A three-dimensional data encoding method includes: classifying three-dimensional points included in point cloud data into layers, based on geometry information of the three-dimensional points; generating first information indicating whether to permit referring to, for a current three-dimensional point included in the three-dimensional points, attribute information of another three-dimensional point belonging to a same layer as the current three-dimensional point; and encoding attribute information of the current three-dimensional point to generate a bitstream, by or without referring to the attribute information of the other three-dimensional point according to the first information. The bitstream includes the first information.