New Mexico’s wide-open spaces, natural wonders, and frontier spirit make it a prime destination for RVers. However, if you’d like to take on RV living full time in New Mexico, understanding the laws and regulations is crucial. Knowing what is allowed when driving, towing, parking, and camping on public lands and roads and private property is essential. You’ll also need to get the right insurance and permits and be able to support your lifestyle financially. To help you start your journey, we’ve included information about state and local ordinances and how to contact officials in your location to help you successfully live permanently in your RV.
Please note that this is not an official source of information, and rules and regulations may have changed since the writing of this article. Please always check with your local authorities before making any long-term decisions and if you are unsure of your local laws.
Can You Live in an RV Full Time in New Mexico?
Though New Mexico state laws permit you to live in your RV full time, local zoning laws can complicate setting up camp on your own property. Even so, RV parks and campgrounds provide motorhome and trailer owners with options for long-term stays, and some areas may allow you to get a permit that makes RV living full time possible. Since RVs are classified as vehicles or recreational equipment, in most locations, you will need to pass inspections, install specific utilities, or be in the process of building a permanent residence on your property to be allowed to live in them. Always check your local zoning laws for guidance, and check with local officials to see if you can move to a designated area that accommodates motorhomes and trailers.
Rules and Regulations for RVing in New Mexico
If you are determined to make full-time RV living in New Mexico a reality, knowing how to tow, park, and camp legally can keep you out of trouble and prevent you from racking up fines. You’ll need to register your vehicle with the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division and obtain any permits required to legally park it in a given area for an extended duration.
RV Parking Laws
New Mexico permits RVers to stop at rest areas to visit and relax, and it has one of the most lenient overnight parking policies in the United States. Within any three-day period, RVers can park for up to 24 hours at a single location as long as the station allows it. The amount of time you can park in a particular area is regulated by the city or county ordinances and zoning laws. For instance, in Albuquerque’s R-1 zone, code enforcement policies say that you can park your RV outside in your side yard or rear yard as long as it doesn’t extend over the public sidewalk.
Trailer Towing Laws
New Mexico’s trailer towing laws set size limits for RVs, including a 14-foot maximum height and an 8 feet 6 inches maximum width on most roads and rural interstates. Your motorhome must not exceed 45 feet in total length. Trailers can be no more than 40 feet long, and combined vehicle-trailer length cannot exceed 65 feet. Triple towing is allowed. Drivers must also install a safety chain, flares or reflective signs, and brakes on any trailer weighing 3,000 pounds or more.
Boondocking Regulations
New Mexico allows boondocking on many public lands in the state, including national forests and Bureau of Land Management-controlled properties. Generally, campers are allowed to stay in the same spot for up to 14 days within a 28-day period. Once your stay is complete, you must leave to camp elsewhere, at least 25 miles away from your most recent stop.
RV Insurance Requirements
If you’re driving a Class A, Class B, or Class C RV in New Mexico, you must have RV liability insurance that covers bodily injury and property damage. RV drivers must carry at least $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $10,000 coverage per accident for property damage. If you have a trailer-type RV, check that your auto or homeowner’s insurance covers your trailer when you’re on the road. Also, buying a supplementary or comprehensive insurance policy that covers collisions, towing, and damage to or theft or loss of personal property is a good idea.
Rules for Camping on Public Land
The National Parks Service, State Parks Service, US Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management all manage developed and dispersed RV camping areas on public lands in New Mexico. Carson National Forest is good for free camping if you’re near Taos. If you want to check out the state’s Four Corners region, BLM-managed dispersed camping is available near the Angel Peak Scenic Area.
Full-Time RVing in Albuquerque
Living in your RV year-round in Albuquerque can save money on rent, landscaping, property taxes, and other living expenses. You also have the freedom to move or travel whenever you like. There are several accessible extended-stay campgrounds in the area. You can explore the historic adobe buildings in Old Town Albuquerque that date back to 1706 or stop by the San Felipe de Neri Church. If you visit the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, you can park your RV in the lot.
RVing in Albuquerque FAQs
Can you park an RV anywhere in Albuquerque?
No. In Albuquerque Code 8-5-1-13 says that RVs more than 90 inches wide are forbidden from parking on the street. Any vehicle on the street for 36 hours or more may receive a citation. Code 8-5-1-31 says that RVs can be parked on a private lot with the owner’s consent if there are posted signs that list the owner’s phone number and specify parking conditions. You can park an RV on your property in a side or rear yard, inside or outside, as long as it does not extend over the public sidewalk.
Can I live in my RV on my property in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque’s integrated development ordinance allows people to live in an RV on their property for up to 14 days, but cooking and permanent connections for water, sewer, and electricity are prohibited.
Full-Time RVing in Las Cruces
Las Cruces provides RVers with access to hundreds of hiking and biking trails and natural attractions like White Sands National Park. It has a lower-than-average cost of living, great food, and plenty of festivals and museums to enjoy. RVers who live in Las Cruces year-round will love the vibrant energy and the chance to venture out on the road when they want to explore the desert or mountains nearby. Local extended-stay campsites like the Hacienda RV Resort are welcoming to long-term guests.
RVing in Las Cruces FAQs
Can you park an RV anywhere in Las Cruces?
In Las Cruces, you can park your RV at an RV park or campground. As of September 1, 2024, Las Cruces Ordinance 2856 requires RV owners to get a free permit to park on city streets and must park at the address listed on the permit. RVs can remain on the street for no more than six consecutive days and must be moved for 24 hours after that period. No RV can be parked on the street for more than 18 days total within any 90-day period.
Can I live in my RV on my property in Las Cruces?
Zoning ordinances and building codes may or may not restrict living in your RV on your Las Cruces and Dona Ana County property. Check with the City of Las Cruces Permits, Licenses, and Registration department and its Land Use and Development resources for more details.
How to Live in an RV Full Time
In New Mexico, living full time in your RV requires preparation and planning. Before committing to this path, be sure you can support your lifestyle with work, savings, or retirement income. You’ll need to budget for health insurance, vehicle insurance, vehicle payments, fuel, campground or RV park fees, utilities, food, discretionary spending, and other expenses. If your RV becomes your primary home, you’ll need to downsize or find a place to store your belongings, establish residency in New Mexico, and get a mailing address and a voting address.
Types of Properties You Can Live on Full Time in an RV
• Developed campgrounds and RV parks: New Mexico permits full-time RV living in extended-stay RV campgrounds and parks. These locations often provide amenities, utilities, safety, and community for a monthly or seasonal fee.
• Manufactured/mobile home districts: Areas zoned as manufactured/mobile home districts may allow RVs to be used as permanent dwellings if they meet specific requirements.
• Private property: Most cities in New Mexico have laws that restrict or forbid you from living in your RV full-time on residentially zoned private property.
RVing in New Mexico FAQs
Can you sleep in an RV while driving through the US?
As you drive through America in your RV, you can boondock on public lands, stop at RV campgrounds, or stay at private or commercial parking lots that allow you to sleep overnight.
What is the new RV law in New Mexico?
As of September 1, 2024, RV owners must get a free permit to park on city streets in Las Cruces, and they can only stay on the street for six consecutive days at most.
Is it legal to live in an RV full-time in New Mexico?
You can legally live in your RV full-time in New Mexico if the county, city, or town you live in grants permission or their zoning laws allow it.
Can I park my RV on my property in New Mexico?
Some cities and towns in New Mexico may allow you to legally park your RV in specific areas on your property for a predetermined amount of time.
Can I buy land and live in an RV in New Mexico?
In some rural areas of New Mexico, people may purchase land for full-time RV living. Contact the county or municipality in your location to learn more.
How long can you stay at an RV park in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, you can stay at an RV park or campground for as long as the owner permits you to live there.
Exploring America in an RV is a wonderful way to spend your time and experience the land’s natural beauty. Living full time in an RV in New Mexico will give you the chance to spend time in the mountains, cook out in the desert, and enjoy time under the stars, just as the ancients did. When you find a place to make your home, educate yourself about RV living in the area and learn all about the local regulations before committing. Reach out to local officials for information about camping and parking ordinances. If you’re still on the fence, why not rent an RV for an extended trip? This way, you’ll have the perfect chance to try this way of life for yourself.