Tree removal permit rules in Bernalillo County, NM — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Unincorporated Bernalillo County does not have a specific tree removal permit requirement comparable to the City of Albuquerque. Property owners may remove trees on their own property. Development projects may require landscape plans through the zoning process.
Bernalillo County tree removal regulations protect the urban canopy by requiring permits for trees above a size threshold, typically 6 to 12 inches trunk diameter measured at breast height (4.5 feet). Applications may require an arborist report. Street trees in the right-of-way are managed exclusively by Bernalillo County public works or urban forestry. Dead, dying, or hazardous trees may qualify for expedited removal. Replacement planting is usually required. New Mexico state law may preempt local tree ordinances in certain circumstances.
Unauthorized removal: $500 to $10,000 per tree. Replacement planting required. Street tree damage: city restitution costs.
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See how Bernalillo County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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