Bernalillo County, NM Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- New commercial/large multifamily over 1 acre
- Cistern storage
- 50% of peak-month landscape demand
- Compliance path
- One of 7 optional measures, need 4
- Single-family homes
- No rainwater-harvesting mandate
- Reviewed by
- County water conservation staff
Summary
Bernalillo County lets new commercial and large multifamily developments satisfy water-conservation requirements by installing a rainwater harvesting cistern sized to hold half of peak-month irrigation demand, under the county's Water Conservation Requirements article.
(vi)Rainwater shall be collected and stored in a cistern for use as the primary water source for landscape irrigation. Storage capacity shall be a minimum of 50 percent of the peak month landscape demand for the property.
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
Sec. 30-249 requires new commercial, institutional and large multifamily projects over one acre to complete four of seven listed water-conservation measures. Rainwater harvesting is option (vi): water collected and stored in a cistern must serve as the primary irrigation source, with storage capacity of at least 50 percent of the property's peak-month landscape demand. Passive harvesting features like swales and berms count separately under option (ii). Single-family and small multifamily builders face no rainwater-harvesting mandate, only fixture-efficiency certification. Plans are reviewed and approved by county water-conservation staff before permits issue, per Sec. 30-246 definitions and Sec. 30-249 design standards.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant new developments can be denied certificate of occupancy or building permit sign-off, and violations of the water conservation article are enforced as County Code § 1-6 misdemeanor offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bernalillo County require homeowners to harvest rainwater?
How much storage does the cistern option require?
Does this apply inside Albuquerque?
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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