Carports in the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque are treated as accessory structures under Chapter 9 (Zoning) of the Village Code. They must comply with the setbacks, lot coverage, and 26-foot maximum building height of the underlying residential zone (A-1, A-2, A-3, R-1, R-3 or VC), and properties bounded by an irrigation ditch or drain have an additional 25-foot setback. Building permits are issued through the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) after village zoning sign-off.
Los Ranchos zoning under Chapter 9 of the Village Code establishes an Agricultural/Residential character (A-1 at 1 unit/acre, A-2, and A-3 at 1 unit/3 acres) plus R-3 (1 unit/0.33 acre) and the Village Center (VC) zone, each with specific yard setbacks, lot-coverage limits, and a 26-foot maximum building height measured from existing grade to the top of the pitch, parapet, or mansard roofline (Sections 9.2.7, 9.2.9, 9.2.11, 9.2.14). Carports are accessory structures customarily incidental to a permitted residential use, alongside garages, barns, corrals, and animal pens. A 25-foot setback applies to any portion of a lot bounded by an irrigation ditch or drain - a common condition along the Rio Grande acequia network in Los Ranchos. Front-yard accessory placement is generally not allowed; carports are normally placed in side or rear yards behind the principal dwelling. Because Los Ranchos is not a home-rule charter city with its own building-permit office, building permits for carports (whether attached or detached, with or without a roof) are issued by the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID), after the Village's Planning & Zoning Department signs off on zoning compliance. Construction must follow the New Mexico Building Code, which adopts the IRC and IBC (as amended by the New Mexico Construction Industries Commission). Lots in or near the Bosque or Rio Grande floodplain may also require FEMA floodplain review through Bernalillo County. Confirm exact setbacks and any acequia-specific clearance with Planning & Zoning Director Shanna Schultz at (505) 344-6582 or sschultz@losranchosnm.gov before designing.
Building a carport without a CID building permit or village zoning sign-off, encroaching into a required yard, exceeding the 26-foot height limit, ignoring the 25-foot ditch/drain setback, or placing a carport in the front yard is a zoning and building violation. Code Enforcement Officer Forest Replogle (freplogle@losranchosnm.gov) can issue stop-work orders, require removal or retroactive permitting, and impose fines under Chapter 9 of the Village Code; CID handles state-level building-code violations.
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
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Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque enforces noise control under village ordinances and NMSA §30-20-1 (disturbing the peace). Unreasonable noise that disturbs the pea...
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Animal control in Los Ranchos is provided by Bernalillo County Animal Care Services. Persistent barking that constitutes a nuisance is addressed under county...
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
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Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
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Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Los Ranchos parking regulated under village zoning code §9.2.18 (Off-street Parking Regulations). Many village roads are narrow and rural without curbing. NM...
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