Doña Ana County, NM Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Doña Ana County, NM, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- Community Development Department (CDD)
- Permit fee
- $50 one-time
- Existing-operator grace period
- 30 days from effective date
- Permit display
- Posted in window facing road
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $300
- Coverage area
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Owners intending to use property in unincorporated Doña Ana County as a short-term rental must first get a business registration certificate from the County Clerk under Chapter 154, then a permit from the Community Development Department before starting operations. The permit costs a one-time $50 fee and must stay posted in a window facing the road.
All persons owning real property within Doña Ana County with the intent of using that property as a short-term rental must obtain a business registration certificate from the Doña Ana County Clerk pursuant to Chapter 154 of the Code of Doña Ana County, and obtain a permit from the Doña Ana County Community Development Department (hereinafter "CDD") prior to establishing that service.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 280 (adopted December 8, 2020 by Ord. No. 316-2020) requires every property owner who intends to rent real property short-term to first obtain a business registration certificate from the Doña Ana County Clerk under Chapter 154 of the County Code, then a separate permit from the Community Development Department (CDD) before establishing the rental service, per § 280-4(A). Owners who were already operating before the chapter's effective date had a one-time 30-day grace window to come into compliance under § 280-4(C). Once issued, the CDD permit must be posted in a prominent window facing the road and visible from the street at all times, per § 280-4(D).
CDD does not wait for complaints: § 280-4(B) requires the department to monitor short-term rental listing and advertising websites at least quarterly to identify unlicensed properties and bring them into compliance. The permit fee is a one-time $50 charge under § 280-5, on top of any other fee owed under Chapter 179. Because this is a county chapter, it governs the unincorporated area only; Las Cruces, Sunland Park, Mesilla and Hatch each administer their own short-term rental rules under their municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
CDD, County Codes Enforcement Officers and the Sheriff's Department enforce this chapter under § 280-7. A first conviction draws a fine of $50 to $300, which a court may suspend, defer or take under advisement. A second or subsequent conviction draws a $300 fine that cannot be suspended or deferred. A third conviction adds permit revocation, forcing the rental to cease operating within seven days. Each day of unregistered operation is a separate offense under § 1-20 of the County Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in unincorporated Doña Ana County?
What if I was already renting before the ordinance took effect?
How much does the county short-term rental permit cost?
How does CDD find unpermitted rentals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Doña Ana County
How Doña Ana County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Doña Ana County to another location·View the New Mexico short-term rentals overview
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