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Doña Ana County, NM
 
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Doña Ana County 8-11-1992 by Ord. No. 103-92. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building Code — See Ch. 142.
Dangerous buildings — See Ch. 146.
Unified Development Code — See Ch. 230.
A. 
The Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners has determined that in order to provide to the residents of the unincorporated portion of Doña Ana County adequate and responsive emergency services, utility services, postal service and other private, public and commercial services, it is necessary to establish a uniform system of numbering property frontage on all streets, avenues and all other public and private ways within the unincorporated portion of Doña Ana County, including the City of Las Cruces Extraterritorial Zone.
B. 
All houses and other buildings of residence or business shall receive locational addresses in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No public or private entity or agency other than the County of Doña Ana shall issue locational addresses within the area covered by this chapter without the express written approval of the County of Doña Ana.
C. 
Locational addresses shall be assigned by official staff of the Doña Ana County Community Development Department. For the purposes of this chapter, a County Addressor shall be designated by the Doña Ana County Community Development Department. The County Addressor shall be charged with responsibility for final staff decisions on all matters addressed in this chapter, and shall sign all certificates of address issued in accordance hereto.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADDRESS, LOCATIONAL or ADDRESS, PHYSICAL or ADDRESS, SITE
The physical, locational site address issued by the Doña Ana County Planning Division in accordance hereto. A locational address may be used as a mailing address with the direct approval of the United States Postal Service.
AGENT
A person(s) or entity(ies) authorized to act for another.
CERTIFICATE OF ADDRESS
A certificate issued by the Doña Ana County Community Development Department and signed by the County Addressor. The certificate is the formal and official notification of the issuance of a legal locational address.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT
A development having two or more residences or commercial buildings along a private driveway.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
The Community Development Department of the County of Doña Ana, New Mexico.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
COUNTY
The County of Doña Ana, New Mexico.
COUNTY ADDRESSOR
Appointed by the Doña Ana County Planning Director, the County Addressor shall be responsible for the maintenance of the address system. The County Addressor shall comply with the dictates of this chapter.
COUNTY COMMISSION
The Board of County Commissioners of the County of Doña Ana, New Mexico.
DRIVEWAY, PRIVATE
The principal means of access serving fewer than four dwelling units or commercial buildings.
DWELLING UNIT
Any structure or portion thereof which contains living facilities, including provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Law enforcement, fire or ambulance services, in addition to other services that stem from circumstances that pose a threat to life or property and that require immediate attention.
FLEXIBLE GRID
Addresses that follow curvilinear and rectilinear roads without disrupting the rigid address increment of a grid system.
FRONTAGE LOT
A plot of land, whether improved or not, which fronts on or abuts a private or public road.
INTERSECTION
A point where two or more streets meet or cross.
MILE-MARKER SYSTEM
A method of assigning locational addresses whereby the distances between a road's point of origin and a center lot line is measured in increments of 1/100 of a mile.
PROPERTY OWNER
A person or corporation who or which owns property that fronts on, is adjacent to, or otherwise touches the subject road or street.
ROAD; ROAD EASEMENT
Synonymous with "street"; a general term denoting a public way for purposes of vehicular and/or pedestrian travel. A road may be privately owned, or may be a public road dedicated to and accepted by the County for maintenance purposes.
ROAD, PRIVATE
A road not dedicated to and accepted by the County of Doña Ana.
ROAD, PUBLIC
A road dedicated to and accepted by the County of Doña Ana for maintenance purposes.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
A. 
Mile-marker system. The mile-marker system is hereby adopted as the designated method of assigning locational addresses throughout the unincorporated portion of Doña Ana County. Lands lying within the Las Cruces Extraterritorial Zone and lands lying within other communities with an established grid addressing system are exempt from the mile-marker system. The following guidelines shall rule the assignment of locational addresses using the mile-marker method. The County Addressor has the authority to make binding decisions in all matters of discrepancy or dispute regarding the interpretation of these guidelines, but that decision may be appealed to the Community Development Director and the County Commission.
(1) 
The point of origin of all roads shall be designated as the zero-mile marker and shall be decided by the County Addressor. The point of origin shall be, as a general rule, the intersection of the road to be addressed and the next major access road (see Figure 1).[1]
(2) 
Frontage lots shall be numbered to the approximate center lot line.
(3) 
Diagonal roads, or roads having pronounced changes in direction, shall be treated as either north/south or east/west tending roads. The County Addressor shall make the final determination as to the general tending of such roads.
(4) 
Even numbers shall be assigned to the east side of north/south tending roads or to the south side of east/west tending roads. Odd numbers shall be assigned to the west side of north/south tending roads or to the north side of east/west tending roads (see Figure 1).
(5) 
No frontage lot shall receive a locational address until:
(a) 
A legal road name has been adopted in accordance with Chapter 279, Roads, Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads.[2]
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
[2]
Editor's Note: Chapter 279, Roads, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
(b) 
In the absence of such legal road name, a road number has been assigned by the County; or
(c) 
An existing road name has been verified and accepted by the County Addressor.
(6) 
Multimetered attached residential or commercial structures shall receive one locational address, with individual units within the development distinguished by a numerical suffix. Example: 630 Pinon Lane #5 (Figure 2).[3]
(7) 
Detached multiunit residential or commercial complexes, including mobile home parks, shall receive one locational address, with separate units or lots distinguished by a numerical suffix (Figure 2).
(8) 
Cluster developments sharing a common private driveway shall receive one locational address, with individual units within the cluster distinguished by a numerical suffix. The cluster's locational address will be determined from the measurement taken at the point at which the private driveway intersects with a main road (Figure 2).
(9) 
Circular streets' point of origin shall be the lower-numbered point of intersection with a main road. Numbers shall be assigned with even numbers on the inside of the circle.
(10) 
Corner lots shall be numbered according to the location of the private driveway or other principal means of vehicular access.
B. 
Las Cruces ETZ flexible grid system. Those areas lying outside of the Las Cruces city limits and within the Las Cruces Extraterritorial Zone shall have addresses that are from a flexible grid system. This grid shall be an extension of the City of Las Cruces address grid. The Doña Ana County Community Development Department shall administer this address system throughout the ETZ area. The following guidelines shall rule the assignment of locational addresses using the flexible grid system. The County Addressor has the final authority to make binding decisions in all matters of discrepancy or dispute regarding the interpretation of these guidelines, but that decision may be appealed to the Community Development Director and the County Commission.
(1) 
Flexible grid addresses are an extension of the City of Las Cruces' street address grid system. The centroid, or point of beginning, for the east/west (x) axis is Griggs Street and the north/south (y) axis is Main Street.
(2) 
Addresses will be issued to all buildings and platted subdivisions. A grid of 1,000 numbers per mile or 100 possible addresses every 528 feet (1/10 mile) will be established.
(3) 
Looking outward from the axis point, all even-numbered addresses will be to the right side of the street and all odd-numbered addresses will be on the left side of the street (Figure 3).[4]
(4) 
All the previously issued addresses within the Extraterritorial Zone area shall be checked and verified for location fit and, if necessary, changed to fit address ranges for the surrounding area.
(5) 
All street/road name duplications, conflicts and disputes shall be resolved by implementing the provisions of Chapter 279, Roads, Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads.[5]
[5]
Editor’s Note: Chapter 279, Roads, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
C. 
Separate town, village, or community grid system. Those lands lying within established but unincorporated communities which have established grid system addresses on the effective date of this chapter shall be deemed separate flexible grid systems. This section will apply to such communities as Anthony, Chaparral, and any other community meeting the following guidelines. These guidelines will apply to any necessary changes during initial conversion and to the assignment of locational addresses in the separate grids thereafter. The County Addressor has the authority to make binding decisions in all matters of discrepancy or dispute regarding the interpretation of these guidelines, but that decision may be appealed to the Community Development Director and the County Commission.
(1) 
Flexible grid addresses shall be numbered consistently outward from a specific east/west (x) axis and a north/south (y) axis for each community. Street names shall be labeled with "East," "West," "South," or "North" whenever the street lies on both sides of the zero axis.
(2) 
Looking outward from the axis point, all even-numbered addresses will be to the right side of the street and all odd-numbered addresses will be on the left side of the street.
(3) 
Addresses must be allocated to accommodate the platted lots within each separate community. Each platted lot will have an allocated number. Multiple commercial buildings or residences within a platted lot will be regarded as a cluster for numbering purposes. New plats, replats, and requests for addresses on unplatted parcels will be checked against the community's flexible grid and assigned a physical address consistent with the address ranges for the community.
(4) 
All previously used addresses within the community will be checked and verified to conform to the platted addresses and, if necessary, changed to fit the community's grid during initial address conversion.
(5) 
Any street/road name duplication conflicts or disputes within the separate community shall be resolved by implementing the provisions of Chapter 279, Roads, Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads.[6]
[6]
Editor’s Note: Chapter 279, Roads, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
D. 
Incorporated municipalities. Incorporated municipalities are not subject to this chapter. If incorporated municipalities later wish to be included, this chapter may be amended and a joint powers agreement executed.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
Under the direction of the County Addressor, a general survey of existing locational addresses, conversion of existing locational addresses to comply with the provisions of this chapter, and issuance of new locational addresses where none previously existed shall be undertaken by Doña Ana County Community Development Department staff subsequent to the effective date of this chapter. This process shall be referred to as the "initial address conversion."
A. 
Existing locational addresses that do not conform to the provisions of this chapter shall be readdressed as deemed necessary by the County Addressor.
B. 
During the course of the initial address conversion, all existing road names shall be researched and verified by the County Addressor for compliance with Chapter 279, Roads, Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads,[1] and shall be changed by the County Addressor in accordance with the provisions of said Part 3. Property owners along unnamed private or public roads will be notified of the provisions of Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads, and given an opportunity to formally petition to name said road in conformity with said Part 3. If the residents decline the opportunity to petition for a road name within 30 days from the date of mailing, the County Addressor shall issue addresses using a staff-assigned numerical road designation in lieu of a formal road name. In no way does this subsection prohibit residents along unnamed private or public roads from, at any time, petitioning for a road name in accordance with the procedures contained in Chapter 279, Roads, Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Chapter 279, Roads, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
C. 
During the course of the initial address conversion, and during subsequent addressing, information will be requested from residents. Such information shall include the name of the owner/occupant, mailing address, name of utility companies serving the residence, utility account numbers, and/or any other information deemed necessary to inform emergency services and utilities of the newly issued locational address. It shall be the duty of all persons, firms, and corporations to provide all information requested.
D. 
The assignment of a locational address shall be deemed official following the issuance of a certificate of address.
E. 
Doña Ana County Community Development Department addressing personnel shall affix an address plaque, to be prominently displayed, during the initial phase of the County addressing project. Once a geographical area has been completed (by phases), any plaques missing, removed, or stolen will be replaced by Doña Ana County Community Development Department personnel if notified within 30 days of completion of the geographic area. After the thirty-day period has expired, it will be the responsibility of the owner, occupant, or agent to prominently and permanently affix an address plaque. Failure to post and maintain the address plaques will constitute a violation of this chapter as set forth in § 150-8A.
Subsequent to the initial address conversion, addresses shall be issued in compliance with the following guidelines:
A. 
An owner or agent proposing to build or locate any structure in the unincorporated areas of Doña Ana County shall apply for an address to the County Addressor on forms provided by that office. If the structure is proposed to be located along an unnamed private or public road, no address shall be issued until:
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
(1) 
A legal road name has been adopted in conformance with Chapter 279, Roads, Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads[1];
[1]
Editor’s Note: Chapter 279, Roads, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code..
(2) 
An internal numerical road number has been issued by the County Addressor; or
(3) 
An existing road name has been verified and accepted by the County Addressor in accordance with Chapter 279, Roads, Part 3, Naming of Streets and Roads.
B. 
Subdivisions receiving approval by the Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners shall be assigned locational addresses prior to final subdivision approval. Certificates of address shall be issued concurrently with building permits or mobile home installation permits.
C. 
Replats of lots receiving approval by the Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners shall be assigned locational address, including any necessary readdressing, prior to final replat approval. Certificates of address shall be issued concurrently with building permits or mobile home installation permits.
D. 
It shall be the responsibility of the owner/occupant/agent receiving the certificate of address to prominently and permanently affix an address plaque as directed by staff within 30 days of issuance of an address. Violations will be subject to the provisions set forth in § 150-8A.
E. 
No County building permit, mobile home installation permit, special use permit or home occupation permit shall be issued without proof of a certificate of address or other confirmation by the County Addressor that the structure in question has received a locational address in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
Initial notification procedures; notice to utilities, emergency service providers, and owners, occupants or agents. A notice shall be sent, by the County Addressor, to all emergency service providers and utility companies serving the affected area, informing them of the new locational address, name of owner/occupant/agent, previous locational address, and/or current mailing address. This notice may also include the utility service or account number(s) of the owner/occupant/agent. The owner/occupant/agent shall receive a certificate of address as the final notification of an address change.
B. 
Addressing subsequent to initial conversion. Subsequent to the initial address conversion, a notice to any new address applicant and a notice to utilities and emergency service providers regarding addresses added subsequent to completion of the initial address conversion will be sent monthly by the Doña Ana County Addressor.
Appeals from decisions of the County Addressor shall be to the state court of appropriate jurisdiction in accordance with NMSA § 3-21-9.
A. 
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person(s), firm(s), and/or corporation to neglect, refuse to comply with, resist the enforcement of any provision of this chapter or any requirement pursuant thereto, or in any way issue a locational address not confirmed by a certificate of address issued by the County Addressor.
B. 
Violations of this chapter shall be brought into compliance, abated, or removed by the property owner in violation of this chapter.
C. 
A notice will be sent to the person(s) that a violation of this chapter has occurred and that the violation must be brought into compliance, abated or removed within 10 working days or the County may seek enforcement in any court of competent jurisdiction.
D. 
In addition to any other civil remedies available, violations of this chapter constitute misdemeanors and are punishable as set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III, General Penalty.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
E. 
It shall be the duty of the official(s) designated by the Doña Ana County Manager to enforce the provisions of this chapter.