Roswell, New Mexico Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: STR Status in Roswell, NM

Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Roswell, NM through a comprehensive licensing and regulatory framework. The City of Roswell permits STR operations provided operators obtain the required short-term rental registration, business license, and comply with all applicable zoning, safety, and tax requirements. Properties must be operated as primary residences with proper documentation and ongoing compliance with municipal ordinances.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Roswell?

Roswell hosts earn a median $21,913/year with $121 ADR and 67% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $31,822+ per year.

See the full Roswell market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Roswell

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Obtain New Mexico Tax ID

Visit the New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department at 400 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 200, or apply online at tax.newmexico.gov
This is required before proceeding with any city registrations

Step 2: Complete Short-Term Rental Registration Application

Download and complete the official application form available at roswell-nm.gov
Submit to the Business License Clerk with $35 non-refundable registration fee
Include required documentation (see Required Documents section below)

Step 3: Schedule Required Inspections

Fire Marshal inspection: Call 575-624-6830
Building inspection: Call 575-637-6293
Fire inspection must be completed before building inspection
All inspectors set their own appointments - contact them directly

Step 4: Submit Documentation for Review

Insurance certificate and off-street parking plan must be submitted to Planning and Zoning Department
Site plan required for additions or remodels only

Step 5: Obtain Business License

After all inspections are completed and approved
Business License Clerk will issue registration license
Your business license cannot be issued until all inspections are completed

Step 6: Begin Tax Collection

Start collecting Lodgers' Tax (5% of nightly rate)
Remit collections by the 25th of the succeeding month

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Essential Documentation

Short-Term Rental Registration Application ($35 fee)
Business License Registration (separate fee)
New Mexico State Tax ID Number (CRS number)
General Commercial Liability Insurance Certificate
Off-Street Parking Plan (must include one ADA space and one standard space)
Fire Marshal Inspection Certificate
Building Inspection Certificate
Site Plan (if property is an addition or remodel)

Safety Compliance Requirements

Per municipal code, all STR properties must have:

Fire Extinguishers: ABC 5-pound metal head type, inspected and tagged annually, minimum one per floor
Smoke Alarms: Installed in every sleeping room and on every level, compliant with 2015 International Building and Fire Codes
Clear Escape Routes: Unobstructed path to outside from every sleeping room and living area
Open Fire Permit (if applicable): Posted at primary entrance per Roswell Code section 42-42

Annual Renewal Requirements

Both registration and business license must be renewed annually
Inspections must be passed annually
Insurance must remain current

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

City of Roswell STR Regulations

Primary Residence Requirement

STRs must be operated in the property owner's primary residence
The location must be the person's usual place of return and habitation for the license term

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

ADUs may not be used as separate short-term rentals
ADUs have the same limitations as the primary residence

Local Contact Requirements

Each STR must designate a local contact person
Contact must be available 24/7, 7 days per week
Must respond within one hour to address complaints or violations
Contact person must be able to satisfactorily correct alleged nuisances

Operational Standards

Properties must comply with all City of Roswell Municipal Code provisions
Hosts must address public safety calls, nuisances, and guest conduct issues
Additional regulations available in short-term rental guidelines

Zoning Compliance

Properties must be in appropriate zoning districts for STR operation
Planning and Zoning Department conducts review of parking and site plans
Properties in common interest developments (HOAs) require prior HOA approval

County-Level Regulations

Chaves County maintains oversight through the Roswell Chaves County Economic Development Corporation
County regulations complement city requirements where applicable

State-Level Requirements (New Mexico)

Tax Obligations

Gross Receipts Tax (GRT): State-level tax on rental income (varies by location)
Lodgers' Tax: 5% of nightly rate, remitted monthly to city
Hosts must maintain detailed records of all rental income and tax payments
State business registration may be required for business entities

General Compliance

Properties must meet statewide building and fire codes
Anti-discrimination laws apply to all rental operations
Health and safety codes apply to all rental properties

Contact Information for Local Authorities

Primary City Contacts

Finance Department (Licensing and Registration)

Phone: (575) 624-6700
Email: tourism@roswell-nm.gov
Address: 500 N. Main St. Suite 100, P.O. Drawer 1838, Roswell, NM 88202

Business License Clerk

Phone: (575) 637-6208

Fire Marshal Office (Inspections)

Phone: (575) 624-6830

Building Inspection Office

Phone: (575) 637-6293

Planning and Zoning Department

Reviews parking plans and site plans
Located within City Hall complex

General City Contact

Phone: (575) 624-6700
Email: info@roswell-nm.gov
Address: 425 N Richardson, Roswell, NM 88201

County and State Contacts

Chaves County

Website: co.chaves.nm.us

New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department

Website: tax.newmexico.gov
Location: 400 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 200, Roswell, NM

Source Links

Official City Resources

Additional Resources

Note: This guide is based on current municipal regulations as of the provided information. STR regulations may be updated periodically. Investors should verify current requirements with the City of Roswell Finance Department before proceeding with any investments or registrations.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Roswell

Roswell is a small city in southeastern New Mexico and the seat of Chaves County. With a population of roughly 48,000, it carries a quirky, kitschy-meets-cosmic reputation that has long outgrown its modest size. Best known worldwide for the supposed 1947 UFO incident and the alleged recovery of a flying saucer, Roswell leans fully into its extraterrestrial lore, but it also serves as a practical gateway to the Sacramento Mountains, the Pecos River valley, and the high desert landscapes of the Llano Estacado. The nearest major city is Albuquerque, about 200 miles to the northwest, a drive of roughly three hours.

The anchor of Roswell's identity sits along Main Street in the historic downtown, where the International UFO Museum and Research Center occupies a former movie theater. The museum's exhibits cover the 1947 incident, broader UFO history, and related pop-culture phenomena, and it draws tens of thousands of visitors each year, especially during the city's annual UFO Festival in early July. A short walk from there leads to the district's preserved mid-century architecture, locally owned diners, and alien-themed storefronts that give the downtown its unmistakable character.

About fifteen miles southeast of town, Bottomless Lakes State Park offers a welcome change of pace. A series of deep, blue sinkhole lakes carved into the gypsum plains, the park is popular for swimming, scuba diving in its chilly waters, and picnicking along the limestone cliffs. It is roughly a twenty-minute drive from central Roswell and provides an easy half-day excursion for visitors who want to pair alien lore with classic New Mexico outdoor scenery.

Within the city itself, the Roswell Museum and Art Center highlights a different thread of local history. Its galleries showcase regional art and the legacy of Robert H. Goddard, who conducted pioneering rocket tests on the surrounding high plains in the 1930s, making Roswell an unlikely but real early home of American rocketry. South of town, the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge draws birders in season, while the Sacramento Mountains and the village of Ruidoso lie about an hour and a half to the southwest, offering cooler pine forests, ski runs in winter, and a traditional Western small-town feel.

Roswell's appeal for short-term rentals comes from a stack of motivations that rarely overlap in one market. The UFO draw delivers a steady, offbeat tourist current that peaks around the summer festival, while the surrounding state park, mountains, and wildlife refuge add nature-based reasons to stay longer. With a serviceable lodging base, a distinct identity that essentially markets itself, and ready access to both the desert and the alpine Southwest, the city offers investors a destination where themed tourism and conventional outdoor travel comfortably coexist.