Las Cruces, NM Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Las Cruces Code of Ordinances Sec. 1 lists 18 places where stopping, standing or parking a vehicle is prohibited outright: on a sidewalk, in front of a public or private driveway, inside an intersection, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, on a crosswalk, within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, within 30 feet of a stop sign or signal, within 50 feet of a railroad crossing, on a bridge or in a tunnel, in a bicycle lane or multi-use path, and in an EV charging space unless the vehicle is actually plugged in and charging, among others.

The only exceptions are stops made to avoid a traffic conflict, comply with a police officer's directions, or obey a traffic-control device. Sec. 2 adds the parallel-parking rule that produces most wrong-way tickets: on a street with an adjacent curb, a vehicle's right-hand wheels must be parked parallel to and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb, meaning a driver cannot cross the street and park facing oncoming traffic. On a one-way street, wheels must sit within 18 inches of either the right or the left curb, whichever the vehicle is legally traveling toward.

Both provisions trace to Ord. No. 2121 (7-19-04), later amended by Ord. No. 2670 (11-5-12) and Ord. No. 3061 (2-5-24) to add the EV-charging-space and bicycle-lane prohibitions. Under the city's Penalty Assessment Program at Sec. 00 penalty assessment: an officer can issue the ticket on the spot, and paying within 30 days closes the case without a court appearance. Ignoring the notice for 15 days converts the case into a full misdemeanor prosecution in Las Cruces Municipal Court under Sec. 27-12-14-3, exposing the driver to the general penalty in Sec. 00 and up to 90 days in jail.