Landscaping Rules in New Mexico (2026)
31 rules on the books across New Mexico, 7 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Tree Trimming
Rules about trimming trees that overhang sidewalks, streets, or neighboring properties, and when you need permission to prune city trees.
Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque's Street Tree Ordinance (ROA 1994, Article 6-6) sets minimum clearance for trees overhanging public ways…
Read full rule →Bernalillo County
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County requires property owners to keep the airspace over adjoining streets and sidewalks clear of tree…
Read full rule →Las Cruces
Some RestrictionsLas Cruces requires property owners to trim trees over any street or sidewalk to at least eight feet of clearance…
Read full rule →Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Permit requirements for removing trees on private property, protected and significant tree thresholds, replacement planting standards, and the penalties for unpermitted removal.
Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsCutting, trimming, spraying, removing, or planting any tree, shrub, or hedge within Albuquerque's streets, alleys…
Read full rule →Bernalillo County
Some RestrictionsOn county-managed open space, removing, damaging, or destroying any tree or other vegetation is banned outright under…
Read full rule →Las Cruces
Some RestrictionsWhen the city removes a street tree over sidewalk root damage, it offers the abutting owner replacement trees, minimum…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Some RestrictionsRemoving more than 25% of the significant trees or grass cover on a Santa Fe lot triggers a grading construction…
Read full rule →Weed Ordinances
Requirements to keep weeds and grass below a set height, the numeric limits (commonly 8 to 12 inches), abatement notices, and the liens cities can place after mowing it themselves.
Albuquerque
Heavy RestrictionsUnder Albuquerque's Weed, Litter and Snow Removal Ordinance (Sec. 9-8-1 et seq.), it is unlawful to permit listed…
Read full rule →Bernalillo County
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County bars owners from letting weeds accumulate or grow out on any unincorporated lot under two acres, plus…
Read full rule →Las Cruces
Some RestrictionsLas Cruces treats weeds and rank vegetation as a public nuisance on any public or private property, naming eight…
Read full rule →Rio Rancho
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho's vegetation code bans tumbleweeds, weeds, and overgrown brush that blight a lot or invite pests, and limits…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe's Weed Ordinance bans letting weeds, grass or brush grow past 12 inches with a stem under 2 inches thick on…
Read full rule →Sandoval County
Light RestrictionsSandoval County has no maximum weed or grass height. Instead, weeds, briars or brush on a property are only unlawful…
Read full rule →Water Restrictions
Watering schedules, drought restrictions, and limits on outdoor irrigation including which days and times you can water your lawn.
Albuquerque
Heavy RestrictionsAlbuquerque enforces mandatory time-of-day watering restrictions. Under the Water Conservation Landscaping and Water…
Read full rule →Las Cruces
Heavy RestrictionsLas Cruces limits outdoor watering by address: even addresses water Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday; odd addresses…
Read full rule →Bernalillo County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Bernalillo County limits spray irrigation to between 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. from April 1 through October 31…
Read full rule →Rio Rancho
Some RestrictionsCity water utility customers in Rio Rancho may only run sprinklers overnight from April through October, with…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe bans outdoor irrigation between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from May 1 through October 31 under Section 25-2.7…
Read full rule →Rainwater Harvesting
Whether you can collect rainwater, how much you can store, and any permits or tank size restrictions for residential rain barrels and cisterns.
Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque law voids any homeowners' association covenant that blocks a property holder from using rain barrels or…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe requires city approval before installing, building, altering or repairing a rainwater catchment system under…
Read full rule →Bernalillo County
Light RestrictionsBernalillo County lets new commercial and large multifamily developments satisfy water-conservation requirements by…
Read full rule →Dona Ana County
Light RestrictionsDoña Ana County treats rainwater harvesting as a voluntary water-conservation best practice, not a mandate. Subdivision…
Read full rule →Native Plants
Incentives or requirements for using native and drought-tolerant plants in your landscaping, and rules about replacing traditional lawns.
Rio Rancho
Significant RestrictionsRio Rancho, New Mexico bans cool-season turf grass in single-family front yards across this Sandoval County city and…
Read full rule →Bernalillo County
Some RestrictionsBernalillo County caps high-water-use turf at 10% of landscape area for new development in the unincorporated county…
Read full rule →Dona Ana County
Some RestrictionsDevelopers in unincorporated Doña Ana County can meet landscaping requirements by preserving natural areas with at…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe's land development code requires covered projects, and every exterior alteration citywide, to select…
Read full rule →Albuquerque
Few RestrictionsAlbuquerque voids any HOA covenant that bars a homeowner from tearing out turf grass and planting xeriscape or native…
Read full rule →Las Cruces
Few RestrictionsLas Cruces landscaping rules don't dictate a style: Sec. 32-266(b) recommends indigenous or drought-tolerant plants…
Read full rule →Artificial Turf
Rules about installing synthetic grass, including whether it counts toward water-saving rebates and any HOA or city restrictions.
Las Cruces
Heavy RestrictionsWithin the Downtown and Main Street zoning districts, Las Cruces bans artificial turf and artificial plants outright…
Read full rule →Albuquerque
Light RestrictionsAlbuquerque's Integrated Development Ordinance allows artificial turf on private property but refuses to credit it…
Read full rule →Composting
Rules for backyard composting bins and piles plus curbside organics, bin requirements, allowed materials, setbacks, pest control, and any mandated diversion programs.