Albuquerque, NM Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Albuquerque does not have a separate 'tiny home' zoning category; a permanent detached tiny dwelling on a residential lot is regulated as an accessory dwelling unit (casita) under Subsection 14-16-4-3(F)(6) of the Integrated Development Ordinance. As such it is limited to 750 square feet of gross floor area (650 square feet in the Downtown Neighborhood Area CPO-3), must observe a minimum 5-foot side or rear setback, may be no taller than the primary structure, and is allowed only one per lot in the R-A, R-1, R-T, and R-ML zones.

To encourage casita construction under the Housing Forward ABQ initiative, the City of Albuquerque Planning Department publishes free pre-approved casita construction plans. ' Plans are offered at 450, 550, 650, and 750 square feet, each available with a flat or pitched roof and as downloadable construction drawings, allowing homeowners to skip custom design review and move directly to permitting. A movable tiny house on wheels (an RV or park-model trailer) is not a permitted permanent dwelling and would instead be subject to the IDO's rules for recreational vehicles rather than the ADU standards.