Las Cruces, NM Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Las Cruces Code of Ordinances Sec. 19-2 makes it unlawful to erect or maintain any fence capable of producing an electric shock on a lot fronting a street, alley, avenue, public thoroughfare or irrigation ditch, and applies the same ban to fences made wholly or partly of barbed wire. Two narrow exceptions exist: an industrial or property-protection fence may carry one or more strands of barbed wire if the wire sits at least six feet above the ground, and barbed wire fencing is allowed on property zoned A-2 agricultural, M-1 light manufacturing, M-2 heavy manufacturing or H holding where the lot abuts the city limits and the property line runs along the city boundary; any such fencing permit expires automatically if the zoning or city limit line later changes.

The Land Development Code adds a second, zoning-specific layer at Sec. 38-60(F)(1). Barbed wire and similar containment wire, including horse wire and "no climb" wire, count toward the overall fence height measurement and are permitted only when installed at least six feet above the highest adjacent ground and only within the Holding, Flood Control, EE, RE, REM, O-2, C-2, C-3, M1/M2 and M-3 zoning districts. In the EE and REM districts, on airport property, or along interstate highways, containment wire may run at any height up to eight feet. Barbed wire is barred from every required front yard citywide, with exceptions carved out only for utility substations, agricultural uses and equestrian uses. A related design-standard rule at Sec. 38-61(B)(3)(e) separately bans chain-link fencing on property lines that front a collector-or-higher roadway.

Violations of Sec. 19-2 are prosecuted under the Code's general penalty clause, Sec. 1-10: a petty misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day a noncompliant fence remains standing charged as a separate offense. Community Development and Code Compliance enforce both the general-ordinance ban and the zoning-district height and placement rules, and either department can order a nonconforming fence removed or modified.