Homesteading in New Mexico
Explore 33 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in New Mexico.
New Mexico uses a Prior Appropriation water rights system , enforces statewide IRC building codes , and requires a carry permit. The effective property tax rate is 0.67%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Prior Appropriation
Prior appropriation doctrine. All surface and groundwater rights must be permitted through the Office of the State Engineer. Domestic wells limited to 3 acre-feet per year.
Statute: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 72-1-1 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: Yes (statewide)
New Mexico Building Code applies statewide based on IRC for residential. Construction Industries Division administers.
Statute: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 60-13-1 et seq.
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: No
Concealed carry requires a license. Open carry of loaded firearms legal without a permit. No permit to purchase required.
Statute: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 29-19-2 et seq.
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from nuisance suits if in operation for at least three years. Coming to the nuisance defense bars claims from new neighbors.
Statute: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-9-1 et seq.
Counties in New Mexico
33 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | 674,692 | $247,300 | $2,459 | 111 | Relatively High |
| Catron County | 3,635 | $156,400 | $650 | 117 | Very Low |
| Chaves County | 64,701 | $133,200 | $804 | 112 | Relatively Moderate |
| Cibola County | 27,211 | $101,900 | $768 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Colfax County | 12,370 | $138,400 | $793 | 96 | Relatively Low |
| Curry County | 48,327 | $151,300 | $863 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| De Baca County | 1,695 | $219,200 | $951 | 107 | Very Low |
| Doña Ana County | 219,870 | $187,400 | $1,350 | 127 | Relatively High |
| Eddy County | 61,264 | $188,400 | $913 | 116 | Relatively Moderate |
| Grant County | 28,006 | $153,900 | $758 | 124 | Relatively Low |
| Guadalupe County | 4,413 | $116,400 | $585 | 104 | Very Low |
| Harding County | 671 | $95,500 | $290 | 100 | Very Low |
| Hidalgo County | 4,160 | $102,500 | $515 | 130 | Very Low |
| Lea County | 73,103 | $162,000 | $756 | 114 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lincoln County | 20,222 | $195,800 | $1,087 | 118 | Relatively Low |
| Los Alamos County | 19,253 | $412,700 | $2,442 | 108 | Very Low |
| Luna County | 25,393 | $100,900 | $597 | 128 | Relatively Low |
| McKinley County | 72,073 | $70,200 | $1,339 | 109 | Relatively Low |
| Mora County | 4,208 | $105,600 | $594 | 99 | Very Low |
| Otero County | 67,850 | $139,100 | $799 | 125 | Relatively Moderate |
| Quay County | 8,641 | $76,800 | $463 | 103 | Very Low |
| Rio Arriba County | 40,285 | $212,700 | $946 | 104 | Relatively Low |
| Roosevelt County | 19,142 | $128,100 | $629 | 108 | Relatively Moderate |
| Sandoval County | 149,460 | $258,100 | $2,042 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| San Juan County | 121,798 | $170,700 | $1,185 | 104 | Relatively Moderate |
| San Miguel County | 27,215 | $150,400 | $958 | 101 | Relatively Low |
| Santa Fe County | 154,481 | $374,200 | $1,921 | 109 | Relatively Moderate |
| Sierra County | 11,506 | $138,400 | $734 | 121 | Relatively Low |
| Socorro County | 16,453 | $132,700 | $701 | 116 | Relatively Low |
| Taos County | 34,475 | $313,400 | $1,239 | 104 | Relatively Low |
| Torrance County | 15,203 | $132,600 | $716 | 114 | Relatively Low |
| Union County | 4,074 | $126,900 | $633 | 96 | Very Low |
| Valencia County | 76,613 | $184,400 | $1,296 | 113 | Relatively Moderate |
Compare counties with your priorities
Use our interactive Location Finder to score and rank counties in New Mexico based on what matters most to you.
Open Location Finder for New Mexico