Public Conduct in Albuquerque, NM (2026)
8 verified public conduct rules for Albuquerque, New Mexico, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
Urinating or defecating in public view, on any public place or on private property without the possessor's consent, is disorderly conduct under Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 12-2-5(G). Albuquerque added this subsection to its long-standing disorderly conduct statute in 2023, and a conviction is punishable under the code's general penalty of up to $500 and 90 days in jail.
Albuquerque Bans Public Urination, Defecation
Some RestrictionsRevised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 12-2-5(G)
§ 12-2-5 DISORDERLY CONDUCT. Disorderly conduct consists of either: ... (G) Urinating or defecating in public view on any public place or on any private property without the consent of the person lawfully in possession of the property. ('74 Code, § 12-1-2-5) (Ord. 96-1973; Am. Ord. 91-1977; Am. Ord. 78-1978; Am. Ord._2023-005) Penalty, see § 12-1-99. § 12-1-99 PENALTY. (B) Any person convicted ...
Skateboarding Rules
City code § 8-3-1-1 bans skateboards, roller skates, coasters and similar toys from any sidewalk in a business district and from every street, bicycle lane, and bicycle path citywide. The one exception is a two-wheeled pedal toy with 16-inch-plus wheels and no training wheels, which may still use a bike lane or path.
Albuquerque Skateboard Ban in Business Districts
Significant RestrictionsAlbuquerque Code of Ordinances § 8-3-1-1
§ 8-3-1-1 TOYS, COASTERS, ROLLER SKATES AND THE LIKE RESTRICTED. No person shall use any toy, coaster, roller skates, skateboard or similar device either upon any sidewalk in any business district or upon any street, bicycle lane or bicycle path; provided, however, that any person riding a pedal-powered two-wheeled toy, propelled by human power, with either the front or rear wheel having a diam...
Loud Party Ordinance
Albuquerque's Premise Liability Ordinance puts criminal responsibility on the occupant of a property, not just the underage drinkers, when three or more people under 21 consume alcohol there without a parent's consent. Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 11-11-5 covers owners, tenants, and anyone over 18 entrusted with control of the premises.
Albuquerque Party Host Liability Law
Some RestrictionsRevised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 11-11-5
Any occupant of property within Albuquerque city limits who knew or should have known that property within their care and control is used to provide, offer, or permit the usage of illegal drugs, or whose property is not subject to the "Liquor Control Act" 60-7B-1 through 60-7B-13 NMSA 1978, and whose property is used to provide, offer, or permit the consumption of intoxicating liquors by three ...
Loitering Rules
It is unlawful to camp or loiter on the right-of-way of any city-, county- or conservancy-owned drainage channel, arroyo or irrigation channel, including sections designated as open space, under Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 12-2-30(C). Officers must issue a written warning or Criminal Trespass Notification before citing or arresting a first-time violator.
Albuquerque Loitering Ban in Drainage Channels
Some RestrictionsRevised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 12-2-30(C)
(C) It is unlawful for any person to camp or loiter upon any part of the right-of-way in which a water conveyance system owned, maintained or operated by a public agency is located, including any portion of such right-of-way designated as open space. ... (F) The penalties set forth in § 12-1-99 shall apply for a violation of this section; provided, however, that a law enforcement officer, shall...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Albuquerque's Clean Indoor Air Ordinance, Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 9-5-5-4, bans smoking in every indoor workplace and indoor public place, on buses, taxicabs and city transit vehicles, and reaches outdoors too: smoking is unlawful anywhere on the grounds of the Albuquerque Biological Park and inside street-median transit boarding areas. Violations carry escalating fines up to $500.
Albuquerque Outdoor Smoking Ban: Parks, Zoo, Transit
Significant RestrictionsRevised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 9-5-5-4
(A) It is unlawful for a person to smoke in any indoor workplace or indoor public place or in buses, taxicabs or other means of public transit not specifically exempted pursuant to the Albuquerque Clean Indoor Air Ordinance. (B) It is unlawful to smoke on the grounds and in all buildings within the Albuquerque Biological Park including the Rio Grande Zoo, Aquarium and Botanical Gardens. (C)...
Jaywalking
Albuquerque Code of Ordinances § 8-2-7-9 bars pedestrians, wheelchair users, skateboarders, scooter riders and other "vulnerable road users" from crossing a roadway anywhere except in a crosswalk. Cyclists, e-bike and micromobility riders follow separate bicycle rules instead. Even off a marked crossing, the code discourages crossing where a signalized crossing sits within 600 feet. Albuquerque Police can cite violators for a petty misdemeanor.
Albuquerque's Jaywalking Law: Cross in a Crosswalk
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque Code of Ordinances § 8-2-7-9
§ 8-2-7-9 PROHIBITED VULNERABLE ROAD USER CROSSINGS. (A) Vulnerable road users shall not cross a roadway at any place except in a crosswalk, except for operators of bicycles, e-bikes, and powered micromobility devices acting under the provisions of ROA 1994, Chapter 8, Article 3, Part 3 BICYCLES. (B) Vulnerable road users, except for operators of bicycles, e-bikes, and powered micromobility dev...
Public Marijuana Use
Albuquerque's Clean Indoor Air Ordinance bars smoking cannabis in any indoor public place or workplace; consumption is confined to private residences and state-licensed cannabis consumption areas, with fines escalating for repeat violations.
Albuquerque Public Marijuana Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsRevised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 9-5-5-5(A)
Consumption of cannabis pursuant to the Cannabis Regulation Act is permitted in private spaces and licensed "cannabis consumption areas." Smoking in a cannabis consumption area on a licensed premises shall be allowed only if the cannabis consumption area is in a designated smoking area or in a standalone building from which smoke does not infiltrate other indoor workplaces or other indoor publi...
Public Alcohol Use
Drinking alcohol in city parks, on streets and sidewalks, in city-owned parking lots, or within 100 feet of a bar is illegal citywide unless a park specifically allows it by resolution.
Albuquerque Public Drinking Ban
Heavy RestrictionsRevised Ordinances of Albuquerque § 12-4-8
Drinking in public consists of drinking or consuming alcoholic liquors (as the term is defined in Section 60-3A-3 NMSA 1978, as amended): (A) In any city-owned park, except a park in which drinking is expressly permitted by resolution. (B) In any public way... (C) In any city owned parking lot... (D) Within 100 feet of any establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic liquors.
Looking for Bernalillo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Albuquerque city rules.
Public Conduct in Bernalillo County →