San Juan County is New Mexico’s fourth most populous county and the economic center of the Four Corners region, anchored by Farmington — a city of approximately 45,000 that serves as the commercial and services hub for northwestern New Mexico and adjacent portions of Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. The county seat of Aztec, with approximately 6,700 residents, is a smaller community known for the Aztec Ruins National Monument. Bloomfield and Flora Vista are additional communities in the county’s core. The San Juan Basin’s natural gas and oil production has historically been the county’s economic engine, though the energy transition has led to significant restructuring since the mid-2010s. The county is adjacent to the Navajo Nation, which covers enormous land areas and is home to a substantial portion of the county’s population.
The critical jurisdictional note for San Juan County: large portions of the county — including areas immediately surrounding Farmington — are Navajo Nation trust land. New Mexico state law does NOT apply to housing on Navajo Nation trust land. This is the same issue as McKinley County, but on an even larger scale given San Juan County’s size and the extent of the Navajo Nation’s presence here. Verify land status before any rental agreement. Off-reservation Farmington rents typically run $900–$1,200 per month, with ongoing adjustment as the energy economy transitions.
Energy (oil/gas), San Juan Regional Medical Center, county/school district, Four Corners Power Plant
Court
Eleventh Judicial District Court
Typical Rent (off-reservation)
~$900–$1,200/mo
Tribal Land Jurisdiction
State law does NOT apply on Navajo Nation trust land
⚡ 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) — fee land only
San Juan County & Farmington Local Ordinances
Topic
Rule / Notes
Tribal Land Jurisdiction
⚠️ Critical: The Navajo Nation encompasses very large portions of San Juan County including areas near and surrounding Farmington. New Mexico state law does NOT apply to housing on Navajo Nation trust land — tribal law governs and Navajo Nation District Courts have jurisdiction. This guide applies ONLY to non-tribal fee land. Confirm parcel land status with the San Juan County Assessor before entering any rental agreement.
Rent Control
None on fee land. 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 (NMSA § 47-8-31).
Eleventh Judicial District Court
Fee land evictions filed at Eleventh Judicial District Court. Aztec courthouse: 103 S. Oliver Dr., Aztec, NM 87410. Phone: (505) 334-6151. The Eleventh Judicial District also serves McKinley County (Gallup). Note: Navajo Nation matters are handled in Navajo Nation District Courts.
Energy Market Dynamics
San Juan County’s rental market has been affected by the decline of coal and natural gas production. Several major power plants and mining operations have closed or wound down. Verify that energy-sector tenants have stable employment rather than assuming all energy jobs are long-term.
Habitability
UORRA habitability standards apply on fee land (NMSA § 47-8-20). Farmington at 5,300 ft has hot summers (100°F+) and cold winters. Both cooling and heating are practically essential.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited on fee land. 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.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
New Mexico landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in New Mexico —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need New Mexico's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate New Mexico-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to New Mexico requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ 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
Land status first: Confirm fee land vs. Navajo Nation trust land with the San Juan County Assessor before any lease. This is mandatory in this county.
Healthcare & government workers: San Juan Regional Medical Center, county government, and school district employees are the most stable tenants post-energy-transition. Verify at 3x monthly rent.
Energy sector: Verify employment type carefully — permanent staff vs. contractor. With several major energy projects winding down, confirm that a position is stable before signing a long lease.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
San Juan County New Mexico Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Farmington Area Rental Property Owners
San Juan County is the Four Corners region’s economic hub — a large, diverse county in northwestern New Mexico where the San Juan River meets the Animas and La Plata rivers at the city of Farmington. The county is flanked on multiple sides by the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the United States, and the county’s population and economy have long been intertwined with the Nation’s presence. Farmington itself grew dramatically through the mid-20th century as natural gas and coal production in the San Juan Basin made it one of the most energy-intensive producing regions in the American West. The Four Corners Power Plant, the Navajo Mine, and extensive natural gas infrastructure once made this region a major energy producer. The post-coal and clean-energy transition has significantly restructured the county’s economy since the mid-2010s, and Farmington and San Juan County are in the midst of an ongoing economic diversification effort.
The two most important things to understand about the San Juan County rental market are the Navajo Nation land jurisdiction issue and the energy transition. On jurisdiction: vast portions of the county are Navajo Nation trust land where state law, including the UORRA, does not apply. Any landlord in San Juan County must confirm their parcel’s land status before entering any lease. On the energy transition: many of Farmington’s historically energy-dependent tenants have faced employment disruption as coal mines and power plants have closed. The most stable tenant segments today are healthcare (San Juan Regional Medical Center), government, education (San Juan College and Farmington Municipal Schools), and retail/services tied to the regional economy.
New Mexico Law in San Juan County
For fee land, New Mexico’s UORRA governs in full: 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 on fee land are filed in the Eleventh Judicial District Court at 103 S. Oliver Dr., Aztec, NM 87410, reachable at (505) 334-6151.
This guide applies only to non-tribal fee land subject to New Mexico state jurisdiction. Housing on Navajo Nation trust land is governed by Navajo Nation law. Consult a licensed New Mexico attorney or contact the Eleventh Judicial District Court at (505) 334-6151 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: April 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page applies only to non-tribal fee land subject to New Mexico state jurisdiction. Housing on Navajo Nation trust land is governed by Navajo Nation law. Consult a licensed New Mexico attorney or contact the Eleventh Judicial District Court at (505) 334-6151 for specific guidance. Last updated: April 2026.
