Albuquerque, NM Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Home occupations are governed by Integrated Development Ordinance Subsection 14-16-4-3(F)(10). A home occupation is defined as an activity carried on for commercial or philanthropic purposes on the same lot as a dwelling unit where the operator resides and that is clearly secondary to the dwelling. No more than 25 percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit where the operator resides may be devoted to home occupations, except that up to 50 percent is allowed in the MX-T district; where multiple home occupations operate, the limit applies collectively.

Only members of the residing family may be employed to work on-site, only goods and services created on the premises may be sold there, and all business activity must be conducted in the primary building or an allowed accessory structure. The ordinance prohibits a range of uses as home occupations, including agricultural and animal-related uses, most food/beverage/entertainment uses, motor-vehicle-related uses, industrial uses, commercial services, construction contractor yards, crematoria, mortuaries, adult retail, liquor retail, cannabis retail, nicotine retail, and any use involving the storage or use of hazardous materials.