Albuquerque's Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) at Section 14-16-5-6 provides density and height bonuses for projects that include workforce housing or affordable housing units. Combined with the Workforce and Affordable Housing program in Code Chapter 14, Article 9, qualifying projects in mixed-use and multi-family zones may earn an additional story (about 12 feet) of height and reduced parking minimums.
Albuquerque's zoning is governed by the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), codified at Chapter 14, Article 16, with development incentives in Section 14-16-5-6 (Density, Intensity, and Dimensional Standards). The IDO grants automatic incentives to projects that designate units as Workforce Housing under Albuquerque's Workforce and Affordable Housing Ordinance (Code Chapter 14, Article 9, beginning at Section 14-9-1), including an additional story of building height (approximately 12 feet) above the otherwise applicable maximum in mixed-use (MX-L, MX-M, MX-H) and multi-family (R-ML, R-MH) zones. Projects in the R-1 (single-family detached), R-A, or R-T (townhouse) zones may also qualify under Section 14-17-5 of the city's Family Housing Development program for a density bonus of up to 20 percent above the underlying zone's maximum density, conditioned on the developer providing a financial guarantee equal to the appraised value of the increased density and passing that value to qualified home buyers as a deferred loan. Eligibility is tied to the city's published Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds maintained by the Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness. Workforce-housing units must remain affordable for a covenant period (commonly 30 years for rental, 15 years for ownership) recorded against title. Applications are reviewed by the Planning Department through the Site Plan-Administrative or Site Plan-EPC process depending on project size. New Mexico does not impose statewide inclusionary-zoning preemption, so Albuquerque's bonuses operate solely under municipal authority.
Failing to record the required affordability covenant or to deliver the promised affordable units after receiving a height or density bonus is a violation of the IDO and the Family Housing Development ordinance. The Planning Department may revoke certificates of occupancy, recover the financial guarantee, and seek Metropolitan Court fines.
See how Albuquerque's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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