Curry County is the commercial hub of eastern New Mexico’s high plains, anchored by Clovis — a city of approximately 38,000 that serves as the regional center for a broad swath of the Llano Estacado, the vast flat-topped plateau that extends across eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. Clovis is home to Cannon Air Force Base, one of the Air Force Special Operations Command’s premier installations and by far the county’s largest single employer. Eastern New Mexico University’s main campus in nearby Portales (Roosevelt County) draws students who often seek housing in Clovis, and the county’s strong agricultural sector — dairy, cattle, and crop farming — provides additional stable employment. Clovis has historical significance in American music as the home of Norman Petty’s recording studio where Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and others recorded seminal works.
The Curry County rental market is driven heavily by Cannon AFB’s military and civilian workforce, making it one of the more stable rental markets in rural New Mexico. Military families tend to be reliable tenants with verified income and strong housing stability motivations. Rents typically run $900–$1,300 per month for single-family homes near the base and in established Clovis neighborhoods. The market is notably landlord-friendly — SCRA obligations for military tenants are the primary legal complexity landlords must navigate.
Cannon AFB, Plains Regional Medical Center, agriculture, county/school district
Court
Ninth Judicial District Court
Typical Rent
~$900–$1,300/mo
Rent Control
None (state preemption)
Military SCRA
Applies — Cannon AFB tenants
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Pay or Quit
Lease Violation
7-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
Security Deposit Cap
1 month’s rent (leases under 1 yr)
Deposit Return
30 days after termination
Late Fee Cap
10% of monthly rent
Entry Notice
24 hours
Statute
NMSA 1978 §§ 47-8-1 et seq. (UORRA)
Curry County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county rental licensing required. New Mexico has no statewide landlord licensing statute.
Rent Control
None. New Mexico’s Rent Control Preemption Act (1991) prohibits all local rent stabilization ordinances statewide.
Security Deposit
Capped at 1 month’s rent for leases under 1 year. Must be returned with itemized statement within 30 days of termination (NMSA § 47-8-31).
Ninth Judicial District Court
Evictions filed at Ninth Judicial District Court, 700 N. Main St., Clovis, NM 88101. Phone: (575) 742-7777. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Cannon AFB / Military SCRA
Important: Cannon AFB is one of the county’s largest employers. Federal SCRA grants active duty military tenants early termination rights upon PCS orders or deployment. Request LES for income verification. Landlords cannot penalize military tenants for exercising SCRA rights.
Habitability
UORRA standards apply (NMSA § 47-8-20). Clovis at 4,260 ft has hot summers (100°F+) and occasional winter ice storms that sweep across the open plains. Both cooling and heating systems should be maintained and functional.
Screening Fees (2025)
Under NM SB 267 (effective 2025), screening fees must be disclosed in writing before charging. Applicants may reuse background check reports within 90 days at no additional charge.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited statewide. All removals require court process (NMSA § 47-8-36).
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay full amount within 3 days to bar eviction action; also right to cure after judgment in disputed cases
Days to Hearing7-10 (trial set 7-10 days after service of summons) days
Days to Writ3-7 days after judgment (court discretion) days
Total Estimated Timeline14-49 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-500
⚠️ Watch Out
CRITICAL: Rent must be 3 days past due before notice can be served. Tender of full amount due before expiration of 3-day notice bars any action for nonpayment (§ 47-8-33(D)). In disputed cases where tenant claims rent abatement or landlord allocated rent to damages, court enters writ conditioned on tenant's right to remedy within 3 days of judgment entry. Notice must use substantially similar form to § 47-8-56(a). Late fees capped at 10% of monthly rent (§ 47-8-15(D)). No state grace period beyond the 3 days. Filing fee: $80 magistrate + $30 per additional defendant; $157 Metro Court. Hearing set 7-10 days after service. Either party can request 7-day continuance. Tenant can appeal to district court within 10 days (magistrate) or 30 days (district); must pay rent or escrow within 5 days of appeal (§ 47-8-47).
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Magistrate Court (Metro Court in Albuquerque) or District Court - Petition for Restitution (NMSA § 47-8-41). Pay the filing fee (~$$80-157 (magistrate); $212 (district)).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about New Mexico eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified New Mexico attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Cannon AFB military tenants: Request LES for income verification — BAH plus base pay is highly reliable. Understand SCRA early termination rights before signing. Military families are among the most stable tenants available; PCS risk is the primary concern. Favor longer lease terms when the tenant’s rotation schedule permits.
Civilian workforce: Healthcare (Plains Regional Medical Center), school district, county government, and agriculture workers are stable. Verify at 3x monthly rent with 2 recent pay stubs.
ENMU area students: Some ENMU-Portales students seek housing in Clovis. Require co-signers with 5x monthly rent.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Curry County New Mexico Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Clovis Area Rental Property Owners
Curry County is one of eastern New Mexico’s most economically resilient counties, anchored by Clovis and its dominant employment driver: Cannon Air Force Base. Cannon is home to Air Force Special Operations Command units and employs thousands of active duty military personnel, civilian DOD employees, and contractors. The base’s presence gives Clovis a rental market stability that most rural New Mexico communities lack — military families move in and out on predictable rotation cycles, creating consistent demand even when the broader regional economy is soft. For landlords, proximity to Cannon AFB is one of the most significant factors in property valuation and rental income reliability in eastern New Mexico.
Beyond the base, Clovis serves as the commercial hub for a broad agricultural region of the Llano Estacado, with Plains Regional Medical Center anchoring healthcare employment, Clovis Community College serving the workforce training market, and a diverse retail and service economy serving surrounding farming communities in both New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. The county’s agricultural sector — primarily dairy, feedlot cattle, and row crop farming — employs a significant workforce, some of whom seek off-farm housing in Clovis and smaller communities.
Military Tenants and the SCRA
The most important legal consideration for Curry County landlords is the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Active duty military tenants at Cannon AFB have the right to terminate a lease early upon receiving deployment orders or permanent change of station (PCS) orders, with 30 days written notice after delivery of the orders. Landlords cannot impose early termination penalties on military tenants exercising SCRA rights — the SCRA preempts state and local law on this point. Always request a copy of military ID at screening, and verify income using the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). Military tenants are among the most financially stable renters available but carry PCS relocation risk that is a structural feature of the market, not a deficiency of the individual tenant.
New Mexico’s UORRA applies to all non-exempt residential rental relationships in Curry County: 3-day pay or quit for nonpayment, 7-day cure or quit for lease violations, 30-day notice for month-to-month termination, 1-month deposit cap for leases under one year, 30-day deposit return, and 10% late fee cap. Evictions are filed in the Ninth Judicial District Court at 700 N. Main St., Clovis, NM 88101, reachable at (575) 742-7777.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is subject to change. Consult a licensed New Mexico attorney or contact the Ninth Judicial District Court in Clovis at (575) 742-7777 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: April 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed New Mexico attorney or contact the Ninth Judicial District Court at (575) 742-7777 for specific guidance. Last updated: April 2026.
