Bernalillo County, NM Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max lot coverage
- 60% of lot (industrial park)
- Front yard
- 30 ft minimum
- Side/rear yard
- 5 ft, 15 ft near residential
- Approval body
- County Planning Commission
- Permit type
- Special Use Permit, § 18
- Max penalty
- $300 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Bernalillo County's only lot-coverage ceiling in its zoning ordinance applies to special-use industrial parks: under § 18(15)(c), principal and accessory buildings on an approved industrial park special use permit may cover no more than 60 percent of the lot, alongside fixed yard and height standards.
15.Industrial park, that provides suitable sites for a wide range of industrial and commercial uses, provided uses are conducted in a compatible and harmonious manner within commercial and industrial environments achieved through a development plan and further provided it complies with the following requirements:a.Yard Requirements. Unless otherwise approved in the development plan, all buildings in the park shall conform to the following yard requirements:(1)Front Yard. There shall be a front yard having a minimum depth of 30 feet.(2)Side and Rear Yards. There shall be a minimum side and rear yards of 5 feet; provided, however, that any side or rear yard abutting a residence in an A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, or M-H zone shall have a minimum depth of 15 feet.b.Building Height:(1)Buildings. The same regulations as in the C-2 zone except as provided in the Supplementary Height and Area Regulation Section of this ordinance.c.Maximum Lot Coverage:(1)Principal and accessory buildings may occupy no more than 60 percent of the lot area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
A. d bars any off-street parking within those required yard areas. A, as conditions of the special use permit, and may add further conditions or vary other minimum standards as it "deems necessary" so long as the result stays consistent with the intent of the ordinance. Outside this special-use track, the zoning ordinance does not set a general percentage lot-coverage cap for standard C-1, C-2, or M-1/M-2 zones; those zones are instead controlled through the ordinance's separate yard, height, and off-street parking sections rather than a blanket coverage ratio.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 60 percent lot-coverage limit, or building within the reduced 30-foot front or 5-to-15-foot side-and-rear yards required for an approved industrial park special use permit, violates the permit's conditions under § 18 and the ordinance generally. Under § 26, that is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $300, up to 90 days in the county jail, or both, with each day of the violation counted as a separate offense, plus the county's option to seek a civil injunction to force compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bernalillo County limit how much of a lot can be covered by buildings?
What yard setbacks come with the industrial park's 60 percent lot-coverage cap?
Who approves an industrial park special use permit in Bernalillo County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
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