Bernalillo County, NM Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Bernalillo County, NM, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Restricted hours
- 7:00 p.m.-11:00 a.m. only
- Season
- April 1 through October 31
- Who's covered
- properties not on ABCWUA water
- Exempt methods
- drip, bubblers, hand watering, containers
- Max penalty
- $300 fine and/or 90 days jail
Summary
Unincorporated Bernalillo County limits spray irrigation to between 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. from April 1 through October 31, though the rule only binds properties not served by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
The restrictions in this section apply to all properties within unincorporated Bernalillo County not provided water service by the ABCWUA. (1) All spray irrigation during the period beginning on April 1 and ending on October 31 of each year must occur between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. This restriction shall not apply to drip irrigation and low precipitation bubblers, hand watering, or watering of containerized plants and plant stock.
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 § 30-247 caps spray irrigation to the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. during the April 1-October 31 growing season on unincorporated properties not served by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (mainly private wells and acequia-served parcels). Drip irrigation, low-precipitation bubblers, hand watering, and containerized plants are exempt. During a U.S. Drought Monitor-declared drought, the Board of County Commissioners can add stricter mandatory limits, including bans on new sod, vehicle washing, and ornamental fountains. The county manager enforces the rule under § 1-6, and exemptions for new-turf establishment or agricultural wells can be requested under § 30-250. Albuquerque residents fall under the city's own water utility rules, not this county provision.
Violations & Fines
Violations of the watering-hours rule are punished under the county's general penalty: a fine up to $300, up to 90 days in jail, or both, per Code § 1-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply if I'm on Albuquerque city water?
Can I still water during the restricted hours?
What happens during a drought?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
How Bernalillo County compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico landscaping rules overview
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