Tijeras, NM Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) Water Conservation Ordinance (Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque §6-1-1-11) limits high-water-use turf in new residential front yards to no more than 20% of the landscapable area and prohibits spray irrigation of non-turf areas. Native plant palettes using Chamisa, Apache Plume, Four-Wing Saltbush, Desert Willow, Blue Grama, and Cholla are promoted through ABCWUA's 'Water By the Numbers' guide. The ABCWUA Xeriscape Rebate pays up to $2/sq ft (up to $1,000-$2,000 per property) to convert turf to xeric landscaping. Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension (NMSU) publishes the official native plant list for the Middle Rio Grande. State-listed Class A noxious weeds (e.g., Salt Cedar, Russian Olive, Siberian Elm is Class C) must be controlled per 21.17.2 NMAC administered by the NM Department of Agriculture. The NM Solar Rights Act does not cover landscaping, but the NM Condominium Act and HOA Act generally allow reasonable xeric landscaping.