Sandoval County, NM Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- Premises free of rodent infestation (§ 14-21c)
- Applies to
- All land, improved or vacant
- Wildlife exception
- Bees, rabbits exempt if not a nuisance
- Notice period
- 2-30 days to abate (§ 14-29)
- Enforcement
- County code enforcement and sheriff's deputies
Summary
Every lot in unincorporated Sandoval County, vacant or built, must stay free of rodent harborage. Section 14-21 bans letting junk, debris, or stored material pile up into anything 'in which insects, rodents, snakes or other harmful pests may live, breed or multiply,' and separately requires all premises be kept free of active infestation.
(a)General land. All land, including exterior premises and vacant land, whether improved or unimproved, shall be maintained free from any accumulation of debris or blight, which includes, but is not limited to, ... anything whatsoever in which insects, rodents, snakes or other harmful pests may live, breed or multiply or which may otherwise create a health hazard. ... (c)Exterior insect, rodent and animal control. All premises shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation and other noxious pests. This provision shall not require action to disturb the natural activity of bees, rabbits, or other insects and animals where such activity is not a danger or nuisance to any residents of the area and where other applicable legal requirements are met.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
Section 14-21 of the Sandoval County Code, 'Exterior premises, vacant land; maintenance standards,' sets the county's core rodent-control rule. ' A county sheriff's officer who finds a violation must issue written notice under § 14-29 giving the owner between two and 30 days to abate the condition before further enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep a property free of rodent harborage or infestation under § 14-21 is enforced through § 14-20 as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine, with each day of the uncorrected condition a separate offense. If the owner misses the abatement deadline in the § 14-29 notice, the county can perform the cleanup itself and place a lien on the property for the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sandoval County cite me for a rodent problem on my property?
What counts as rodent harborage under the county code?
How long do I have to fix a rodent violation once notified?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sandoval County
Compare Sandoval County to another location·View the New Mexico public health rules overview
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