Bernalillo County, NM Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- High-water turf cap
- 10% of landscape area max
- Single-family cap
- 1,500 sq ft high-water turf
- Applies to
- New development, unincorporated county only
- Approved species
- ABCWUA low/medium/precipitation-supported plant lists
- Enforced by
- County water conservation staff inspection
Summary
Bernalillo County caps high-water-use turf at 10% of landscape area for new development in the unincorporated county, pushing most planting toward low-water, medium-water, and precipitation-supported native species from the ABCWUA-approved plant lists.
On all properties other than public parks, golf courses and athletic fields, high-water-use turf or plants shall be limited to ten percent the landscape area or less, except: ...For single-family and small multifamily development, the use of high-water-use turf and plants shall not exceed 1,500 square feet of the landscape area;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
Bernalillo County Code § 30-249(4)(a) limits high-water-use turf and plants to 10 percent of the landscape area on new development (1,500 square feet for single-family and small multifamily lots), with the remainder required to draw from ABCWUA's low-water, medium-water, and precipitation-supported plant lists per subsections (4)(d) and (e). Large multifamily and commercial development over one acre must also adopt at least four listed water-conservation measures. County water conservation staff inspect for compliance before a certificate of occupancy issues. This governs only unincorporated county land. Albuquerque, which holds most of the county's population, regulates landscaping under its own Integrated Development Ordinance, a separate city code.
Violations & Fines
Failing to meet the plant-list and water-conservation requirements holds up final inspection and blocks certificate-of-occupancy approval for new single-family, multifamily, or commercial development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply inside Albuquerque?
Can I still plant regular turf grass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico landscaping rules overview
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