Bernalillo County, NM Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Required clearance
- 8 feet over streets and sidewalks
- Responsible party
- Adjoining property owner, occupant, or agent
- Notice period
- 60 days to comply after notice
- If ignored
- County trims and liens property
- Code penalty
- Up to $300 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Bernalillo County requires property owners to keep the airspace over adjoining streets and sidewalks clear of tree branches and other vegetation up to a height of eight feet, with the county able to bill and lien owners who ignore a trim notice.
All areas directly over streets, sidewalks to a height of eight feet shall be maintained free of vegetation or other obstructions by the owners, occupants or agents in charge of the adjoining 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
Bernalillo County Code § 66-225(b) requires the airspace directly over streets and sidewalks to stay clear of vegetation and obstructions to a height of eight feet, and puts that duty on the owner, occupant, or agent of the adjoining property. The same section bars letting hedges, shrubs, or trees obscure traffic signs (§ 66-225(g)) and requires a clear sight triangle at corner lots (§ 66-225(h)). If the county engineer finds a violation, the owner gets 60 days' notice before the county does the trimming itself and liens the property for the cost (§ 66-225(f)). This covers only county-maintained roads in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Albuquerque, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, and Tijeras enforce their own rules.
Violations & Fines
Failing to trim: county engineer can order removal after 60 days' notice, then bill the owner and lien the property; separate Code violations carry up to a $300 fine or 90 days jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to trim trees over a Bernalillo County street or sidewalk?
Does this apply to Albuquerque streets too?
What happens if I ignore a county notice to trim?
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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