Albuquerque's 2020 single-use plastic bag ban was repealed in 2022, and New Mexico has no statewide bag law, so retailers may currently provide thin plastic carryout bags without a city fee or restriction.
Albuquerque enacted a Clean & Green Retail Ordinance in 2020 banning thin single-use plastic carryout bags and imposing a paper bag fee. City Council repealed the ordinance in 2022 amid pandemic-era retail concerns, and no replacement has taken effect. New Mexico's legislature has not passed a statewide plastic bag ban, so retailers in Albuquerque may distribute conventional plastic carryout bags. The city continues encouraging reusable bags through Solid Waste Management outreach, and businesses remain free to set their own bag-fee or reusable-only policies. Litter and stormwater rules still apply to escaped bags.
There is no current Albuquerque or New Mexico violation for distributing plastic bags, but commercial litter from escaped bags can trigger Solid Waste and stormwater enforcement.
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 plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.