STRs must comply with Rio Rancho's citywide noise ordinance (Municipal Code Section 131.06, effective July 1, 2024): in residential zones, 55 dB(A) daytime and 50 dB(A) nighttime, measured at the property line over a sustained 10-minute period. The STR responsible party must address complaints within one hour, 24/7.
Rio Rancho does not set a separate STR-only noise standard; short-term rentals must comply with the city's general noise ordinance, Municipal Code Section 131.06, which took effect July 1, 2024. In residentially zoned areas, the daytime limit is 55 dB(A) and the nighttime limit is 50 dB(A). Daytime is defined as 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; nighttime is 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Noise is measured by an officer from the source property's boundary line, and a violation requires the sound to exceed the limit persistently or continuously, meaning it exceeds the applicable limit in each of the ten one-minute intervals across a 10-minute period. Outdoor power equipment is prohibited from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and is capped at 85 dB(A) at the property line when operated. For STRs specifically, Chapter 123 requires a designated responsible party available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week who must respond to complaints within one hour, and the city operates a 24-hour STR complaint hotline (505-578-8727) that contacts the operator and Code Enforcement.
Exceeding 55 dB(A) day or 50 dB(A) night at the property line in a residential zone violates Section 131.06. Repeated noise complaints at an STR also implicate Chapter 123 and can lead to enforcement under Section 10.99.
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