Albuquerque's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, there are 13 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Wildlife Feeding

Albuquerque prohibits intentional feeding of coyotes, bears, javelinas, and other nuisance wildlife under ROA 1994 Chapter 9 with enhanced penalties in foothills neighborhoods.

Key details: Prohibited Species: Coyotes, bears, javelinas, foxes. Code Section: ROA 1994 Chapter 9. Foothills Enforcement: Enhanced in WUI zones. Bird Feeders: Allowed with spill management. Coordination: NM Game & Fish on large species.

First offense: written warning. Second offense: $250-$500 fine. Third offense: up to $1,000 fine and potential misdemeanor charge if feeding caused a public safety incident.

Compared to other cities, Albuquerque takes a harder line on wildlife feeding. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pet Limits

Albuquerque's HEART Ordinance limits a household to no more than six companion animals, no more than four of which may be dogs; exceeding that limit requires a Multiple Companion Animal Site Permit (MCASP), which itself caps a site at 15 companion animals.

Key details: Code Section: ROA Sec. 9-2-4-3(C)(1); 9-2-3-8. Max Animals: 6 companion animals. Max Dogs: 4. Over-Limit Permit: MCASP (cap 15 animals). Spay/Neuter: Required unless Intact Permit held.

Keeping more than the permitted number of animals without an MCASP is a HEART Ordinance violation; the City's civil-penalty schedule is $200 (first), $300 (second), and $500 (third or subsequent) offense, with potential seizure and impoundment of animals kept over the limit.

Compared to other cities, Albuquerque takes a harder line on pet limits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Animal Hoarding

Albuquerque limits the number of companion animals per household and treats hoarding as a public-health and animal-welfare violation under Chapter 9, Article 2 of the city code.

Key details: Code section: ROA 1994, Ch. 9 Art. 2. Pet cap: 6 dogs/cats combined. Permit: Multi-pet permit required. Enforcement: Animal Welfare Department. Severity: Misdemeanor possible.

Penalties include impoundment, daily civil fines, mandatory veterinary cost reimbursement, court-ordered forfeiture, and possible misdemeanor cruelty charges under city code Section 9-2-4.

Cat Rules

Albuquerque requires cats over four months old to be licensed, vaccinated against rabies, and prohibits cats from running at large under the city's HEART ordinance.

Key details: License age: 4 months and older. Microchip: Required. Rabies: Vaccination mandatory. Roaming: Not permitted at large.

First-offense violations carry $25 to $100 fines plus impound and reclaim fees; repeat offenses escalate and unlicensed unaltered cats face higher reclamation costs at the Eastside Shelter.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Albuquerque requires sterilization of dogs and cats over six months old unless owners pay for and maintain an intact-animal permit, one of the strictest such laws in the Southwest.

Key details: Sterilization age: Over 6 months. Intact permit fee: Annual, set by council. Breeder permit: Separate license required. Impound surcharge: Higher for intact animals. Authority: Animal Welfare Department.

Unaltered animals trigger higher impound and reclaim fees, and repeated violations or unpermitted litters can result in citations, court-ordered sterilization, and misdemeanor charges.

This is one of the stricter rules in Albuquerque's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Microchipping

All licensed dogs and cats in Albuquerque must be microchipped, with chip information registered to the owner and updated when the animal or contact information changes.

Key details: Required for: Licensed dogs and cats. Registry update: Owner responsibility. Low-cost clinics: Operated by Animal Welfare. Stray hold: Extended without chip.

Citations may issue when an impounded pet has no chip or outdated registration; reclamation fees rise and continued non-compliance can result in additional civil penalties.

Coyote Management

Albuquerque prohibits feeding coyotes and other wildlife and coordinates with NM Game and Fish to manage urban coyote conflicts in foothills neighborhoods bordering the Sandia Mountains.

Key details: Feeding wildlife: Prohibited citywide. Firearm discharge: Illegal in city limits. State partner: NM Game and Fish. Hot zone: Foothills/Bosque areas.

Feeding coyotes can trigger nuisance citations and fines under ROA 1994 Chapter 9, and unsecured trash leading to wildlife conflict can incur Solid Waste Department penalties.

Pet Store Rules

Albuquerque restricts retail pet stores from selling commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits, requiring sourcing from shelters or rescue organizations under a 2022 amendment to the HEART ordinance.

Key details: Adopted in: 2022 amendment. Allowed sources: Shelters, rescues only. Records kept: Two years minimum. Covers: Dogs, cats, rabbits.

Selling commercially sourced dogs, cats, or rabbits at retail can result in citations, license revocation, and fines escalating with each animal involved in the violation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Albuquerque actively enforces its pet store rules requirements.

Dog Leash Laws

Albuquerque HEART Ordinance (ROA Ch. 9, Art. 2) — all dogs must be on a leash no longer than 8 ft when in public, held by a person capable of controlling the animal. Verbal commands do not constitute control. Off-leash allowed only in designated dog parks.

Key details: Leash Length: 8 ft maximum. Control: Person must physically hold leash. Off-Leash: Designated dog parks only. Fine (1st offense): $200. Ordinance: HEART Ordinance, ROA Ch. 9, Art. 2.

$200 first violation, $300 second, $500 each subsequent. Criminal charges possible for repeat offenders.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Albuquerque actively enforces its dog leash laws requirements.

Exotic Pets

Albuquerque ROA §9-2-3-9 — permit required to own exotic or wild animals including venomous reptiles, large constrictors, alligators, crocodiles, and certain birds of prey. Collection permit (EWACP) required for 15+ exotic animals. No release into wild within city limits.

Key details: Ordinance: ROA §9-2-3-9. Permit: Required for all exotic/wild animals. Collection Permit: Required for 15+ exotic animals. Prohibited: Releasing into wild in city. Examples: Large snakes, alligators, venomous species.

Confiscation of prohibited animals. Fines $500 to $5,000. Criminal charges possible for dangerous species. Owner liable for damages from escaped animals.

This is one of the stricter rules in Albuquerque's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is permitted in Albuquerque. The city was designated the first Bee City USA in the Southwest in 2016. No registration required by city or state, though commercial apiaries must register annually by November 1. Beekeepers can join the no-spray list via 311.

Key details: Status: Bee City USA since 2016. Permit Required: No (residential hobby). Commercial Registration: Annual by Nov 1 (NM DOA). No-Spray List: Call 311 to be added. State Rule: NMAC 21.27.2.

Unauthorized hives: removal order. Nuisance complaints: fines. Unregistered apiary: state-level penalty.

The rules around beekeeping in Albuquerque lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Breed Restrictions

Albuquerque has no breed-specific ban; the HEART Ordinance regulates dogs by individual behavior, defining 'Aggressive' through objective observation rather than breed. New Mexico's Dangerous Dog Act likewise defines dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs strictly by conduct, not breed.

Key details: Breed Ban: None. City Standard: Behavior-based ('Aggressive'). State Law: NM Dangerous Dog Act, Sec. 77-1A-1 et seq.. Dangerous Dog Test: Conduct, not breed. Local Authority: NMSA 1978, Sec. 77-1-12.

There is no breed-ban penalty. A dog found dangerous or potentially dangerous under the state Dangerous Dog Act must be registered, confined in a proper enclosure, and handled per court order or be humanely destroyed; HEART aggression and at-large violations carry the City's civil-penalty schedule of $200 (first), $300 (second), and $500 (third or subsequent) offense.

The rules around breed restrictions in Albuquerque lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Chickens & Livestock

Albuquerque's HEART Ordinance caps poultry at 15 birds per household with no more than one rooster, and caps rabbits at 15 per household; keeping of other livestock is governed by the city's Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) zoning rules.

Key details: Code Section: ROA Sec. 9-2-4-3(C)(2)-(3). Poultry Limit: 15 birds. Roosters: Max 1 per household. Rabbits: 15 per household. Zoning: Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO).

Exceeding the poultry, rooster, or rabbit limits is a HEART Ordinance violation; the City's civil-penalty schedule is $200 (first), $300 (second), and $500 (third or subsequent) offense; separate zoning enforcement under the IDO may apply where livestock is kept in a district that does not permit it.

The Bottom Line

Albuquerque is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 13 rules covered here, 6 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Albuquerque, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Albuquerque's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.