Welcome

Welcome to the City of Artesia!  To those of you who are new to our City, and as a reminder to those of you who are “old timers”, we have prepared information regarding the City’s procedures, codes & different services we offer you.  We hope it will assist in acquainting you to the City & with projects you might undertake.  All codes can be found by going to www.artesianm.com and clicking on Municipal Code link. 

City Hall:

The following services are located in this building:

Utility Department: 

PAYMENTS:  Mail to City of Artesia, P O Box 1310, Artesia NM  88211-1310, pay in person Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at 511 W Texas Ave or put in night drop located at drive up.

UTILITY RATES:  The City of Artesia has the lowest utility rates in the area.

Water Rates:  You may request a copy of the City’s water rates at City Hall:

Sewer Rates:  You may request a copy of the City’s sewer rates at City Hall:  Sewer rates are based on water used in the months of November, December and January.  If you don’t want to pay a high sewer rate for the remainder of the year you will need to watch your water usage during these months.  Our sewer system can handle residential wastewater fine, but City Code prohibits dumping of hazardous chemicals, grease or oil, and solid wastes into the sewer system.  Please check with the Wastewater staff at 746-9651 if you are not sure about whether or not it is appropriate to send something into our sewer system.

Garbage Rates:  You may request a copy of the City’s garbage rates at City Hall:

Penalties:  If utility bill is not paid by the time listed on your bill there will be a late fee of $15 charged and the utility will be disconnected.  If reconnected after 5:00 pm or on weekends there will be a $10 fee charged.

REGULATIONS ON METERS  All new water services shall have approved and fully functional shut-off valves on the customer side of the water meter in close proximity (within 3’) to the water meter.  The shut-off valve shall be readily accessible by the customer.  Any valve box for the shut-off valve must be installed in such a manner as not to create a trip hazard in any city right-of-way.  Provision, installation, and testing of the shut-off valves and any required valve boxes shall be the responsibility of the customer.

REGULATIONS ON GARBAGE PICKUP: Grass cuttings from yards, tree leaves, small limbs, twigs, dead flowers, dead plants or other trash or debris from yards should be brought to the City transfer station for disposal.  If a citizen cannot get them to the transfer station they should be neatly piled up near that citizen’s dumpster and the transfer station staff should be notified.  A City sanitation crew will pick them up; however, depending on their work load at the time, pickup may take up to a week.  The transfer station is located on Pecos Road near the north end of the City in the Industrial Park area.  It is open seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM.  The phone number there is 748-8812.

The City locates dumpsters in alleys, some streets, and other assorted locations for use of our citizens.  If there is a dumpster in an alley or on a street near your house, you may put your residential refuse in there.  Businesses pay for their own dumpsters to be located on their business properties.  Please do not put residential refuse in a business dumpster.  Only residential or commercial refuse should be placed in City dumpsters.  Large metal items, items of furniture, or large appliances should be brought to the transfer station for disposal.  Construction debris or rocks or soil should be brought to the Eddy County landfill near Carlsbad.  Hazardous chemicals should be disposed of commercially and must not be put in dumpsters.

Waste oil and old oil filters (in quantities such as a household might be expected to generate) can be disposed of at the transfer station for no charge.  We place recycling bins at locations around the City as we can to encourage recycling of paper, plastic, and cardboard.  At this time there are some in the K-Mart parking lot.  Please encourage businesses you patronize to allow us to place them in their parking lots.

Generally, residential dumpsters are emptied on Tuesdays and Thursdays and business dumpsters are emptied on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  There are some exceptions to these rules.  If you need to know when your dumpster is emptied, please call the transfer station.  If you need an extra pickup, please notify the transfer station staff.   

All tree toppings, large brush, and tree limbs removed or cut down within the city shall be removed promptly by the property owners or the occupants of the property, at the expense of said property owners or occupants, to the city waste transfer station.

 GARAGE SALE PERMITS:  If you are going to have a garage sale you need to come to City Hall and fill out a permit.  There is no charge for this.  You are permitted to have a garage sale every 90 days.

DOGS & CATS: You are required by City Code to license your dog or cat.  Take proof of rabies vaccination to the veterinarians and they will issue a permit.  The City of Artesia has a leash law.  Dogs are not allowed to run loose at any time.

BUSINESS REGULATIONS AND LICENSE:  The City of Artesia requires every business to have a license.  This can be purchased at City Hall.  If you are a permanent place of business in the City limits you will receive a business registration for a fee of $35 fee yearly.  If you do not have a permanent place of business in the City limits and wish to do business in the City limits you will pay a fee of $50 fee for every three months.  Some special business will have a different rate: (example: pawn shop $100 per year)

Building Code:  This is where you will get your building permit, plumbing, mechanical, etc.

BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED Are you starting a project?  Before you begin to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, convert, remove or demolish, a building permit must first be obtained from the building code officer.  (Various items which require permits:  fences, mobile homes, decks, patios, storage sheds, signs, sidewalks, fences re-roof, carports, etc.)  If you have a question about this calls or come to City Hall.

 A.  Height and Opacity:

1. No fence or planting more than thirty percent (30%) solid or a solid fence more than three feet (3') high may be located within thirty feet (30') from the inside curb line of a street intersection.

2. Except as provided in subsection A1 of this section, fences less than four feet (4') high may be located on any part of a lot.

3. Except as provided in subsection A1 of this section, fences less than six feet (6') high may be erected on any part of a lot that is as far back or farther back from a street than the main building. A fence higher than provided in this subsection A3 shall require a special permit from the building inspector/code enforcement officer.

B. Barbed Wire Fences: Barbed wire shall not be used in the construction of any fence within the city except as follows:

1. At heights above six feet (6') in climbproof or security fences; or

2. By special permit granted by the city council upon application and hearing in the manner provided for special use permits in section 9-5-1 of this title. (1996 Code § 17.36.130; amd. 2002 Code)

SIDEWALKS/CURBS/GUTTERS  Reduce your liability!  Owners of property abutting a public street are responsible for repair, maintenance, replacement of the said section which adjoins his/her property.  The owner is also responsible for removing snow, ice, or debris and removal of obstructions growing or overhanging from shrubs, weeds, tree limbs or other materials which interfere with pedestrian movement upon any part of the sidewalk.

REMOVAL OF WEEDS Summer means weeds!  All occupants/owners of property located with in the City limits are required to destroy/remove all weeds upon the premises to the center of the adjoining street/alley through out the weed season.  It is unlawful to permit such weeds to grow or remain.

BUSINESS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONE  You want to start a business in your home?  It is best to check the zoning codes first.  In most cases, areas which are zoned residential do not allow businesses or business signs.  Anyone anticipating operating ANY type of business from their home should first check with the City Zoning Department 575-746-2122.

JUNK / SALVAGE / MOTOR VEHICLES Are you a collector or real wizard with old cars?  The accumulation of inoperative vehicles or parts, stored in the open and the salvaging of any other goods, articles or merchandise is not allowed.  If there are any questions contact the City Zoning Department 575-746-2122.

PARKING OF BOATS / RV’S / UTILITY TRAILERS  Play things!  Parking recreational vehicles or utility trailers not self propelled are not allowed on any street or alley within the City limits.  Parking of RV’s that are self propelled or hooked up to a vehicle are not allowed on any street or alley within the City limits for more that (72) seventy-two hours.  If you have any questions on this ordinance contact the City Zoning Department 575-746-2122. 

PARKING OF SEMI-TRACTOR TRAILERS  It shall be unlawful for any truck tractor and semi-trailer, the truck tractor individually, or the semi-trailer individually, to park anywhere within any residential district of the city.

MAYOR’S OFFICE:  If you need to be heard by the Mayor and City Council you will request to be on the agenda.  The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.