New Mexico's Human Rights Act does not list source of income as a protected class, and Albuquerque has not adopted a local Section 8 protection ordinance. Landlords in the city may legally refuse to accept housing-choice vouchers as a payment source.
The New Mexico Human Rights Act (NMSA §28-1-7) prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and familial status, but does not include source of income. As of 2026, Albuquerque has not enacted a local ordinance making it illegal to refuse Section 8 housing-choice vouchers or other subsidized payments, unlike Santa Fe, which adopted a local ban. Voucher holders therefore rely on landlord goodwill and federal small-area fair-market-rent rules. Federal disparate-impact theories under the Fair Housing Act remain available where a refusal pattern correlates with a protected class.
Refusing to rent based on race, family status, or another protected class hidden behind a voucher pretext can still trigger New Mexico Human Rights Bureau complaints and federal fair-housing claims, even without a source-of-income statute.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Albuquerque, NM
Under Noise Control Ordinance section 9-9-11, each act in violation is a public nuisance and a separate civil violation, carrying a $250 fine for the first o...
Albuquerque, NM
Noise Control Ordinance section 9-9-7(B) bars operating power mowers, leaf blowers, rototillers, power saws, and similar outdoor power equipment within 500 f...
Albuquerque, NM
Under ROA 1994 Sec. 8-5-1-4(b), Albuquerque may establish residential on-street permit parking zones where a study shows a significant portion of available p...
Albuquerque, NM
In residential zones the Albuquerque IDO (Sec. 14-16-5-5(F)) limits how much of a front or street-side yard may be paved for parking - capped by lot size und...
Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque Code Section 8-5-2-3 declares a vehicle abandoned if it sits unattended on a public street for 36 hours, on private property without owner consen...
Albuquerque, NM
On Albuquerque corner lots, the portion of a rear-yard wall abutting the front yard of a residential lot is held to the 3-foot front-yard limit within 10 fee...
See how Albuquerque's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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