Home Business in Bernalillo County, NM (2026)

3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

Home-based businesses in unincorporated Bernalillo County are capped at 25% of floor area with no exterior signs of business use, and client visits require a Conditional Use permit.

Bernalillo County Home Occupation Rules

Some Restrictions

Bernalillo County Code, App. A (Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance), § 5 (Definitions)

Home Occupation. Any occupation or activity clearly incidental and secondary to use of the premises for a dwelling. There shall be no exterior display... The home occupation shall not be open to the public (clients, customers, patients, patrons, or similar individuals or groups) unless specifically approved as a Conditional Use. Only members of the residing family are employed, unless approved ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Customer Traffic Restrictions

In unincorporated Bernalillo County, a home business that receives clients, customers, or patrons on-site needs Zoning Administrator approval as a conditional use: it is not an automatic right under the zoning ordinance.

Bernalillo County Home-Business Customer Visits

Significant Restrictions

Bernalillo County Code, App. A (Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance), § 7(B)(3)(u)

Home Occupation where the business includes visits to the site from clients, customers, patients, patrons or similar individuals. Such home occupations may allow for employment of one non-family member and may be approved for a period of time not to exceed three years.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Home Daycare

In unincorporated Bernalillo County, caring for three to six children in your home is a zoning-defined "Family Day Care Home" that needs Zoning Administrator conditional-use approval, not just a license. Albuquerque runs its own separate development code.

Bernalillo County Family Day Care Zoning

Significant Restrictions

Bernalillo County Code, App. A (Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance), § 5 (Definitions)

Family Day Care Home. An occupied dwelling in which a person provides care, services, and supervision for at least three but not more than six children for a period less than 24 hours of any day. The residents providers children who are age six or older shall not be counted for this definition.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Home Business by City in Bernalillo County

1 cities in Bernalillo County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

AlbuquerquePop. 564,559

4 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions

All Bernalillo County ordinances

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