County · code 35035
Otero CountyNew Mexico
Otero County is a county in New Mexico, with its seat in Alamogordo, formed in 1899.
- Founded1899
- County seatAlamogordo
- Named forMiguel Antonio Otero
- Land area6,613 sq mi + 14 sq mi water
- Population67,839 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped50,740 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Otero on the map of New Mexico
New Mexico has 33 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1899 from Do County, Ana County, Lincoln County and Socorro County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Otero County was created by New Mexico Territory from Doña Ana, Lincoln, and Socorro counties.
- 1702Became part of New Mexico Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. Somerset became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. · Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439-445, Van Zandt, 79
- 1899
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Otero
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Official
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 50,740 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 21 June 2026 · checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for Otero County yet.
-
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Otero by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
Records
Permits
- Health department: septic and well
Healthcare Services
- Fireworks Permit
Zoning and code
- Planning and zoning
Buildings & Grounds
- Ordinances
- Zoning
County government
- County government
The official website of Otero County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Otero County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Otero County
- When was Otero County founded?
- Otero County was founded in 1899, formed from Do County, Ana County, Lincoln County and Socorro County, and named after Miguel Antonio Otero.
- What is the county seat of Otero County?
- The county seat of Otero County is Alamogordo.
- Is there an online parcel map for Otero County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 50,740 parcels, rated official here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Otero County's boundary or name changed?
- Otero County was created in 1899 from Do County, Ana County, Lincoln County and Socorro County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 1 later change.
- Who issues building permits in Otero County?
- The county's page on building permits: Fireworks Permit. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Otero County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Healthcare Services.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Otero County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby