Albuquerque, NM Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

Section 14-16-5-8(I)(2) carves seasonal lighting out of most of the IDO's outdoor lighting chapter. The IDO defines seasonal lighting as outdoor or site lighting that is portable, temporary, and decorative, explicitly including string lighting, icicle lighting, outline lighting, and lighted holiday inflatables that are not intended for general illumination. Because that lighting is temporary and low-intensity, § 5-8(I)(2)(c) exempts it from the uplight, correlated color temperature, Color Rendering Index, and point-light-source restrictions that apply to permanent fixtures under § 14-16-5-8(D) and § 14-16-5-8(E)(4)(a), so homeowners don't have to worry about the 3000K warm-light cap or full-shielding rule when they string up holiday lights.

The tradeoff is a duration limit: § 5-8(I)(2)(b) allows seasonal lighting for up to 45 consecutive days up to 2 times per year, so a household can run a holiday display for a month and a half around the winter holidays and a second 45-day stretch at another time of year, but can't leave string lights up indefinitely. The one hard geographic limit is § 5-8(I)(2)(a): seasonal lighting isn't allowed at all in a Natural Dark Zone (NDZ), the IDO's most light-sensitive designation reserved for areas needing the darkest night skies.

Zoning Enforcement can act on a complaint about a display left up past 45 days, and a hearing officer under § 14-16-6-9(C)(5)(f) can order it removed and impose a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation per day.