Outdoor Lighting in Bernalillo County, NM (2026)

2 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.

Dark Sky Rules

Bernalillo County enforces the New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act (NMSA §74-12-1 through -11), one of the nation's oldest dark-sky laws. All outdoor lighting over 150W incandescent equivalent must be fully shielded. IDO §5-11 adds local curfews and lumen caps.

outdoor-lighting/dark-sky-rules

Heavy Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Light Trespass

Bernalillo County prohibits light trespass under IDO §5-11(D). Maximum 0.1 foot-candle at a residential property line from any off-site light source. Enforcement is complaint-based via County Code Enforcement.

outdoor-lighting/light-trespass

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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.

AlbuquerquePop. 564,559

2 verified rules • Dark Sky Rules, Light Trespass

All Bernalillo County ordinances

See every category we cover for Bernalillo County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Bernalillo County Ordinance Hub →