Unincorporated Bernalillo County setbacks are governed by the County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 74). Typical A-1/A-2 rural residential requires 30 ft front, 10 ft side, 25 ft rear. Albuquerque IDO (2018) governs setbacks within city limits.
Bernalillo County Code Chapter 74 (Zoning Ordinance) establishes setbacks for unincorporated areas. A-1 (rural agricultural) requires 30 ft front, 10 ft side, 25 ft rear on standard lots. A-2 (semi-urban) uses 25/5/20 ft. R-1 requires 20 ft front, 5 ft side, 15 ft rear. Corner lots add a secondary front setback along the side street. Accessory structures under 200 sq ft may sit 3 ft from rear/side lot lines. The City of Albuquerque's Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO, adopted 2017, amended 2023) governs setbacks within city limits: R-1 zones require 15 ft front, 5 ft side, 15 ft rear, with reduced setbacks in the R-A (Residential-Agricultural) zone applicable to the North and South Valley annexed areas. Variances require a hearing before the County Planning Commission or ABQ Zoning Hearing Examiner. Petroglyph National Monument buffer areas and arroyo setbacks impose additional restrictions.
Building in setback without variance: stop-work order, structure removal or relocation at owner expense. Civil penalties $100 to $500 per day under County Code §74-6. Repeat violators may face misdemeanor charges under NMSA §3-21-8.
Bernalillo County, NM
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