Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Albuquerque, NM (2026)

Albuquerque, NM allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-Term Rental (STR) License) before listing their property. Albuquerque regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Albuquerque.

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-Term Rental (STR) License. Registration fee: $150. Annual renewal: $150 annually. Register through the City of Albuquerque Development Services or City of Albuquerque Planning Department. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Operational Rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in Albuquerque: 1. STR license required for all rentals of 30 days or fewer 2. Both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed with license 3. License number must be displayed on all booking platform listings 4. Noise ordinance compliance required — Albuquerque quiet hours apply 5. Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests 6. Safety equipment required: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher 7. City Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) and New Mexico Lodgers Tax must be collected 8. Designated local contact required to respond within 1 hour

• •STR license required for all rentals of 30 days or fewer
• •Both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed with license
• •License number must be displayed on all booking platform listings
• •Noise ordinance compliance required — Albuquerque quiet hours apply
• •Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests
• •Safety equipment required: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher
• •City Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) and New Mexico Lodgers Tax must be collected
• •Designated local contact required to respond within 1 hour

Platform-Specific Rules

Platform-Specific Rules in Albuquerque: Airbnb: Airbnb collects New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) and Bernalillo County Lodgers Tax on qualifying rentals VRBO: VRBO also collects applicable New Mexico taxes on qualifying rentals Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.

Penalties for Violations

Penalties for STR Violations in Albuquerque: $500–$1,500 fine per day for operating without a license; $500 fine for noise, safety, or occupancy violations; License revocation for repeat violations. Albuquerque has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.

• ⚠$500–$1,500 fine per day for operating without a license
• ⚠$500 fine for noise, safety, or occupancy violations
• ⚠License revocation for repeat violations

Frequently Asked Questions