Doña Ana County, NM Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Doña Ana County, NM, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Nighttime (weeknights)
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Nighttime (Fri/Sat)
- Midnight to 6:00 a.m.
- Enforcing agency
- Doña Ana County Sheriff
- First/second fine
- $100 to $300, $100 unsuspendable
- Third+ fine
- $300 minimum, unsuspendable
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Doña Ana County bars nighttime construction, repair, demolition or excavation and grading work that disturbs neighbors or exceeds the noise ordinance's decibel table. Nighttime runs 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on weeknights, with a later start on weekends and holidays, in the unincorporated county.
§ 261-22. Construction, repair, demolition or excavation and grading work. At nighttime, except for emergency work as defined in this article, construction, repair, demolition or excavation and grading work to commercial or residential buildings, roadways, utility facilities or infrastructure, which work disturbs the comfort or repose of any person(s) or generates noise exceeding the Table 1 limits specified in § 261-11, shall be deemed a violation of this article.
Full Breakdown
Under § 261-22 of the County Code, construction, repair, demolition or excavation and grading work on commercial or residential buildings, roadways, utility facilities or infrastructure is a violation of the noise article if it happens at nighttime and either disturbs the comfort or repose of any person or exceeds the sound-level limits in Table 1 of § 261-11. m. m. m. m. and resumes at midnight. m. to midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, so contractors get a wider daytime window on weekends. The article exempts 'emergency work,' defined in § 261-9 as work needed to restore property to a safe condition after a public calamity, restore utilities, or protect persons or property from imminent danger.
The Sheriff administers the noise ordinance under § 261-23 and promulgates the test and compliance procedures used to measure whether a jobsite exceeds Table 1. This section applies only in the unincorporated county; Las Cruces, Sunland Park, Mesilla and Hatch enforce their own municipal noise codes.
Violations & Fines
A first or second violation carries a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 under § 261-24, with the $100 minimum unable to be suspended, deferred or taken under advisement (the court may suspend only the amount above $100). A third or later violation in the same case carries a fine of not less than $300 that also cannot be suspended or deferred. No jail time applies to noise violations, but the County may additionally seek abatement by restraining order or injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can construction crews work at night in unincorporated Doña Ana County?
Is there an exception for emergency repairs?
Who enforces the construction noise hours?
Does this rule apply inside Las Cruces?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Doña Ana County
How Doña Ana County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Doña Ana County to another location·View the New Mexico noise ordinances overview
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