Bernalillo County, NM Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing zone
- A-1 & A-2 Rural Agricultural Zones
- Min. lot size
- 1 acre (A-1); 2 acres (A-2)
- Setbacks
- 25 ft front/rear, 10 ft side
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only, not Albuquerque
- Enforced by
- County Zoning Administrator
Summary
In the A-1 and A-2 Rural Agricultural zones, unincorporated Bernalillo County's zoning ordinance protects ranching, farming, and dairy operations and states the rules aren't meant to unduly restrict them.
The purposes of this zone are to preserve the scenic and recreational values in the National Forests and similar adjoining land, to safeguard the future water supply, to provide open and spacious development in areas remote from available public services, and to recognize the desirability of carrying on compatible agricultural operations and spacious home developments in areas near the fringes of urban development. The regulations provide for the protection of these important land uses, and are not intended to unduly restrict or regulate dairying, farming, or ranching operations.
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
Section 7 of the county's 1973 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance creates the A-1 Rural Agricultural Zone specifically to let ranch, farm, and dairy activity continue near the urban fringe, and says the zone's regulations are 'not intended to unduly restrict or regulate dairying, farming, or ranching operations.' Permissive uses include raising livestock, poultry, and rabbits, selling home-raised produce, and one dwelling per lot on a minimum one-acre parcel; Section 8 sets a parallel A-2 zone requiring two acres. These protections apply only in unincorporated Bernalillo County -- Albuquerque, which holds most of the county's population, zones separately under its own Integrated Development Ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Violations go through the county Zoning Administrator; unpermitted uses or structures trigger a zoning enforcement action and can require removal or a conditional-use application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bernalillo County's zoning code protect farming from restriction?
Does this protection apply inside Albuquerque?
What lot size does agricultural zoning require?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico right to farm overview
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