Dona Ana County Commissioners unanimously approved a noise ordinance during Tuesday's meeting that would limit the amount of noise permitted at night.

Commissioners said they received numerous phone calls from residents complaining about too much noise in different neighborhoods throughout the county. 

"Everything from ice cream trucks to the kind of booming music that you hear in cars," Dona Ana County Commissioner Chair Karen Perez said.

A lot of complaints were also about barking dogs.

The noise ordinance only applies to county jurisdiction, not the municipalities such as Las Cruces or Sunland Park.

It's only in effect after 10 p.m. on school nights and past midnight on weekends.

"It's just the way it should be," Dona Ana County resident Donald Filip said. "No sense, no reason for all the noise."

Anyone who violates the ordinance can face a fine between $100 and $300.

Perez said officers will monitor the noise with a decibel meter to determine how loud someone is being.

"They're to measure that sound level from the property line," Perez said.

Perez said the cost of each meter will be around $100. It is still unclear how many meters the county will order.

For now, the county did not include any exceptions to the ordinance.

"There won't be any permits that would allow noise being produced at night," Assistant Dona Ana County Attorney Fred Kennon said.

But the county says if it decides it's necessary, it can add a provision to include permits down the line.

The ordinance will take effect 30 days from when it is filed with the clerk's office.