Bernalillo County, NM Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Bernalillo County Code § 70-38
- Sight shield trigger
- within 80 feet of public street
- Approval required
- county manager site-plan approval
- Pad requirement
- concrete apron for container weight
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, each day separate offense
Summary
Commercial dumpster and roll-off placement in unincorporated Bernalillo County requires county manager site-plan approval, a paved concrete apron, and a sight shield screening containers within 80 feet of a public street.
At every commercial collection point which is within 80 feet of a public street, solid waste containers shall be properly maintained and largely shielded from view from such public street by wall, fence, earth berm, or evergreen trees or shrubs forming an appropriate sight barrier, which shall be termed a sight shield, as approved by the county manager.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
Any commercial site needing dumpster or roll-off service, hotels, restaurants, multi-family buildings, or any business using a front-end loader container, must have its collection point designed and approved by the county manager under Sec. 70-38. The owner submits a site plan showing lot lines, buildings, driveways, and neighboring structures within 100 feet. Any collection point within 80 feet of a public street needs a sight shield of wall, fence, berm, or evergreen screening, and the pad must be a concrete apron sized for the container's loaded weight.
Violations & Fines
Violating the storage, screening, or site-plan rules is a misdemeanor punishable up to the maximum state-law penalty; each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bernalillo County require a permit for a commercial dumpster?
Do I need to screen a dumpster from the street?
Does this rule apply inside Albuquerque?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
Compare Bernalillo County to another location·View the New Mexico trash & recycling overview
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