Valencia County, NM Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Chapter 91 lets the Building Inspector, Fire Chief or Zoning Officer inspect any structure and, on finding it meets the dangerous-building criteria in § 91.038 (unsafe exits, overstressed members, fire or flood damage weakening structural strength, 33% or more damage to supporting members, or use as "an attractive nuisance to children" or "a harbor for vagrants, criminals or immoral persons"), declare it a public nuisance under § 91.036. The owner must either repair the structure to current building code or demolish it and remove the debris, per § 91.070(B).

The building official may grant a single extension of up to 120 additional days to complete repair or demolition under § 91.070(C), but that extension does not toll the separate deadline to appeal the notice and order. If demolition or removal isn't commenced within 30 days after the notice and resolution becomes final, § 91.072(C) directs the county official to post the building "Dangerous Building, Do Not Occupy" and authorizes the county to demolish it itself and recover the cost, with any surplus after demolition and lot-cleaning costs returned to the rightful owner.

Demolition work under § 91.085 is directed by the County Manager, performed by county crews or private contract, and paid from a revolving demolition and removal account that can become a special assessment lien against the property. Appeals of a nuisance declaration go to the Board of County Commissioners. Interfering with any officer, contractor or authorized representative doing the demolition or removal work is separately prohibited under § 91.073.