Albuquerque, NM Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Albuquerque, NM, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Albuquerque Fire Code 307.1 / 307.2 Exception 1
- Default rule
- Open burning prohibited except as allowed
- Weed-burn setback
- 50 ft from structure/combustibles
- Max pile (no permit)
- 3 ft x 3 ft; larger needs 10-day permit
- Burn/No-Burn Hotline
- (505) 768-2876
Summary
Albuquerque Fire Code Section 307.1 prohibits open burning, recreational fires, bonfires, rubbish fires and open-burning operations except as allowed by the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board and the Fire Code. Limited dead-and-dry weed removal is allowed without a permit if it meets strict setback, pile-size, wind, and time-of-day conditions.
307.1 General. Open Burning, recreational fires, bonfires, rubbish fires and open burning operations are prohibited except as provided by the Albuquerque - Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board and this section. ... Exception: 1. Burning of dead and dry weed removal on private residential, commercial or industrial property, and hot torch weed control, which comply with all the following: 1.1 Burning shall not be with in 50 feet of a structure or combustible materials. 1.2 Pile size shall not exceed (3'x3') three feet by three feet. 1.3 Burning shall be discontinued when the wind exceeds 15 miles per hour. 1.4 Burning shall only be conducted between the hours of 11 am and 3pm October 31st through March 31st and 6am to 5pm April 1st through September 30th. 1.5 An approved means for extinguishing the fire shall be readily available.
Full Breakdown
Section 307.1 makes open burning prohibited by default and bans 'environmentally poor substances' entirely (307.1.2). A permit from the fire code official (per Sec. 105.6) is required before kindling a fire for silvicultural/wildlife management, pest/disease control, a bonfire or a recreational fire (307.2). The main exception is dead-and-dry weed removal on private residential, commercial or industrial property, which is allowed without a permit only if ALL of the following are met (Sec. 307.2 Exception 1): burning is at least 50 feet from a structure or combustibles; pile size does not exceed 3 ft x 3 ft; burning stops when wind exceeds 15 mph; burning occurs only between 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
(Oct 31-Mar 31) or 6 a.m.-5 p.m. (Apr 1-Sep 30); and an approved means of extinguishing the fire is readily available. Piles larger than 3 ft x 3 ft require a permit and a site plan submitted at least 10 days in advance (307.2.1.2). Before any burn, callers must check the city's Burn/No-Burn Hotline at (505) 768-2876 to confirm it is a burn day. State open-burning rules (20.11.21 NMAC, administered locally by the Air Quality Control Board) apply alongside the Fire Code.
Violations & Fines
Open burning that violates Section 307 or is conducted on a no-burn day is a fire-code violation enforced by the Albuquerque Fire Department; the fire code official may order the fire extinguished and impose penalties under Chapter 50 of the Fire Code, in addition to any Air Quality Control Board enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste in Albuquerque?
When can I burn weeds?
Do I ever need a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albuquerque
How Albuquerque compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Albuquerque to another location·View the New Mexico fire regulations overview
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