Valencia County, NM Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Section 50.07 of the Valencia County Code bars anyone from throwing, placing, dumping or disposing of solid waste, litter, or construction and demolition debris on any road, street, gutter, sidewalk, alley, or on public property or another person's private property (§ 50.07(B)). The chapter also forbids letting waste accumulate within 200 feet of an occupied premises outside covered, watertight metal or plastic containers (§ 50.07(A)), and it declares any unlawful accumulation a public nuisance (§ 50.07(E)). The County Manager or a designee, the County Code Enforcement Officer, or a Sheriff's Department deputy may inspect a property under a warrant on reasonable suspicion of an unlawful accumulation (§ 50.07(F)).

Once a violation of divisions (A) through (E) is confirmed, the responsible owner, tenant, lessee, manager, or occupant gets written notice to correct it within 10 to 30 days; the County Manager can waive that notice period entirely when the accumulation poses a clear and present danger to public health or safety (§ 50.07(G)). If the responsible party fails to correct the violation, the County Commission may contract for the cleanup or order the county to perform it, then bill the property owner for labor, equipment rental, and direct costs, which becomes a lien on the property plus attorney's fees (§ 50.07(H)).

Anyone transporting solid waste must use a vehicle with a tightly secured cover to keep waste from blowing, dropping, or spilling, or face an added fee (§ 50.07(J)).