Showing ordinances that apply to Sandia Heights, NM
Sandia Heights is an unincorporated community (population 3,273) in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Because Sandia Heights is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Bernalillo County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The property blight rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Bernalillo County Property Maintenance Ordinance prohibits blighted conditions on unincorporated parcels including peeling exterior paint, broken windows, structural deterioration, and accumulated junk. Written notice requires abatement within 15 to 30 days, with county abatement liens available under NMSA 1978 Section 4-37-1 home-rule authority.
Bernalillo County regulates property blight under its Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement Ordinance (Chapter 30 of the County Code of Ordinances) and the International Property Maintenance Code adopted by reference. Prohibited conditions include deteriorated exterior surfaces, broken or boarded windows, damaged roofing, accumulated junk/debris, inoperable vehicles stored in open view, and structures unfit for human habitation. Inside the City of Albuquerque, parallel enforcement runs under the Uniform Housing Code and ROA 1994 Section 14-3 (Property Maintenance). Code Enforcement issues a Notice of Violation with a compliance window of 15 to 30 days; unresolved cases move to administrative hearing. The county may abate conditions and assess costs as a lien on the parcel under NMSA 1978 Section 3-18-5 and Section 4-37-1. Vacant and boarded buildings must be secured against trespass. In the high desert climate, peeling stucco and adobe deterioration are common blight triggers, and accumulated tumbleweeds/dry brush elevate fire risk subject to separate weed abatement enforcement.
Notice of Violation with 15 to 30 day compliance period. Fines under county ordinance up to $500 per day per violation and up to 90 days incarceration (NMSA 1978 Section 4-37-3 penalty cap). County abatement performed at owner expense with costs recorded as a lien against the property. Repeat or hazardous violations may be referred to the Metropolitan Court.
See how Sandia Heights's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.