Doña Ana County, NM Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Section 350-510A makes it 'a violation of this code' to operate a home occupation in a residential dwelling, regardless of zoning district, 'without first obtaining a home occupation permit,' and the applicant must also secure a business registration under Chapter 154 and comply with parking, landscaping, drainage and building rules. Subsection B(1) limits staffing to 'no more than two people, in addition to the permanent occupants residing on the premises,' whether paid or not. Subsection C caps the home occupation, and any associated storage, at 600 square feet total, and requires the use to be 'clearly incidental and subordinate to the primary residential use of the property,' except day-care or child-care services, which are exempted from that size cap.

No exterior change to the dwelling is permitted beyond one small sign, noise, dust, glare and odor may not be detectable at the property line, and hazardous or flammable materials are capped at normal residential quantities under the Fire Code. Approved categories include professional offices, professional services, instructional service, home artisan business, small item repair and day-care, plus automotive service only in the T4 zone. Applications go to the Community Development Department (CDD) with a site plan and application fee; the permit isn't effective until the applicant also obtains a state tax ID and CDD-approved county business registration, which must be renewed annually.