Rio Rancho, NM Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Overnight cap
- 2/bedroom + 2 per unit
- Gathering cap
- 2x overnight occupancy
- Exclusion
- kids under 2 not counted
- Governing section
- § 123.04(B)(7)-(8)
Summary
Rio Rancho controls short-term rental parties through hard occupancy math: two guests per bedroom plus two, and daytime gatherings capped at double that overnight number.
The maximum overnight occupancy of a short-term rental unit is limited to two people per bedroom plus an additional two people per unit. For the purposes of calculating occupancy, children under the age of two are excluded.
(8) Gatherings of persons in excess of the maximum overnight occupancy prescribed above shall not exceed two times the maximum overnight occupancy.
(9) The short-term rental operator shall provide off-street parking on site as follows:
(a) One parking space for a short-term rental unit with zero to two bedrooms available for rent;
(b) Two parking spaces for a short-term rental unit with three to four bedrooms available for rent; and
(c) Three parking spaces for a short-term rental unit with five or more bedrooms available to rent.
(10) A short-term rental unit shall not be occupied for more than six separate rental periods within a calendar month. There shall be no rental frequency limitations during the month of October each year. (Ord. 24-22; Am. Ord. 25-01)
Full Breakdown
Rio Rancho City Code § 123.04(B)(7)-(8) sets overnight occupancy at two people per bedroom plus two additional people per unit, excluding children under two from the count. Gatherings on the property, guests who aren't staying overnight, i.e., parties, can't exceed twice that overnight occupancy figure. There's no separate decibel rule for short-term rentals; this occupancy cap is the city's mechanism for keeping rental houses from turning into event venues.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the occupancy or gathering caps violates § 123.04, a misdemeanor under § 123.10, and the operator can be fined up to $500 per violation per day under § 123.09 or lose the rental permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a specific quiet-hours or noise-decibel rule for Rio Rancho rentals?
How is a 4-bedroom unit's overnight cap calculated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rio Rancho
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