Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find information regarding a Capital Project?

Capital projects are managed by the City's Department of Municipal Development.

They are located in the City/County Building 7th Floor. You can call them at 505-768-3830. Parking is available in various areas close to the building and costs vary. Handicap accessible parking is available at street level.

For more information, including accessibility, contact the CIP Program Manager at 505-768-3830.

When will my neighborhood park get renovated?

Park renovations are prioritized based on safety issues, consistent maintenance problems, age, appearance and condition, public input, and funding.

Please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 505-768-5300.

How do I report street markings (striping or painted curbs) that can no longer be seen?

Customer Contact Center 311. Please have the following information available:

• Intersection, approximate street location, starting and ending points as appropriate.
• Type of missing or faded makings such as: Lane lines, turn arrows, crosswalks, stop bar
• If this is a residential street, what are the closest main cross streets
• If the School crossing is on a public street, call 311
• If the curb marking or pavement markings (stripes) are on a school's property, you should call Albuquerque Public Schools Maintenance at 505-765-5950
• If the yellow curb marking is for a bus stop, call ABQ Ride at 505-724-3121
• If the striping is on private parking areas, the business property owner is responsible for the striping.

If the street is in Rio Rancho, call 505-891-5016 or go to the Rio Rancho website

For County intersections, call Bernalillo County at 505-848-1503

What do I do if a stop sign is missing, damaged, or faded?

If you are located in the City of Albuquerque, call 311 (505-768-2000 from outside the local calling area). Please have the following information available when you call:

• Where is the sign located?
• What are the street names including St. or Blvd. or Ave. and NW, NE, SE, etc.
• For the sign in question, what direction is the traffic going?
• If it is a residential street, what are the nearby main cross streets?
• Is the sign coming out of a parking lot or private property? (Such as: a mall, shopping center, school, etc..) Signs placed in private parking lots are privately owned. You need to contact the store property management.
• If the sign is wooden or painted and within a park or recreation area, call Parks at 505-857-8650.

If the signal is in Rio Rancho call 505-891-5016 or go to Rio Rancho website.

For County intersections, call Bernalillo County at 505-848-1503 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. After hours call the Sheriff's Department at 505-798-7000.

A City contractor damaged my property. Who do I call to get compensated?

Contractors working for the City are required to carry liability insurance to cover possible damage or injuries resulting from the project. You may call the City's Risk Management office at 505-768-3080 to file a claim. They will investigate the claim and refer it to the liable contractor's insurance carrier.

Please be prepared with relevant information such as the date, type and location of the damage, and information that will identify the contractor, such as their name or license plate information.

Do I need a permit for placing a dumpster, or storage pod in the street?

Yes, a permit is required to place a dumpster or storage pod in the public right of way. Visit the Department of Municipal Development Construction Coordination Division website for permit forms and accompanying procedures for obtaining permits.

You can also call the Department of Municipal Development Construction Coordination Division at 505-924-3400 with questions about obtaining permits or visit the Construction Coordination main office.

How do I get speed humps on my street?

For more information on speed humps, please call 311 (505-768-2000 outside the local calling area).

There is construction at _____________; who is doing this work, and will when will they be done?

Please call the Municipal Development Department Construction Coordination Division at (505) 924-3400. You can also refer to the Weekly Traffic Report.

When will the drainage easement be cleaned in our area?

Drainage Easements are cleaned by request only. This is done only once per year, and within 30-days of a request. Please call Arroyo Maintenance at 505-291-6214.

Who is responsible for maintenance and repair of my sidewalk?

The City’s Sidewalk Ordinance requires that all property owners be responsible for maintenance, repair, and liability of the sidewalk in front and on each side of their property. If the sidewalk is in the rear of the property, it may be the City's responsibility. You can call the Department of Municipal Development Construction Coordination Division at 505-924-3400 to investigate.

Visit the Construction Coordination Division website.

When will the storm drains be cleaned in our area?

Please call the Arroyo Maintenance Office at 505-291-6214. A supervisor will be assigned to investigate the condition of the storm drain and schedule any needed maintenance.

Who does final inspections of storm drainage projects?

The Storm Drain Maintenance group conducts final inspections for City maintained storm drainage projects. For more information, please call 505-291-6214.

When can we get a gate opened to access the arroyo/easement?

Please call the Arroyo Maintenance office at (505) 291-6214 to submit your request. An Arroyo Maintenance Supervisor will contact you and schedule a time to meet at the site to allow temporary access.

Who does SO 19's for private drainage facilities in Public Right-of-way?

Special Order 19 approvals and inspections are handled by the Arroyo Maintenance Section. Please call 505-291-6214.

How do I report a stop sign that is blocked and cannot be seen?

If the sign is located within the city of Albuquerque, call 311. Please have the following information available when you call:

• The location of sign, including the address and any cross streets
• The location of the obstruction (for example a tree)

If the sign is located on a private parking lot, you will need to contact the property owner or manager.

For County intersections, call Bernalillo County at (505) 848-1503 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. After hours, call the Sheriff's Department at 505-798-7000.

If the signal is in Rio Rancho, call 505-891-5016 or visit the Rio Rancho website.

How do I report a missing street name sign?

If you are located within the City of Albuquerque you can call 311 (505-768-2000) to report the missing sign. Please be prepared to have the following information ready when you call:

• Is this a City intersection?
• Where is the sign located?
• What are the street names including St. or Blvd. or Ave., NW, NE, SW, SE
• If it is a residential street, what are the nearby main cross streets?

If this is a new subdivision and there have never been any signs call 505-857-8685.

If it is a turquoise Bus sign call Transit at 505-724-3121

For County intersections, call Bernalillo County at 505-848-1503 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After hours, call the Sheriff's Department at 505-798-7000.

For Rio Rancho intersections, call the City of Rio Rancho at 505-891-5016 or go to the Rio Rancho website.

I need some traffic information because of an accident; how do I get it?

All legal requests regarding traffic must be made in writing to:

Traffic Engineer
City of Albuquerque
Department of Municipal Development / Traffic Engineering
PO Box 1293
Albuquerque, NM 87103-1293

You must include the date and time of day if it is in reference to an accident. This will not give you exact information, just the timing settings and if the were any unusual problems. Including an email address will expedite the response. If you know exactly what you need, call 311.

Where do I report a street light that is out, cycles on and off or one that stays on during the day?

View information about reporting streetlights.

This is for street lighting not traffic signals.

Construction is causing traffic to go through my neighborhood - who do I call?

For construction caused traffic problems call - Construction Coordination - at 505-924-3400

Visit the Construction Coordination website.

Including: Construction signs that are blocking a driveway to a business.

What are the minimum qualifications and bonding capacity a contractor must possess in order to work on a City Utilities Project?

In general, a contractor who wishes to perform work on a City utilities project must possess a GF 98 license from the State of New Mexico and have a minimum one million dollars bonding capacity. However, a specialty project may require additional licenses.

Information on contractor qualifications and bond requirements can be found on the Construction Coordination website.

Where are my sewer and water stubs located?

Information about sewer and water stubs is obtained by researching the as-builts and teebooks documents and from our sewer and water facility maps.

Visit the Maps and Records.

What are the geographic coordinates and/or elevation at specific location within the City?

The City of Albuquerque maintains around 2,000 control monuments.

For information, contact Geodetic Surveyor at 505-768-3609, or the City of Albuquerque's GIS website

How do we subdivide our land?

To subdivide land, you will first need to hire a private surveyor to prepare a plat. The plat must be reviewed and signed by the City Surveyor prior to final approval by the Development Review Board. For additional information, please contact the City Surveyor at 505-768-3614.

How do we change our street name?

Requests for changing residential street names are submitted to and processed through the City Engineer. Call the City Surveyor at 505-768-3614 or email [email protected] with the proposed street name.

Where is a specific street located?

Information on street locations can be collection from the Street Atlas, as well as, from the Street name database.

For additional information, contact Maps and Records at 505-768-3608. On-line maps are available from the City of Albuquerque Geographical Information System located at the City of Albuquerque's GIS website.

How do I get a parking permit for a designated permit parking area?

To receive a residential parking permit, you must be a resident in the house or apartment that fronts on the street designated for permit parking. These residents may obtain permits from the permit office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You must bring the following:

• Proof of residence: Current bill with name and address, such as; electric bill, bank statement, or cell phone bill.
• Current vehicle registration for each vehicle for which a permit is requested
• Drivers license

A lease may be used as proof of residence provided it is legal and you have just recently moved in. Other wise a current bill as described above is required

The permit office is located at Plaza del Sol, 600 2nd NW Room 510.

There is no charge for the permit(s).

Questions? call 505-924-3950.

What do I do if there is a traffic signal out? Or if the signal equipment has been damaged or is missing? (leaning, hanging, twisted)

For all traffic signals with in the City of Albuquerque, call 311. Please have the following information available when you call:

• What are the cross streets where the signal is located?
• What direction of travel is the light out for?
• Is it a red, yellow or green light?
• Is the light mounted over the traffic, on a median, on a corner?
• What is damaged or missing?
• Are all the lights out?

If all of the traffic signals are out, there is a loss of power for the signals. Call PNM at 505-246-5890.

For County intersections call Bernalillo County at 505-848-1503 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After hours call Sheriff's department at 505-798-7000

For Rio Rancho intersections call 505-891-5016 or go to their website.

I am a building contractor, and I am looking for the procedures, and permit forms that I can download online that pertain to my construction projects.

The relevant permit forms and procedures can be found here.

I want to have a public event. Is there a place online that I can download the necessary procedures and permit forms?

The Construction Coordination Division of the Department of Municipal Development is responsible for coordinating most activities conducted in the public right -of-way, including issuance of barricade and excavation permits, inspection of all barricaded sites, approval of parades and other special events conducted in City streets.

Download the application forms needed to request a Barricade or Excavation.

These forms detail the process you will need to follow in order to obtain a permit for your event.

Where can I find information online concerning the disposal of household chemicals and oil?

View information concerning the disposal of household chemicals and oil

If I see a pothole or anything that impairs the normal flow of traffic, such as loose manhole covers, debris in the street or flooding, is there anywhere online that I can report it?

Submit a pothole report.

I want to have the traffic analyzed on my street in order to possibly have either some street signs or traffic signals installed to better manage the traffic passing through my neighborhood. Is there a place online that I can go to find out more information and help on this matter?

Please call 311.

There is missing or buckled or broken sidewalk; what can I do to get it repaired?

If you have buckled or broken or missing sidewalk you can talk to an inspector by calling 505-924-3415, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.

You will be advised on what you can do or the Inspector will send an associate out to area of the reported sidewalk and inspect the sidewalk.

The City ordinance states that sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner. If you need sidewalk repair you can call the Permits office at 505-924-3400 and they can supply you with a list of contractors that do sidewalk repair.

Remember when you hire a contractor make sure he has all the permits and is licensed to do the job requested.

How can I contact the City Projects Manager?

The City project manager can be reached at 505-924-3405.

When will our arroyo be cleaned?

City maintained arroyos are cleaned on an 18-month schedule.

Where can we find City projects or As-Built records to help with our projects?

Information on City projects including As-Built records can be obtained through our project tracking system or in our files. This information can be retrieved by the Public Works Maps and Records Division. Visit the Public Works Maps and Records website here. Location:One Civic Plaza. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, including accessibility, call the Public Works Maps and Records Division at 505-768-2529.

Who un-plugs the storm inlets, drains.

You may call Storm Drainage Maintenance at 505-291-6214 between the hours 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 505-857-8250 for any time after 5 p.m. and on the weekends. And a crew will be sent to take care of the call.

Why do I need to trim my landscaping when my neighbors landscaping is much worse.

Landscaping within or adjacent to a street needs to be trimmed for a number of different reasons, some of which are very critical to safe operation of the street system. Landscape trimming is needed to provide adequate sight distance at street intersections; clear visibility of street signs - particularly stop signs; and sufficient area for pedestrians on sidewalks.

If an potential obstruction is observed, these are checked against the requirements to see if there is a violation. If there is a violation, a notice is sent to the property owner to correct landscaping problems that were observed.

If you think there is a violation of sidewalk access, median, intersection visibility, or obstruction of traffic signs that needs to be addressed, you can contact 311 to report this. Please have the following information available:

• Street address of the property
• What specific problem is observed
• Type of landscaping that needs trimming

For litter or weed problems on private property, report online or by calling 311.

Who paints the house numbers on the curb?

Street address numbers can be painted on by the property owner or the property owner can contract out to any person that does such work. Where there is construction and the contractor involved has to replace your curb and in the process erases the number they will be back to re-paint the number.

"My drive to work takes forever, if you only gave my direction more green time every things would work so much better." Right?

No, traffic signals are timed in a way where each intersection talks to the next one down the road, by having more green time it would mean less green time for a different movement. In other words, more green time may add to the problem instead of improve it.

I notice cameras at various intersections throughout the City of Albuquerque. Can I get a copy of the videotape? Is "Big Brother" watching?

There are 2 types of cameras the City uses at intersections. These are only present at some of the intersections throughout the City. One type is used to monitor conditions at an intersection and the other is used to help control signal timings through the detection of vehicles in various traffic movements. Neither of these is recorded, so no video history is available. The other small black device, typically mounted on the traffic signal mast arm, is a detector to help control the signal when emergency vehicles are passing through the intersection. No video is available from this device.

There may be some occasions when APD will have recordings.Submit a public records request from ABQ Records.

How do I get on the City's Contractor list for installing underground utilities (water, SAS, and Paving) for the City?

The City does not keep a Contractor list.

Any licensed contractors who wish to work on City projects, must go through a bidding process for a specific project. Please contact the project manager for detailed information on the project.

The City will typically Advertise for Bids on Capital projects in the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Tribune classified section on Wednesdays. Plans and specifications are often distributed to the local plan-houses, as well. You may also contact the City Clerk's office at (505) 768-3030 for a list of current advertisements for bids.

Why does the turn arrow come on with no one in the turn bay?

Inductive loops are used at the majority of intersections as detection for vehicles in turn bays. These loops are mechanical devices that can fail. Whenever they fail they default to a minimum amount of time for the arrow regardless of whether vehicles are present or not. Please report these to 311.

If I want information about an intersection regarding signal timing information, what do I need to do?

In order to get information about an intersection one must submit a request in writing to:

City of Albuquerque
Department of Municipal Development
Traffic Engineering Division
P.O. Box 1293
Albuquerque, NM 87102-1293

Please include your email address for an expedited response. If you know exactly what you need, call 311.

How are the traffic signals timed throughout the City of Albuquerque?

The majority of signals are coordinated through twisted pair (i.e. phone lines) throughout the City. What this means is the signals on this system will change patterns at different times during the day. Timing models are developed to determine what times would work best for different arterials; these models include volume data as well as lane availability for each intersection.

How do I report a flashing traffic signal?

New traffic signals are typically flashed before the normal sequence of signal operation is put into effect. Also, some traffic signals are flashed during parts of the day when there are lower traffic volumes.

If the traffic signals are flashing during a time of day when they should have normal cycling operation and you are located in the City of Albuquerque, call 311. Please have the following information available when you call:

• Where is signal located?
• Are all of the traffic signals flashing? If not, for what directions of travel are they flashing?
• What are the street names including St. or Blvd. or Ave.
• Is this a City intersection?

If the signal is in Rio Rancho, call 505-891-5016.

For county intersections, call Bernalillo County at 505-848-1503 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. After hours, call the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department at 505-798-7000.

Who replaces storm drain manhole covers/lids?

Damaged manhole covers may be replaced by Storm Drain maintenance or Wastewater line maintenance crews. The location should be reported to the dispatch office at 505-857-8250 so it can be investigated and barricaded if necessary.

Why do I keep getting red lights?

Most of the City's traffic signals are interconnected. Among the factors affecting the degree of coordination we can provide between signals are: the speed of traffic, signal spacing, complexity of intersections, the amount of traffic, etc. Higher priority is assigned to streets that have higher traffic volume, and the direction of traffic flow that is greater.

Traffic coordination is interrupted by pre-emption of emergency vehicle and transit vehicles. The crossing of pedestrians extends the crossing time which also interrupts coordination.

I need to have my street swept. There is a lot of broken glass in the street

The Street Maintenance Division tries to sweep all the streets in the City every month or so, depending on man power and equipment. If you have a request you can call 505-857-8025 or 505-857-8027 and make a sweeping request.

Please give the operator a cross street or a block address, like the 300 block of Central NE, and a work order will be made and your street should be swept within a week.

Why is there Construction Equipment in Four Hills?

This is part of the removal of vertical deflection devices in the East Gateway Sector Plan. Please contact Councilor Don Harris' office for more information at 505-768-3123

How can I get sandbags and sand during a storm?

Monday - Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. you can pick-up a maximum of 15 empty sandbags at the City Yards located at 5501 Pino NE, Bldg F, or you can go to the following Fire Stations:

Fire Stations and Sandbags

*Please note: the City Yards Facility located at 5501 Pino NE does not have sand; only the above listed fire stations have bags and sand.

How do I report a street issue not within the City of Albuquerque limits?

• For County Roads: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. call 505-848-1503 for after hour emergency issues call the Bernalillo Sheriff's Department at (505) 798-7000.
• For State Roads: call New Mexico State Highway Department at 505-841-2735 or 505-841-2700.
• For The Village of Los Ranchos: call 505-344-6582
• For Rio Rancho Roads: Call 505-891-7235
• For Village of Corrales Roads: Call 505-897-0502

How do I get a pothole repaired?

Fill out the on-line Street Repair Form or Call 311 and request a Pothole Repair, give the cross streets or address to include direction of travel (ex: eastbound or westbound) pothole is located.

How do I report a sinkhole or cave-in for repair?

Fill out the on-line Street Repair Form or Call 311 and request a Sinkhole / Cave in Repair, give the cross streets or address to include direction of travel (ex: eastbound or westbound) sinkhole / cave-in is located. Also, indicate if the hole is dry or if it contains water (water can indicate a water or sewer line break). Street Maintenance will assess and repair area or immediately refer to the appropriate department for repair.

How can I get a handicap curb cut or wheel chair ramp installed?

Fill out the Street Repair Form or Call 311 and submit a request with Street Maintenance to install a handicap ramp. Street Maintenance's concrete section will assess area, determine if ramp/cut are required and perform installation at area requested.

Whose responsibility is it to replace or repair the buckled sidewalk in front of my property?

The property owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing the sidewalk in the front and on the side of their property per City Ordinance.

Who do I call to get the cracks in my street repaired?

Fill out the on-line Street Repair Form or Call 311 and request Street Crack repair. Provide the exact address or cross streets and approximate diameter of crack(s).

How does the City prioritize the snow removal effort during a storm?

During a snow storm Street Maintenance crews are mobilized. The City's first priority is to plow and de-ice all major arterial streets leading to emergency entrances and exits such as hospitals, police and fire stations. Providing all arterial streets are plowed and de-iced, efforts are then focused on feeder streets.

How can I check road conditions?

You can call the New Mexico State Highway Department at 1-800-432-4269 or access conditions via the web at NM Roads

How does the City determine when my street will be re-paved?

The City does a review and rating of the conditions of all streets periodically. From this review a list of priority streets is developed. The three main criteria that determines the priority of a street needing to be re-paved are condition, age of street and availability of funding for paving projects. Annually, the City re-paves between 90 and 100 street lane miles.

Who do I contact when a traffic light is down?

Traffic Engineering maintains / repairs traffic lights. Contact 311 to report the traffic light, give the location of the light and don't attempt to move the light as it may have active electrical currents.

How do I obtain a residential parking permit for a designated permit parking area?

To receive a residential parking permit, you must be a resident in the house or apartment that fronts on the street designated for permit parking. Residents may obtain permits from the permit office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You must bring the following:

• Proof of residence: Current bill with name and address, such as; electric bill, bank statement, or cell phone bill.
• Current vehicle registration for each vehicle for which a permit is requested
• Drivers license

A lease may be used as proof of residence provided it is legal and you have just recently moved in. Otherwise a current bill as described above is required.

The permit office is located at Plaza Del Sol. 600 2nd NW Room 510.

Please do not forget to bring the above information to obtain any permits. There is no charge for the permit(s).

Questions? Please call 505-924-3950.

How do I get a City arroyo / easement cleaned?

Call 311 and request arroyo /easements to be cleaned. Give location of arroyo /easement, cross street or nearest address. Please provide name and contact information in the event crews need further direction. Typically, arroyos / easements are cleaned out every two years.

How can I get a broken or missing lock repaired or replaced?

Call 311 request repair / replacement of arroyo lock. Give location of arroyo, cross street or nearest address. Please provide name and contact information in the event crews need further direction.

How do I get a final inspection for a storm line?

Call 311 and request a storm line inspection. Please provide your name and contact information.

How do I get a gate open to an arroyo / easement?

Call 311 at 4 days in advance to request an arroyo/easement gate be opened.

How do I get an item that has fallen into a storm inlet retrieved?

Call 311 and request a storm inlet be removed to retrieve your item (state what has fallen into the inlet.) Provide closest intersections and /or address if possible, as well as your name and a number you can be contacted at.

What do I do to report bad odors from a storm drain inlet?

Call 311 and request a storm inlet be cleaned out. Provide closest intersections or address if possible, as well as your name and a number you can be contacted at in the event crews need more information.

How do I get a City Storm drain easement cleaned?

Call 311 and request a storm drainage easement be cleaned. Provide location of easement closest intersections and /or address if possible, as well as your name and a number you can be contacted at in the event crews need more information.

Who can I call to report an eroding arroyo?

Call 311 and request Storm / Arroyo Maintenance assess the eroding arroyo. Provide location of arroyo, closest intersections and /or address if possible, as well as your name and a number you can be contacted at in the event crews need more information. After the assessment is completed crews will schedule repairs if necessary.

Who do I call to report a damaged guard rail or bridge?

Call 311 and request Storm / Arroyo Maintenance assess the guard rail or bridge. Provide location of the guard rail or bridge, closest intersections and /or address if possible, as well as your name and a number you can be contacted at in the event crews need more information. Crews will assess the damage and will make repairs if necessary.

How do I get a bike locker?

Call the Engineering Division at 505-768-3842 or email [email protected].

How do I request crossing signals at a local school?

Submit the request to the school's principal.