Bernalillo County, NM Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies in
- N. Albuquerque Acres & Sandia Heights only
- Fixture standard
- Cutoff or shielded-aimable required
- Curfew
- Off 11 p.m. to sunrise
- Spillover limit
- 0.25 footcandle at property line
- Max fine
- $300 per day
Summary
In North Albuquerque Acres and Sandia Heights, outdoor light fixtures must be cutoff or shielded, run on timers or motion sensors, shut off between 11 p.m. and sunrise, and stay under a footcandle spillover limit at the property line.
All outdoor light fixtures and illuminated on-premises signs shall be (1) designed and operated as cutoff or shielded aimable fixtures, (2) equipped with and controlled by light and motion sensors or automatic timing devices, and (3) shall remain off between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise except for illuminating walkways or driveways... All outdoor lighting systems shall be designed... so that the area ten feet beyond the property line of the premises receives no more than 0.25 (one quarter) of a footcandle of light from the premises lighting system.
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's dark-sky standards are area-specific, not countywide. The North Albuquerque Acres and Sandia Heights Light Pollution Ordinance (Code Ch. 30, Art. VI, Div. 2) requires cutoff or shielded-aimable fixtures with sensors or timers, a curfew from 11 p.m. to sunrise except for walkway/driveway lighting, and caps spillover at 0.25 footcandle ten feet beyond the property line. The separate East Mountain Area ordinance (Div. 3) imposes its own shielding table for that district. Outside these two overlay areas, and inside Albuquerque, which has its own code, none of this applies.
Violations & Fines
Violating the shielding, curfew, or footcandle limits is a misdemeanor: a fine up to $300 per day of violation, up to 90 days in the county jail, or both, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover all of Bernalillo County?
Can I leave floodlights on all night in Sandia Heights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico outdoor lighting overview
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