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What is the physical size of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County?
Albuquerque is 188.8 square miles. Bernalillo County is about 1167 square miles.
How can we find a copy
of the covenants on our property?
If you can determine the subdivision name and filing date from your paperwork
(deed, etc.), you can contact the County
Clerk's Office
to purchase a copy of the covenants. For more information, contact the
County Clerk at 505-468-1290.
How can we find out
who owns a problem property in our neighborhood?
You can visit the Bernalillo
County Assessor's Office
with a map showing the location, the address, or the legal description
of the property. You should be given the name and address of the person
to whom the Tax Assessment Notice is being mailed. The Bernalillo County
Treasurer's Office can tell you who is currently paying the property taxes
on the property. Some information may be available by phone if you have
the exact street address.
Who do we contact about
an apparently abandoned car which has been sitting on the street in our
neighborhood for several weeks?
You may report an apparently
abandoned car or an obviously inoperable car parked on your neighborhood
street online or by calling (505)768-2277. If the inoperable or abandoned
car is parked on private property, contact Zoning
Enforcement.
Where do I find zone designations and what they mean?
You can find information related to zone designations in the Comprehensive Zone Code.
Does AGIS
have topographic or contour data?
No. However, this data may be obtained from commercial engineering firms.
Where do I obtain maps
of Bernalillo County?
The Bernalillo County
GIS office
or from commercial map outlets.
Does AGIS
have maps of Rio Rancho?
No. AGIS data is limited to Bernalillo County. For information, call the
Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Department at 505-891-7206.
Can I get the Zone Atlas
on-line?
Yes. The Zone Atlas is available for free as either individual .pdf files of pages or as a complete .zip file. This data is republished on our website on a monthly basis. The Address Atlas is also available as either individual .pdf files of pages or as a complete .zip file. A hard copy of the Zone Atlas can be purchased at the Publications counter in the Plaza del Sol building. Contact AGIS for more information.
Can I access AGIS data on
the Internet?
Yes. The City of Albuquerque has an interactive GIS web
site.
How often is the printed Zone
Atlas updated?
A hard copy of the Zone Atlas is updated approximately every six months.
Can I get just "update
pages" to the Zone Atlas?
You can print 8 1/2 by 11 pdf files of the maps (which are updated monthly on the website), but
updated insert pages are not available.
Do you make custom maps
for anybody?
Yes, as time allows, but the public is charged for custom maps and design.
Custom maps vary in cost from $150 to several hundred dollars.
Does AGIS
sell digital data?
AGIS data is available for download, but you may need additional software
to use it.
Can AGIS
provide dimensions (bearings, distances, lot size) of a parcel?
No. The County Clerk is the source of this information, which is contained
in plats and deeds.
Can AGIS
calculate latitude and longitude?
Yes.
Does AGIS
have ownership information for parcels?
No. The source of this data is the County Assessor.
Can AGIS
provide location information for specific addresses?
Yes. This information is available on the city's GIS website.
Does AGIS
have building footprints?
No.
When is a building permit
necessary for a remodeling or building project in our neighborhood?
Commercial remodeling and construction and all additions, structural
changes and garage conversions to houses require a building permit. A
building permit is also required for fences over 6'0 and walls that retain
over 18" of dirt. Most plumbing, mechanical and electrical work requires
permits. If you are trying to determine if a permit is required for a
project, call the Building and Safety Division at 505-924-3963.
I believe that the contractors
who helped build my home are not building to the Code. What should I do?
If you believe that the work being done on construction of a new home
or addition is not code compliant you may make a formal complaint to the
City of Albuquerque Building and Safety Division. An official complaint
form is available at the Plaza del Sol Building, 600 2nd St NW, Garden
Level or may be downloaded from the Publications
Section of the Planning Department. If it is determined there is a
code violation the contractor will be notified to correct the problem.
For additional information call Eugene Castillo, Complaint Investigator,
Building and Safety Division, at 924-3319.
How do I know if a permit
has been issued for construction projects in our neighborhood?
If a building permit has been obtained, it should be posted so that it
is clearly visible from the front of the house or commercial project.
If no permit is posted, you may call the Building and Safety Division at
505-924-3326 with the correct address of where the work is taking place. They
can tell you if a permit has been issued and the scope of the work permitted.
Which building codes is the City currently enforcing?
All of the building codes and standards that the Building and Safety Division enforces are listed in the 2004 Uniform Administrative Code of the City of Albuquerque (Albuquerque's Building Code).
Currently adopted codes include:
If not available at local bookstores,
or at the public library, the International Codes can be ordered on the
International Code Council
website and the Uniform Codes can be ordered on the National
Fire Protection Association
website. The National Electrical Code is available on both websites.
Can you tell me on which
Zone Atlas page my property is located? Can you tell me if my property
is located within the city limits?
Yes. This information is available on the city's GIS website.
Can you tell me what
the zoning is for my property?
We can tell you how the zoning of a piece of property is reflected on
the Zone Map. For verification of zoning, you need to contact Zoning Code
Services at 505-924-3850.
What uses are allowed
under the current zoning of a piece of property?
The Zoning Ordinance regulates uses allowed according to zoning category.
Copies of the Zoning Ordinance are available for purchase at the main Planning reception
area. Planners working at the front counter are also available to help
explain zoning categories. You can find information related to zone designations in the Comprehensive Zone Code.
What process do I follow
for a zone change, site plan approval, landscaping plan, sector development
plan amendment, conditional use, etc.?
The Comprehensive Zone Code and the Development Process Manual contain information related to these questions.
For specific inquiries or explanations of the process, call the Planning
front counter at 505-924-3895 or Planning reception at 505-924-3860.
Where do I get bicycle
trail maps?
You can get these maps from Cultural and Recreational Services. The phone
number is 505-768-3550.
Where do I get information
about the Comprehensive Plan? Where do I get information on Sector Plans?
You can purchase publications on the Comprehensive Plan and Sector Development
Plans at Development Services counter on the second floor of the Plaza
del Sol building, located at 600 2nd St NW. The Comprehensive Plan and most Sector Development Plans are available on the Planning Departments Publications webpage. You can purchase publications on the Comprehensive Plan and Sector Development Plans at the Development Services counter on the main floor of the Plaza del Sol building, located at 600 2nd St NW. The phone number is (505)924-3860.
Where do I find zone designations and what they mean?
You can find information related to zone designations in the Comprehensive Zone Code.
What businesses are
allowed in a single-family residential neighborhood (R-1 zone)?
Home businesses or "home occupations" are allowed, but are limited
to telephone or mailing services or low-key businesses. Manufacturing,
which includes baking, small machine repair, and automotive work, are
not allowed. A residential dwelling may not be used solely for business
purposes. Only residing family members may be employed by the home occupation.
No stock in trade may be manufactured, displayed, or sold on the premises
except a small stock of custom sewing or hand made art objects is allowed.
All business must take place indoors. No more than 25% of the residential
floor space including the garage may be for the home occupation and no
more than 5% for storage. Health occupations are not allowed permissively
as a home occupation. A square foot non-illuminated sign attached to the
building is allowed to identify home occupations activity. For more information,
contact Zoning at 505-924-3850.
Are there any rules
which govern landscaping in a single-family neighborhood?
Single-family homes built after October, 1995 must meet water conservation
standards which limit the amount and type of plants and grass used. The
City's anti-pollen ordinance, enforced by the Environmental Health Department,
controls the types of trees which can be planted after 1992.
Is there a limit to
how many garage sales my neighbor can hold?
Each home in an R-1 area may have a garage sale or yard sale once every
twelve (12) months. The sale may not exceed three (3) days in length and
only normally accumulated household goods may be sold. Only one non-illuminated
sign, not more than six (6) square feet in area, may be located on the
premises where the sale is being held during the period of the sale. No
off-site signs may be located in public right-of-way median or on utility
poles.
How can you find out
the zoning of a particular property and what the property can be used
for?
Call City Zoning at 505-924-3850 with the specific property address or
legal description or visit City Zoning at 600 Second Street NW, 7th floor.
Can an inoperable car
be stored in the driveway or yard of a house in a residential zone?
No, all motor vehicles which are not parked inside a building must be
operative and not wholly or partially dismantled.
Can a recreational vehicle
be parked on private property in an R-1 zone?
Recreational vehicles, boats and boat trailers may be parked inside or
outside in the side yard or rear yard, provided that no part of the unit
extends over a public sidewalk. They may also be parked in the front yard
if the unit is parked perpendicular to the front curb, the body or the
RV or boat is at least 11 feet from the face of the curb, and no part
of the unit extends over the public sidewalk. The unit can only be used
for dwelling purposes for a maximum or 14 days. Cooking is not permitted
and there can be no permanent connection of water, sewer, or electricity.
Can a car repair business
be conducted at a home in a residential neighborhood?
The Zoning Code does not allow auto repair done as a business to take
place in residential zones. The provisions for an allowable home occupation
provide that such businesses must be conducted entirely indoors. Cars
parked outside must be operative and may not be wholly or partially dismantled.
A declaratory ruling issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer in January
of 1996 speaks to the regulation of minor maintenance or repair of the
resident's own private vehicle and notes that if there is a complaint
a 2-week grace period may be given to allow the repair to be completed.
Can day care be conducted
in a residential neighborhood?
A family day care home, with only members of the residing family providing
care for no more than 6 children (limit not including provider's children
over 6) may exist if the activity is licensed by the State as a family
day care home. If over 6 but not more than 12 children are cared for,
the facility requires that a conditional use be obtained from the City.
Can a group home be located in an R-1 zone?
A Community Residential Program (not a Community Residential Corrections
Program or a Community Residential Program for substance abusers) with
up to ten (10) client residents can be located in an R-1 zone provided
that the standards of Section 14-16-3-12 of the Zoning Code are met.