No. Per the Sandoval County Roads Ordinance, the County does not build roads. The ordinance allows for a developer or other groups to build roads and then submit them through a process for acceptance into the County’s inventory for maintenance. For a road to be approved for acceptance into the County’s inventory, it must meet a very specific set of design guidelines as detailed in the ordinance. Click here to read the Roads Ordinance.

• If the road condition requires emergency response services, call 911.
• Report Non-emergency issues involving Sandoval County roads either by submitting an Online Request Form, or by calling (505) 771-8500. (Please leave a detailed message that includes your name, address, phone number, and the location and description of the road condition.)

If your road requires immediate assistance, submit an Online Request Form or call (505) 771-8500. (Please leave a detailed message that includes your name, address, phone number, and description of the road condition.)

Here are how grading priorities are determined:

• First priority is roads used by emergency services vehicles or serve as bus routes.
• Second priority is major arterials, and side streets as needed.
• Routine road maintenance is scheduled on a priority basis.

NOTE:  Sandoval County is not permitted (per New Mexico State Constitution Antidonation Clause) to plow, de-ice or maintain roads that are not in our inventory or those that are not within our jurisdiction. Doing so would be a violation of the State’s Antidonation Clause.

• Should you require immediate attention due to medical issues, or if you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911. In the event of an emergency, the Public Works Department will work with public safety personnel to assist or plow as needed to render aid.
• Sandoval County Public Works monitors the roadways owned/maintained by the County during inclement weather. Roads are prioritized to allow for emergency services and bus routes to be cleared first. Major arterials, collectors, etc., are then cleared as needed.

Each year, Sandoval County Public Works assesses its roads’ projects and determines how best to use tax dollars and other limited funding to achieve maximum results.. Projects  are prioritized based upon many factors including:

• number of vehicles that utilize the road,
• current road condition,
• cost of maintenance vs resurfacing,
• whether or not the road is a bus route,
• whether or not the road is used by emergency services, and
• whether or not the road is a major arterial road, etc.

Sandoval County only budgets a certain amount of funding each year from property taxes, grants or the State of New Mexico to maintain, repair and resurface roads in Sandoval County. The amount of funding budgeted varies from year to year. For a more detailed look at how your property tax dollars are divided up among various entities, including the County which must then further divide up your tax dollars for all of its programs/services, see the graphic below:

Right-of-way permit requirements are outlined in Sandoval County Ordinance 7-14-11.7A; PROCEDURES FOR DEDICATION OF ROADS, DISTURBING AND REPAIRING COUNTY PROPERTY AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY. Permits may be obtained at the Sandoval County Public Works office located at 2708 Iris Road in Rio Rancho, or by calling the office at (505) 771-8500.