New Mexico has a deep agricultural heritage, and the state’s wide-open landscapes make it one of the more welcoming places in the American Southwest for people who want to keep farm animals as pets. Chickens in the backyard, a pair of goats on a small rural lot, or a miniature donkey on a few acres — all of these are realistic possibilities here. But the legal picture is more layered than it might seem at first glance.
Before you bring home a pig, a sheep, or even a small flock of hens, you need to understand how New Mexico classifies these animals, which state agencies oversee them, and — critically — what your county or city allows on your specific property. Getting the sequence right saves you from costly fines, forced rehoming, or neighbor disputes that could have been avoided entirely.
Pro Tip: Always verify your property’s zoning designation before acquiring any farm animal. Your county assessor’s website or planning and zoning office can confirm your zone in minutes — and that single step determines almost everything else covered in this article.
Which Farm Animals Can You Keep as Pets in New Mexico
New Mexico law draws a sharp line between companion animals and livestock, and that distinction shapes every rule that follows. “Animals” or “livestock” under the New Mexico Livestock Code means all domestic or domesticated animals used or raised on a farm or ranch, and includes equines, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, bison, poultry, ostriches, emus, rheas, camelids, and farmed cervidae. If the animal you want falls into that list, it is legally livestock — not a pet — regardless of how you personally keep it…