Fence Regulations in Albuquerque, NM (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Albuquerque, New Mexico, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Albuquerque's Integrated Development Ordinance caps walls and fences at 3 feet in a front or street side yard and 8 feet elsewhere on a residential lot, with limited exceptions for taller view fencing.
Fence Height Limits in Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque Integrated Development Ordinance, 14-16-5-7(D), Table 5-7-1 (2025 IDO Update, Effective April 2026)
Table 5-7-1: Maximum Wall Height. Standard Wall Height -- Wall in the front yard or street side yard: Residential 3 ft., Mixed-use 3 ft., Non-residential (NR-C, NR-BP) 3 ft., Non-residential (NR-LM, NR-GM) 6 ft. Wall in other locations on the lot: Residential 8 ft., Mixed-use 8 ft., Non-residential (NR-C, NR-BP) 8 ft., Non-residential (NR-LM, NR-GM) 10 ft. [...] 5-7(D)(3)(a)3. On lots with low-...
Fence Permit Requirements
Albuquerque requires a permit before any wall or fence is built: a staff-decided Permit - Wall or Fence - Minor for standard fences, or a Permit - Wall or Fence - Major (public hearing before the Zoning Hearing Examiner) for above-standard front/side yard walls.
Fence Permits in Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque Integrated Development Ordinance, 14-16-5-7(B)(2) and 14-16-6-5(F) (2025 IDO Update, Effective April 2026)
5-7(B)(2) A wall shall be erected only after obtaining a permit, pursuant to the provisions in 14-16-6-5(F) (Permit - Wall or Fence - Minor) or 14-16-6-6(H) (Permit - Wall or Fence - Major), as applicable. [...] 6-5(F)(3)(d) A wall or fence shall not be approved unless the City Engineer finds that the wall or fence would not be a hazard to traffic visibility (i.e., if the wall or fence is in a ...
Retaining Walls
Albuquerque retaining walls follow the same maximum heights as other walls unless the City Engineer approves a higher wall. Retaining walls over 6 feet must be terraced to no more than 3 tiers, with a planted 4-foot terrace between tiers and footings kept out of the public right-of-way.
Retaining Wall Standards in Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque Integrated Development Ordinance, 14-16-5-7(F) (2025 IDO Update, Effective April 2026)
5-7(F) RETAINING WALL STANDARDS. 5-7(F)(1) Maximum Height. (a) Retaining walls shall have a maximum height as specified in 14-16-5-7(D) (Maximum Wall Height) unless a higher wall is approved by the City Engineer as necessary on a particular lot. (b) Retaining walls higher than 6 feet tall shall be terraced to minimize visual impacts on residents, neighboring properties, and the public realm. Te...
Material Restrictions
Albuquerque's IDO allows a broad range of wall and fence materials but restricts exposed CMU block on street frontages, bans most chain link on visible frontages, and prohibits barbed/razor wire in or adjacent to residential and mixed-use zones.
Fence Material Restrictions in Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque Integrated Development Ordinance, 14-16-5-7(E)(1) (2025 IDO Update, Effective April 2026)
5-7(E)(1)(b) Acceptable wall materials include, but are not limited to, concrete masonry unit (CMU) blocks or other structural materials; stabilized adobe; split face blocks; slump blocks; bricks; stone; glass blocks; curved interlock blocks; wood; tubular steel; wrought iron bars; chain link fencing; other grill work; or a combination of these materials, with the following exceptions. 1. Expos...
Looking for Bernalillo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Albuquerque city rules.
Fence Regulations in Bernalillo County →