Doña Ana County, NM Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)

Chapter 261, Article II of the County Code, the Noise Control Ordinance adopted December 11, 2012 by Ordinance No. 260-2012, sets the standard that governs generator noise in unincorporated Doña Ana County. m. on Friday, Saturday and holiday nights. Under § 261-21, no person may operate or allow the operation of "any stationary machinery, equipment, fan, air-conditioning apparatus, or similar permanently installed mechanical device" at nighttime in a way that exceeds the Table 1 limits in § 261-11: 50 dB on residential/noise-sensitive property, 60 dB on office/commercial property, and 70 dB on industrial property, measured on the property actually receiving the sound.

The only nighttime carve-out is for "emergency work," defined as work needed to restore property after a public calamity, restore utilities, or protect people or property from imminent danger, so a generator running during an actual outage is treated differently than routine testing or standby use. That distinction shows up directly in the County's Wireless Communications Facilities standards at § 350-513, which states that emergency backup generators in use only during power outages and testing/maintenance must comply with the Noise Ordinance standards where technical, practical and financial considerations permit, tying generator operation squarely back to the Chapter 261 limits.

B, audible unreasonable nighttime noise at the property line is prima facie evidence of a violation. D. This ordinance applies only outside Las Cruces, Sunland Park, Mesilla and Hatch, which enforce their own noise codes.