5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fires in unincorporated Bernalillo County must comply with the International Fire Code as adopted in Chapter 34. Standard setbacks from structures required. During burn bans, recreational fires and campfires are prohibited except UL-listed appliances using kerosene, white gas, or propane in cleared areas.
Bernalillo County Code Chapter 34 (Fire Prevention) — fireworks prohibited in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas including East of Tramway Blvd, East Mountain Area, and within 1,000 ft of the Bosque. Aerial fireworks illegal statewide. Fire Code Official may seize illegal fireworks.
Bernalillo County requires property owners to abate hazardous weeds and combustible vegetation under the weed abatement ordinance. East Mountain WUI areas near the Sandia and Manzano foothills face stricter defensible space expectations from county fire officials.
Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue regulates open burning in unincorporated areas. Dry weed piles max 3 ft diameter x 2 inches high allowed without permit. Burn hours 10 AM to 3 PM. Must call Open Burning Hotline (505) 468-7200 before burning. No burning of leaves, grass clippings, refuse, or waste.
Bernalillo County Code Chapter 70-43; IFC 2009 §§ 307.1.1, 307.2, 307.4, 307.5
Burning of dry weeds in piles no larger than 3' in diameter and 2" high is permitted in the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County without a permit (BCC Chapter 3). You are not allowed to burn: Environmentally poor burning materials such as leaves, grass clippings, green plants, refuse, paper, rubbish, animal waste, waste oil, interiors of wrecked vehicle bodies, or other materials that are ...
Bernalillo County has no statewide or county-wide WUI mandate, but the East Mountain area (Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park) and bosque-adjacent neighborhoods are high-risk. Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue enforces NMAC 19.15.30 (burn rules), seasonal Stage 1/2 fire restrictions, and defensible space recommendations under the NM Forestry Division framework.
3 cities in Bernalillo County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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