Belen to host workshop on accessory units, short-term rentals

Belen will hold a public workshop Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 S. Main St., as the city asks residents, property owners and community members to weigh in on two forthcoming ordinances: accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals. A separate Belen Planning and Zoning Commission meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. the same day in the same building.

The accessory dwelling unit proposal is being drafted as Chapter 17.61 and is aimed at responding to demand for smaller homes that can help meet affordable housing needs. ADUs are secondary units that may also be called casitas, in-law suites, granny flats, cottages or other secondary units, and they would be allowed only on the same property as the primary residence. Ownership would have to remain the same for both structures, and construction or placement would depend on the availability of city water and sewer lines.

A separate water meter would be required if the city water director determines service is sufficient. If an ADU is used as a home occupation, it would have to follow the city’s home occupation ordinance.

Short-term rentals are the other half of the discussion. Belen has not yet adopted the rules, but the workshop will surface what the ordinance might include and what questions should be answered before the council moves forward. For homeowners, it would create the chance to generate rental income from a property that might otherwise sit underused. For nearby residents, it raises questions about turnover, enforcement and how much transient lodging a residential street can absorb.

New Mexico lawmakers have pushed ADU legalization in both House Bill 554 in 2025 and House Bill 17 in 2026, each aimed at requiring local zoning authorities to allow accessory units in residential districts. On short-term rentals, a 2025 memorial in the Legislature sought a statewide work group to study economic impact, taxation and regulation, while Rio Rancho approved its own short-term rental ordinance on Oct. 10, 2024, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

A 2023 housing roundtable at UNM-Valencia brought together about 25 participants from municipalities, nonprofits and state agencies to discuss housing insecurity, and Realtor.com listed Belen with 297 homes for sale and 8 homes for rent in May 2026, along with a median listing price of $309,900 and a median sold price of $346,878.