ZONING DECISION APPEALS

SB 312 restricts who can appeal zoning decisions in New Mexico by limiting appeals to property owners with an ownership interest in the specific property under review or in adjacent properties. The bill amends multiple zoning statutes (Sections 3-19-8, 3-21-4, 3-21-8, and 3-21-9 NMSA) to require this ownership interest as a prerequisite for filing an appeal. This change directly affects individuals or entities seeking to challenge zoning rulings, preventing non-owners (such as neighbors without adjacent property ownership or community groups) from appealing. The bill does not alter zoning rules themselves but modifies the eligibility for judicial review. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the legislature.