Sandoval County Road FAQs

• 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 Anti-donation 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:

Sandoval County Tax Allocation Infographic

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.

To report county-maintained drainage facilities, please call 505-771-8500. Please be specific as to the location and type of facility and also give your name and phone number so that we may contact you should we have more questions regarding what needs to be addressed.

If the cattle guard is owned by Sandoval County, you can submit a request through the online request form. If you do not have web access, contact the Public Works Department at 505-771-8500 and leave a detailed message with the location of the cattle guard to facilitate a faster response.