This guide covers short-term rental rules for the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico. If your property is in a nearby market, see their specific ordinances:
- Rio Rancho: Suburban city northwest of Albuquerque with its own STR licensing and zoning rules.
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque: Small incorporated village north of Albuquerque, often confused due to overlapping postal addresses.
- Corrales: Rural village west of the Rio Grande with distinct STR restrictions and rural zoning.
- South Valley: Unincorporated Bernalillo County area south of Albuquerque city limits, governed by county—not city—rules.
Legality Verdict
Short-term rentals are legal and regulated in Albuquerque, with required permits and business licenses. No citywide cap or moratorium is in effect, but enforcement is weak and compliance is uneven. Regulatory stability is moderate, with failed restriction attempts.
- Legality Status: 4/5
- License Availability: 4/5
- Compliance Cost (% revenue): 4/5
- Regulatory Stability: 3/5
- Enforcement Climate: 4/5
TL;DR
Albuquerque defines STRs as rentals under 30 days and requires both a $120 STR permit and a $35 annual business license per unit. The total local lodging tax is 6%, plus state gross receipts tax. No citywide cap or moratorium exists, but enforcement is complaint-driven and under-resourced. The biggest gotcha: over half of STRs operate unregistered, exposing legal operators to uneven competition and potential future crackdowns.
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| STR Definition | Rental of a dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 days City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ |
| Registration Required | Yes, STR permit and business license required City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ |
| Permit Cost | $120 initial application fee Steadily |
| Annual Renewal | $35 business license fee per year City of Albuquerque Business License FAQs |
| Total Effective Lodging Tax | 6% (5% Lodgers’ Tax + 1% Hospitality Fee) City of Albuquerque Treasury Department |
| State Gross Receipts Tax | 5.125%–8.6875% (Albuquerque rate within this range) Airbnb Help Center |
| Total Tax Burden (all taxes) | 11.125%–14.6875% (local + state) Airbnb Help Center |
| Occupancy Cap | 2 adults per bedroom, plus 2 additional people per unit City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ |
| Parking Requirement | Not codified — no separate city rule identified in sources reviewed Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances |
| Minimum Night Stay | Not codified — no separate city rule identified in sources reviewed Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances |
| Density Cap | Not codified — no citywide density cap identified in sources reviewed Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances |
| Primary Residence Rule | Not codified — no owner-occupancy requirement identified in sources reviewed Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances |
| Inspection Requirement | Not codified — no citywide inspection requirement; state building/fire codes apply Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances |
| Local Contact Requirement | Yes, local property manager within 20 miles required Steadily |
| Good Neighbor Agreement | Required to be posted in each unit City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ |
| License Cap | No citywide cap codified City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ |
| Transferability | Permits not transferable to new owners City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ |
| Enforcement Penalties | Not codified — no specific fine amounts identified in sources reviewed City Desk ABQ |
| Primary Regulator | City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Business Registration (505) 924-3890 |
| Last Updated | June 11, 2026 |
Regulatory Impact Snapshot
Underwriters should model compliance costs at 10.1% of gross revenue, with median Albuquerque STRs earning $27,902 at an average daily rate of $145 and 55% occupancy. The binding constraint is the combined local and state tax stack (6% local lodging tax plus 5.125%–8.6875% state GRT), plus a $120 permit and $35 annual license. Enforcement is currently complaint-driven, but future staffing increases could raise compliance risk. Run this market in our Airbnb Calculator →
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Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
What is considered a short-term rental in Albuquerque?
A short-term rental (STR) is defined as the rental of a dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 days City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ.
Are STRs legal in Albuquerque?
Yes, STRs are legal and regulated by city ordinance. Permits and business licenses are required Checkmate Rentals.
Does state law override local STR rules?
No, New Mexico does not preempt local STR regulation. Cities like Albuquerque set their own rules Checkmate Rentals.
Licensing
Do I need a permit to operate an STR in Albuquerque?
Yes, a Short-Term Rental permit is required for each unit, plus a business license City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ.
How much does it cost to get licensed?
The initial STR permit is $120, and the annual business license is $35 per unit Steadily.
Is there a cap on the number of STR permits?
No citywide cap is codified in available sources City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ.
Are permits transferable if I sell my property?
No, permits are not transferable. New owners must apply for a new permit City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ.
Taxes
What taxes apply to STRs in Albuquerque?
A 5% Lodgers’ Tax, 1% Hospitality Fee, and 5.125%–8.6875% state Gross Receipts Tax apply City of Albuquerque Treasury Department.
Do Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit taxes?
Yes, both platforms collect and remit local and state taxes, but hosts must still file returns Airbnb Help Center.
Do I need a state tax ID?
Yes, you must register for a New Mexico CRS tax ID before collecting taxes Home Team Luxury Rentals.
Operations
Is there an occupancy limit for STRs?
Yes, 2 adults per bedroom plus 2 additional people per unit City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ.
Is a local contact required?
Yes, a local property manager within 20 miles of Albuquerque is required Steadily.
Are there minimum night stay or parking requirements?
No separate city rules are codified for minimum night stay or parking Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances.
Do I need to post any notices in my STR?
Yes, a Good Neighbor Agreement must be posted in each unit City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ.
Enforcement
How is STR compliance enforced in Albuquerque?
Enforcement is primarily complaint-driven, with limited proactive monitoring due to staffing shortages City Desk ABQ.
What are the penalties for operating without a permit?
No specific fine amounts are codified in available sources; enforcement is limited by staffing City Desk ABQ.
Are new restrictions or buffer zones in effect?
No, recent attempts to add buffer zones or new restrictions have failed as of June 2026 City Desk ABQ.
Permit Process
Albuquerque requires a Short-Term Rental permit for each unit, plus a business license for each location. The initial STR permit fee is $120, and the annual business license renewal is $35. As of January 2025, the city transitioned to a Business License program that includes zoning and fire inspections for public safety. Permits are not transferable to new owners, and there is no citywide cap on the number of STR permits City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ.
Zoning
Short-term rentals are allowed in most residential zones under Albuquerque’s Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), which replaced the previous zoning code in 2018. The IDO governs all zoning, land use, and density rules for STRs. There is no codified citywide density cap, minimum night stay, or parking requirement for STRs. Hosts must comply with all applicable city health and safety codes Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances.
Taxes and Remittance
STR operators must collect a 5% Lodgers’ Tax and 1% Hospitality Fee on stays of 29 nights or less, plus the New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax (GRT), which ranges from 5.125% to 8.6875%. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit these taxes, but hosts must still file all required returns and may deduct sales for which taxes have been paid by the platforms. Registration with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department for a CRS tax ID is mandatory City of Albuquerque Treasury Department.
Enforcement and Recent Actions
Enforcement of STR rules in Albuquerque is primarily complaint-driven, with limited proactive monitoring due to staffing shortages in the Planning Department. As of February 2026, only about 800 of 2,000 STRs are registered, with the remainder operating illegally. No specific fine amounts are codified, and enforcement is limited by available resources City Desk ABQ.
Recent Changes and Pending Legislation
In February 2026, the City Council rejected a proposal to require buffer zones between STRs, marking the third failed attempt in three years to tighten regulations. No new restrictions or moratoriums are in effect. A 2025–2026 state work group studied STRs but did not result in statewide preemption or new state-level rules City Desk ABQ.
Comparable Markets
- Santa Fe, NM: Consider if seeking a high-barrier, high-demand market with strict caps.
- Las Cruces, NM: Consider for lower price points and less regulatory friction.
- Rio Rancho, NM: Consider if you want a suburban market with its own STR rules.
- Bernalillo County, NM: Consider for unincorporated areas outside Albuquerque city limits.
Sources
- City of Albuquerque Short Term Rental FAQ: https://www.cabq.gov/council/projects/current-projects/short-term-rental-faq
- City of Albuquerque Business License FAQs: https://www.cabq.gov/planning/planning-faqs/business-registration-faqs
- City of Albuquerque Business License Information: https://www.cabq.gov/planning/business-registration-information
- City of Albuquerque Treasury Department: https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/treasury/taxes-and-fees
- Albuquerque, New Mexico Code of Ordinances: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-109052
- City Desk ABQ: https://citydesk.org/2026/02/03/why-albuquerque-cant-agree-on-short-term-rentals-even-as-illegal-listings-grow/
- Airbnb Help Center: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2318
- Home Team Luxury Rentals: https://hometeamluxuryrentals.com/blog/new-mexico-airbnb-laws
- Steadily: https://www.steadily.com/blog/airbnb-short-term-rental-laws-and-regulations-in-new-mexico
- Steadily: https://www.steadily.com/blog/airbnb-short-term-rental-laws-regulations-albuquerque
- Steadily: https://www.steadily.com/blog/residential-zoning-laws-regulations-albuquerque
- New Mexico Short-Term Rental Association (NMSTRA): https://newmexicostra.org/regulations/
- Checkmate Rentals: https://www.checkmaterentals.com/blog/new-mexico-short-term-rental-regulations
- Landager: https://landager.com/en/property-compliance/usa/new-mexico/rent-increases
- Rent Responsibly: https://www.rentresponsibly.org/year-end-2025-state-short-term-rental-bills-and-whats-ahead-in-2026/
This page is research, not legal advice. Consult local counsel before acquiring or operating a short-term rental in City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Ready to evaluate Albuquerque as an STR market?
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