6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Verified from official government sources
Bernalillo County zoning code (Appendix A) establishes fence and wall height limits by zone district. Fences over 6 feet require a zoning permit from County Planning & Development Services. The county zoning code addresses wall/fence height in various residential and commercial districts.
Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Residential Building Permit Guide (Rev. 8/22)
The following work does not require a building permit: Fences and freestanding masonry walls less than 6'-0" in height. Retaining walls that retain less than 36 inches (915 mm) of unbalanced fill, and have a total height equal to or less than six feet from top of wall to bottom of footing. Retaining walls supporting a surcharge load or impounding class I, II, or III-A liquids are not exempt fro...
Bernalillo County requires a zoning permit for fences over 6 feet tall. County Planning & Development Services at 415 Silver SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 handles fence permits. Contact (505) 314-0350 for requirements.
New Mexico has no shared fence cost statute. Bernalillo County does not require neighbor consent for fences on your own property. NM is an open range state (NMSA §77-16-1). The county's rural and semi-rural areas have larger lots with more space between properties.
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County follow the 2018 NM Residential Building Code: retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall require a building permit and stamped engineered plans. Any wall supporting a surcharge requires engineering regardless of height.
The 2018 NM Residential Code as amended (IRC Appendix G) requires all residential pools and spas deeper than 24 inches to have a 48-inch minimum barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates. Albuquerque inspects barriers at final pool permit inspection under ABQ Building Safety.
Bernalillo County Zoning Ordinance allows wood, adobe, stucco, coyote, wrought iron, chain-link, and masonry fences in residential zones. Barbed wire and razor wire are restricted in residential zones. Traditional adobe and coyote fencing remain common throughout the county.
3 cities in Bernalillo County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Bernalillo County Ordinance Hub →