Bernalillo County, NM Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Owner, occupant, or agent in charge
- Repair deadline
- 60 days after county notice
- Vegetation clearance
- 8 feet above street or sidewalk
- Non-compliance
- County repairs and liens property
- Coverage
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Owners, occupants, or agents in charge of property abutting a sidewalk in unincorporated Bernalillo County must keep it clean, repaired, and free of obstructions like ice, snow, and overgrown vegetation.
All sidewalks shall be kept clean from rocks and other obstructions, including ice and snow, and in a state of good repair by the owner, occupants or agents in charge of the adjoining property. A sidewalk in good repair shall be free of cracks, floats, obstructions, depressions and/or any other defects and shall have a uniform longitudinal and transverse gradient.
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 § 66-225 puts sidewalk upkeep on the abutting property's owner, occupant, or agent, not the county: sidewalks must stay free of cracks, floats, depressions, and other defects, with a uniform gradient, and vegetation over streets and sidewalks must be cleared to an 8-foot height. If the county engineer finds a violation, the county serves notice requiring repair, maintenance, or removal of obstructions within 60 days; if the owner doesn't comply, the county can do the work itself and bill the cost as a lien on the property. This duty applies only in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Albuquerque, the county's largest city, enforces its own sidewalk rules under its Integrated Development Ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a 60-day repair notice lets the county perform the repair itself and place a lien on the property for the full cost of the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who repairs a broken sidewalk in Bernalillo County?
Does this rule apply inside Albuquerque?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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