Water Use Rules in New Mexico (2026)
11 rules on the books across New Mexico, 5 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Turf Replacement Rebates
Rebate programs paying residents to replace turf with drought-tolerant landscaping, including per-square-foot incentives and approved plant lists.
Bernalillo County
Significant RestrictionsBernalillo County caps high-water-use turf at 10% of landscaped area on most new development in the unincorporated…
Read full rule →Dona Ana County
Significant RestrictionsDoña Ana County bans turf, regardless of irrigation method, from required landscaping in public right-of-way planters…
Read full rule →Albuquerque
Some RestrictionsAlbuquerque caps high water use turf at 20% of the landscape on non-city property, and on single-family lots that cap…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe's land development code limits how much cool-season turf, the thirsty bluegrass-style lawn most homeowners…
Read full rule →Recycled Water Rules
Where purple-pipe recycled water is required for irrigation, dual-plumbing requirements for new construction, and cross-connection-control rules.
Rio Rancho
Significant RestrictionsRio Rancho runs a separate recycled-water utility for landscape irrigation and approved commercial/industrial uses…
Read full rule →Bernalillo County
Some RestrictionsNew commercial and large multifamily developments over one acre in unincorporated Bernalillo County can satisfy the…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Light RestrictionsSanta Fe's Residential Green Building Code awards a 10-point credit under Item 802.1(2) when a new single-family home…
Read full rule →Leak Reporting Duty
Property owner's duty to report and repair water leaks within a set window once notified, plus how utilities issue leak-adjustment credits and impose penalties.
Bernalillo County
Some RestrictionsCounty code bars water waste in unincorporated Bernalillo County; a broken pipe or malfunctioning water system must be…
Read full rule →Dona Ana County
Some RestrictionsDoña Ana County's landscaping code requires property owners with an approved landscape plan to fix irrigation leaks…
Read full rule →Rio Rancho
Some RestrictionsOnce Rio Rancho's water utility notifies a customer of a controllable leak, failing to fix it within a reasonable time…
Read full rule →Santa Fe
Some RestrictionsSanta Fe property owners and managers must fix a minor water-line leak within 15 days of notice from the water…
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