to dispense liquor. The ban applies citywide to streets, parks, plazas and unlicensed venues alike, with Santa Fe police issuing citations under the city's general penalty schedule.
Santa Fe Bans Open Containers and Public Drinking
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Fe City Code (SFCC 1987) § 4-2.2
It is unlawful for any person to drink or consume or possess an open container of alcoholic liquors or for any person who is the owner, proprietor, operator or agent of the owner, proprietor or operator to sell, serve, furnish or permit the drinking or consumption of alcoholic liquors in any public place or any public or private club, whether operated for profit or not, except in those establis...