Bernalillo County does not regulate residential holiday decorations beyond general sign, electrical, and noise rules. Displays exempt from sign permits under IDO §5-12(G). High desert wind and NM Night Sky Act still apply to lighting.
Holiday displays on private residential property are treated as protected expression and are exempt from sign permitting under Bernalillo County IDO §5-12(G). No time limits are imposed by County Code — a practical 'install after Thanksgiving, down by mid-January' is purely custom. Applicable restrictions: all outdoor lighting must comply with the NM Night Sky Protection Act (NMSA §74-12) and IDO §5-11 — but seasonal low-voltage LED string lights are exempt from shielding. Inflatables must be secured against Albuquerque's signature spring wind events (gusts to 60 mph on the West Mesa). Electrical work must comply with 2017 NEC as adopted by NM CID: outdoor-rated GFCI outlets required. Displays may not block sidewalks, sight triangles at intersections (IDO §5-1(D)), or create fire hazards. Noise-generating displays (sound tracks, motion-triggered audio) are subject to County Noise Ordinance Chapter 42 and its 10 PM quiet hour.
Sidewalk obstruction: notice to correct, $50–$100 fine. Fire hazard (overloaded outlets, dry greenery near heat): AFRD may order removal. Noise past 10 PM: noise violation $100–$500.
Bernalillo County, NM
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