Animal Ordinances in Doña Ana County, NM (2026)

Doña Ana County Code § 350-511.C

The following regulations are established for the keeping of small animals such as goats, sheep, miniature horses and the like and very small animals such as rabbits, poultry and fowl in residential zoning districts with properties greater than 0.50 acres in size. If properties are less than 0.50 acres in size, a special use permit (S) is required... Very small animals. Minimum area of open pro...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-6.A, D(1)

A. Physical restraint. A person owning or having charge, custody, or care over an animal shall keep the animal under humane physical restraint at all times. ... D. Public premises. A person owning or having charge, custody, or care over an animal off of his or her premises shall keep the animal under immediate control. (1) A leash used to restrain an animal shall be of suitable length so as to ...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-18; § 179-21.F, .G

§ 134-18. Dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs. A. Owner responsibility. A person owning or having charge, custody, care, or control over a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog shall comply with the provisions of the Dangerous Dog Act, NMSA 1978, § 77-1A-2 et seq., as amended. B. Animal Control Officers may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a warrant to seize a dog believed to...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-19

§ 134-19. Prohibited animals. A. Wildlife and exotic animals. A person shall not possess, harbor, or keep any wild or exotic animal of a species that in its natural life is potentially dangerous or ferocious. Such animals, though they may be trained and domesticated, remain a danger to others, and include: (1) Wolves, coyotes, foxes, dingoes, and other members of the nondomestic canine families...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-15.B(12)

(12) Limit the number of adult dogs or cats, or any combination thereof, as follows: (a) The maximum allowable number of dogs, cats, or any combination thereof is 15. (b) For sites with six or fewer dogs, cats, or any combination thereof, no multiple-animal site permit shall be required.

Doña Ana County Code § 134-7.D

Any trap, neuter and return (TNR) of feral cats is prohibited from being returned to the area or vicinity where they were picked up from if it is within 2,000 feet of a licensed day-care center, public or private school(s), nursing home or care facility, any park, or County-owned or leased property. Furthermore, TNR cats are prohibited from being returned within two-miles of the Rio Grande or w...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-14.A

A. Intact animal permit. A person owning or having charge, custody, or care over an intact dog or cat shall obtain an intact animal permit from the Animal Control Unit for each intact dog or cat owned, whether or not the person intends to breed the animal. ... (4) The intact animal permit fee shall be refunded to the permit holder if the intact dog or cat is sterilized within 90 days of the iss...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-3.C

C. Owner identification and microchipping requirements. (1) The person owning or having charge, custody, or care of a dog or cat shall provide proof of a current implanted working microchip upon the request or scan of the Animal Control Officer. (2) The person owning or having charge, custody, or care of a dog or cat shall keep an identification tag affixed to a collar or harness worn by the an...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-2 (definition), § 134-13

PUPPY MILL: A commercial dog breeding facility operated with an emphasis upon profits above animal welfare and often in substandard conditions regarding the well-being of the dogs and puppies at the facility, which substandard conditions include but are not necessarily limited to over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of human socialization, o...

Doña Ana County UDC § 350-501, Table 5.1; § 350-502, Table 5.2

Legend P Permitted C Conditional uses, see Table 5.2 S Special use permit ... Civic Support Animal hospital, veterinary clinic, kennel, agricultural office, and training and medical research ... Table 5.2 Conditions for Transect Zones Use District T4 ... Civic support 30 parking spaces maximum

Doña Ana County Code § 134-16.A, B

A. Outdoor rehabilitation aviary. A special permit is required by any person to keep or maintain an outdoor rehabilitation aviary. The County Codes Enforcement Department will not issue this special permit without proof of a license issued by the federal government and the State Department of Game and Fish. B. Birds of prey. A special permit is required by any person to keep or maintain a bird ...

Doña Ana County Code § 134-16.A, .E

A. Outdoor rehabilitation aviary. A special permit is required by any person to keep or maintain an outdoor rehabilitation aviary. The County Codes Enforcement Department will not issue this special permit without proof of a license issued by the federal government and the State Department of Game and Fish. ... E. Application generally. Any person who operates or proposes to operate an aviary f...