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 Code Chapter 46 (Nuisances) and the county weed abatement program require owners to remove tumbleweeds, tall grass, and combustible brush that create a fire hazard, typically enforced when vegetation exceeds 8 to 12 inches or when accumulated dead material threatens structures. In East Mountain unincorporated areas (Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park) the Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue department encourages a defensible space buffer of 30 feet around structures consistent with NFPA 1144 and NM State Forestry guidance, though NM has no statewide defensible space mandate. Vacant lots owners receive notice-and-abate letters; the county may abate and lien under NMSA §3-18-5 authority applied via county ordinance. Rio Grande bosque areas carry added cottonwood litter risk.
Failure to abate after notice: county contracts abatement and places a lien on the property per Chapter 46. Administrative fee plus actual cost of mowing/clearing. Refusal after repeated notices may escalate to misdemeanor under NMSA §4-37-3.
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Los Ranchos does not have a separate construction hours ordinance. Construction noise is governed by general village nuisance provisions and state law (NMSA ...
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque enforces noise control under village ordinances and NMSA §30-20-1 (disturbing the peace). Unreasonable noise that disturbs the pea...
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Animal control in Los Ranchos is provided by Bernalillo County Animal Care Services. Persistent barking that constitutes a nuisance is addressed under county...
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Los Ranchos commercial vehicle parking is regulated through zoning. Commercial activity is primarily allowed in A-C (Agricultural-Commercial) and V-C (Villag...
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Los Ranchos driveway rules are governed by village zoning code. The rural/agricultural character of the village means less restrictive driveway parking than ...
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
Los Ranchos parking regulated under village zoning code §9.2.18 (Off-street Parking Regulations). Many village roads are narrow and rural without curbing. NM...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Bernalillo County.
See how Los Ranchos de Albuquerque's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.