How Do na Ana County's Community Development handles permits, enforcement and mapping
May 29, 2026 | Doña Ana County, New Mexico
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Do na Ana County's Community Development Department includes long-range planning, current planning, Building Services, Codes Enforcement and GIS, Director Christina Ainsworth told the county podcast. The department reviews zoning and subdivision applications, issues building permits, enforces codes and maintains interactive land-use maps on the county website.
Ainsworth said Building Services processes permits such as building, mobile-home, sign and fence permits and that plans examiners and inspectors review and inspect projects during construction. "When you're going to come in and get building permit, you're uh you are going to need some construction plans. It's going to include a site plan," she said, listing typical submittal items including floor plans, wall sections and foundation details.
Codes Enforcement has officers who pursue compliance and laborers who remove illegal dumping; Ainsworth said that work helps "help people gain ownership and pride in their communities." The department also maintains GIS layers for zoning, streets and addresses and offers interactive maps on the county website for public use.
Contact and reporting: Ainsworth gave business hours and contact channels: "We're open regular business hours, 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday." She provided the main phone number, 575-647-7350, and email addresses (buildingservices@donaana.gov and planning@donaana.gov). To report illegal dumping, the county offers a QR-linked app on its website; the county also uses third-party apps such as Dash Fix It for infrastructure reports.
How residents can engage: For code or zoning questions, residents can walk into Building Services during business hours, call the office, or check the department's interactive maps. For proposed UDC (Unified Development Code) amendments, Ainsworth said the Planning and Zoning Commission reviews changes first and holds public hearings during twice-monthly meetings; P&Z then forwards recommendations to the BOCC.
Ainsworth encouraged residents to reach out with questions about permits, compliance or proposed code changes and to watch P&Z agendas and the county website for announcements of hearings and community meetings.
Ainsworth said Building Services processes permits such as building, mobile-home, sign and fence permits and that plans examiners and inspectors review and inspect projects during construction. "When you're going to come in and get building permit, you're uh you are going to need some construction plans. It's going to include a site plan," she said, listing typical submittal items including floor plans, wall sections and foundation details.
Codes Enforcement has officers who pursue compliance and laborers who remove illegal dumping; Ainsworth said that work helps "help people gain ownership and pride in their communities." The department also maintains GIS layers for zoning, streets and addresses and offers interactive maps on the county website for public use.
Contact and reporting: Ainsworth gave business hours and contact channels: "We're open regular business hours, 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday." She provided the main phone number, 575-647-7350, and email addresses (buildingservices@donaana.gov and planning@donaana.gov). To report illegal dumping, the county offers a QR-linked app on its website; the county also uses third-party apps such as Dash Fix It for infrastructure reports.
How residents can engage: For code or zoning questions, residents can walk into Building Services during business hours, call the office, or check the department's interactive maps. For proposed UDC (Unified Development Code) amendments, Ainsworth said the Planning and Zoning Commission reviews changes first and holds public hearings during twice-monthly meetings; P&Z then forwards recommendations to the BOCC.
Ainsworth encouraged residents to reach out with questions about permits, compliance or proposed code changes and to watch P&Z agendas and the county website for announcements of hearings and community meetings.
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