Valencia County, NM Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

21(A) declares it unlawful to operate any vehicle, machine or device, or carry on any activity, that makes 'intrusive noise in excess of the levels specified in this section' anywhere in the unincorporated county. Subsection (B)(1) sets how sound is measured: on the A-weighting scale with a standard sound level meter meeting American National Standards Institute specifications, with non-vehicular sound measured at the property line of the property from which it radiates, and both ambient and intrusive levels recorded so the ordinance can compare an offending sound to its surroundings.

Subsection (D) sets the numeric ceiling for non-vehicular sources: in areas zoned residential and commercial, between 7 AM and 10 PM the limit is 80 dB(A) or 10 dB(A) above ambient noise, whichever is higher; between 10 PM and 7 AM the limit drops to 70 dB(A) or 10 dB(A) above ambient, whichever is higher, both measured at the property line. 21(E), including reasonable construction noise between 7 AM and 10 PM, emergency and warning-device noise, authorized public works activity, county-run recreational events, and property maintenance equipment, so the numeric caps apply to ordinary residential and commercial activity rather than those excepted sources.

Vehicular noise is measured separately under (B) with its own speed- and weight-based limits rather than the (D) figures. 31 in force and incorporates those provisions by reference instead of applying the noise chapter's caps to them.