Outdoor Lighting 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
Dark Sky Rules
In North Albuquerque Acres and Sandia Heights, outdoor light fixtures must be cutoff or shielded, run on timers or motion sensors, shut off between 11 p.m. and sunrise, and stay under a footcandle spillover limit at the property line.
Bernalillo County Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 30-186
All outdoor light fixtures and illuminated on-premises signs shall be (1) designed and operated as cutoff or shielded aimable fixtures, (2) equipped with and controlled by light and motion sensors or automatic timing devices, and (3) shall remain off between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise except for illuminating walkways or driveways... All outdoor lighting systems shall be designed... so that the area...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Unincorporated North Albuquerque Acres, Sandia Heights, and the East Mountain Area must use shielded, cutoff outdoor light fixtures on timers, capped at 16 feet, dark from 11 p.m. to sunrise. The rest of unincorporated Bernalillo County has no such rule.
Bernalillo County Outdoor Lighting Rules
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 30-186
All outdoor light fixtures and illuminated on-premises signs shall be (1) designed and operated as cutoff or shielded aimable fixtures, (2) equipped with and controlled by light and motion sensors or automatic timing devices, and (3) shall remain off between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise except for illuminating walkways or driveways. Outdoor light poles and standards shall not exceed 16 feet in height...
Billboard Lighting
In the unincorporated East Mountain Area, Bernalillo County bans electrical illumination of off-premise billboards outright and requires on-premise advertising sign lighting to be top-mounted, shielded, and cut off by timer between 11 p.m. and sunrise.
East Mountain Bernalillo Billboard Lighting Rules
Significant RestrictionsBernalillo County Code § 30-212(e)-(f)
(e)Outdoor advertising off-premise signs. Electrical illumination of outdoor advertising off-site signs is prohibited in the East Mountain Area.(f)Illuminated outdoor advertising signs. All illuminated outdoor advertising signs shall be equipped with an automatic time controller that prevents the operation of the lighting fixtures between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and sunrise.
Outdoor Lighting by City in Bernalillo County
1 cities in Bernalillo County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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