Business Licensing & Operations in Bernalillo County, NM (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Bernalillo County requires an annual county license to operate a sexually oriented business, and its zoning code keeps adult amusement establishments at least 2,000 feet from each other, homes, churches, and schools in unincorporated areas.
Bernalillo County Adult Business Spacing & License Rules
Significant RestrictionsBernalillo County Code, App. A (Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance), § 17.5(G)(1)
Adult amusement establishment, including but not limited to, adult bookstore, adult photo amusement establishment, adult photo studio, adult theater, adult video arcade, and adult body oil or lotion demonstration parlors; shall be: a. Located at least 2,000 feet from another adult amusement establishment, adult bookstore, adult photo amusement establishment, adult photo studio, adult theater, a...
Tobacco Retail License
Bernalillo County does not issue a separate tobacco or vape retailer license, but it bans selling any tobacco or e-cigarette product to anyone under 21, requires age verification and sealed packaging, and limits vending machines to age-restricted locations. The Fire Marshal's office leads enforcement with the sheriff and zoning enforcement.
Bernalillo County Tobacco Retail Sales Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 42-115
(a)A person shall not knowingly, intentionally or negligently sell, offer to sell, barter or give a tobacco product to a person under the age of 21.(b)A retailer or an employee of a retailer shall not knowingly, intentionally or negligently fail to verify the age of a consumer purchasing tobacco products.(c)Evidence of the age and identity of a person attempting to procure tobacco products in p...
Secondhand Dealers
Bernalillo County requires pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers and precious metals dealers in unincorporated areas to get a business registration certificate and post a $10,000 bond before opening, with daily transaction reporting to the sheriff.
Bernalillo County Secondhand & Pawnbroker Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsBernalillo County Code §§ 14-232—14-233
No pawnbroker, secondhand or precious metals dealer shall engage in business without a business registration certificate. ... No pawnbroker, secondhand or precious metals dealer shall engage in business without having executed and delivered a bond to the county ... in the penal sum of $10,000.00, with a corporate surety authorized by the laws of the state to write surety bonds therein.
Pawnbrokers
Pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers and precious metals dealers in unincorporated Bernalillo County cannot operate without a business registration certificate and a $10,000 surety bond approved by the county manager and sheriff. Daily transaction reports go to the sheriff, and the county manager can suspend or revoke a license after a hearing.
Bernalillo County Pawnbroker License & Bond Rules
Significant RestrictionsBernalillo County Code §§ 14-232, 14-233, 14-236
No pawnbroker, secondhand or precious metals dealer shall engage in business without a business registration certificate. No pawnbroker, secondhand or precious metals dealer shall engage in business without having executed and delivered a bond to the county, to be approved by the county manager and sheriff, in the penal sum of $10,000.00, with a corporate surety authorized by the laws of the s...
Towing Companies
Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies can order a non-consent tow when a stranded vehicle's owner can't be found; a rotation-list wrecker responds within 30 minutes or the county calls a backup.
Bernalillo County Non-Consent Tow Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 14-303(f)
In the event a sworn member of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department or other designated county employee has cause to remove any vehicle or motor vehicle from any location within the county, and the owner or person responsible for the vehicle cannot be found, is incapacitated, or has no preference for a particular wrecker, the county's communications center shall so notify the wrecker on c...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Bernalillo County
1 cities in Bernalillo County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Bernalillo County ordinances
See every category we cover for Bernalillo County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Bernalillo County Ordinance Hub →