Public Records Request

The City Clerk serves as the Custodian of Records for the City of Las Cruces. By law, under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), every person has the right to inspect public records maintained by the City of Las Cruces. The Act also makes compliance with requests to inspect public records as an integral part of the routine duties of the officers and employees of the City of Las Cruces. It is the responsibility of the City to make public records available for inspection.

Anyone may request public records by contacting the City Clerk's Office in person, by mail, email or through the Records Request Portal. 

All written requests are responded to pursuant to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act. View the Inspection of Public Records Act and Guide (PDF) for more information. 

PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING RECORDS

  • An oral or written request is made to the custodian of record in-person or online. The City Clerk is the custodian of record for the City of Las Cruces. If a record is readily available where it is created, stored or maintained, the request may be made in that office.
  • A written request shall provide the name, address and telephone number of the person requesting review of records. Records should be identified as accurately as possible.
  • Inspection will be granted immediately or when is practicable under circumstances, but no later than 15 days.
  • If the inspection is not granted within three business days, you will receive notification from the custodian of record telling you when it will be available.
  • Confidential information in a specific record will be redacted or removed. In order to obtain medical information or other exempt information from any document of record, a signed and notarized IPRA and/or HIPAA waiver of confidentiality will need to be provided from the patient or their legal designee.
  • The City of Las Cruces is not required to create a record that does not exist.
  • Excessively burdensome requests may take longer than 15 days. If time extends past 15 days, you will receive notification from the custodian of record telling you when the records will be available.
  • If your request to inspect records is denied, you will receive notification from the custodian of record explaining the denial.
  • If the custodian of record does not deliver the records requested or denied the inspection of the records incorrectly, a penalty may be imposed on the City.
  • Actions to enforce the Inspection of Public Records Act are taken by the Attorney General or District Attorney.


Contact the City Clerk's Office at (575) 541-2114 or [email protected] with any questions.

The City of Las Cruces is committed to transparent government.  To date for 2023, the City Clerk's Office has received 276 Inspection of Public Records Requests.

February IPRA Request Stats

1883 Documents Provided

242 Hours Spent Researching, Reviewing, and Redacting

387 Activities (broken down by department)

CMO/City Manager - 2

CMO/Facilities Management - 1

Community Development - 2

Community Development/Permits - 1

Community Development/Planning - 2

Economic Development - 1

Fire - 15

Human Resources - 7

Information Technology - 3

Legal/City Attorney - 2

Legal/City Clerk's Office - 4

Legal/Internal Audit -1

Legal/Records - 269

Legal/Risk Management - 2

Municipal Court - 1

Police - 63

Codes - 9

Utilities - 1

Utilities/Billing - 1