Building permits in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Of the 13 common home projects we have verified in Albuquerque, 6 need a permit outright and 7 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 13
- in Albuquerque
City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division
- Plaza del Sol Building, 600 Second NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Phone: (505) 924-3320
- Email: planningdepartment@cabq.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Albuquerque
Albuquerque permit records are public, and you can check a property's permit history by address or permit number online.
What needs a permit in Albuquerque
Of the 13 common home projects we have verified in Albuquerque, 6 need a permit outright and 7 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | Finish work and same-configuration fixture swaps are exempt; altered piping, new wiring or structural changes need permits | Building permit (if structural or layout work) by valuation under "TABLE 112-A BUILDING... |
| Deck Permit | It depends | Platforms not over a story or basement below and not part of an accessible route | ...permit fee from "TABLE 112-A BUILDING PERMIT FEES" by total valuation ("$1.00 to... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Like-for-like repair or replacement of receptacles, switch parts and fixed listed appliances is exempt; new or altered wiring, devices and equipment needs a permit | ...charge applicable to all applications and additions to permits" $47.00... |
| EV Charger Permit | Permit required | Any size | Electrical permit under "TABLE 112-B ELECTRICAL PERMIT FEES": $47.00 administrative... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Construction Cost Guide Per Lineal Foot" (for example "Wood Fence (Cedar)" $23.30... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...charge applicable to all applications and additions to permit" $47.00... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Covered versus uncovered: a patio cover or porch needs a building permit; an uncovered at-grade slab falls under the exemption for platforms and walks | ...permit fee from "TABLE 112-A BUILDING PERMIT FEES" by total valuation ("$1.00 to... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Stopping leaks, clearing stoppages and replacing fixtures with the same type of configuration are exempt; new or altered piping needs a permit | ...charge applicable to all applications and additions to permit" $47.00... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Prefabricated pools installed entirely above ground, not exceeding 5,000 gallons, accessory to a building under the International Residential Code | ...FEES" with the (.50) residential modifier, plus "Swimming pool (Private)" $60.00... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...PERMIT FEES", "Residential (R-3 Occupancies Only)": Administrative Fee $30.00 +... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | Building area of a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use | ...permit fee from "TABLE 112-A BUILDING PERMIT FEES" by total valuation ("$1.00 to... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...the (.50) residential modifier, plus an electrical permit under Table 112-B ($47.00... |
| Water Heater Permit | Permit required | Any size | Plumbing/mechanical permit with the $47.00 administrative charge (Tables 112-C and 112-D) |
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Schedule an inspection in Albuquerque
Permitted work is not finished until it passes inspection. The permit owner schedules inspections online in ABQ-PLAN or by calling 505-924-3320. There are no set inspection times (GPS-routed); requests received before 4:15 p.m. are generally scheduled for the next business day. If a contractor pulled the permit, the contractor schedules the inspections. Re-roof and solar finals may be inspected from drone photos.
Schedule or request a Albuquerque inspection
When the portal will not take the date you need, the office still books by phone: (505) 924-3320.
Checked . If the office has changed its process, report it.
Albuquerque permit fees compared with nearby New Mexico localities
| New Mexico locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | ...BUILDING PERMIT FEES" by total valuation ("$1.00 to... | ...to all applications and additions to permit" $47.00... | ...to all applications and additions to permits" $47.00... |
| Bernalillo County | ...25-2009 (effective May 1, 2009), Table 3-A: "$30.00... | ...Mechanical Permit Fees: administrative charge $23.50... | ...Electrical Permit Fees: administrative charge $23.50... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that New Mexico jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Albuquerque permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Albuquerque?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 13 permit types we have verified for Albuquerque, 6 always require a permit (for example an EV charger permit), 7 depend on size or scope (a bathroom remodel permit, for instance). Each Albuquerque permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Albuquerque?
- Albuquerque publishes a fee for 13 of the 13 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Albuquerque?
- City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division issues permits in Albuquerque, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at (505) 924-3320. The Albuquerque official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Albuquerque pages were verified. 13 permit types, 4 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Albuquerque is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.
Permitting activity in Albuquerque
In 2025, Albuquerque authorized permits for 1,417 new residential housing units (525 single-family, 892 in multi-family buildings), valued at $219M , up from 1,099 the year before. That works out to about 2.5 permits per 1,000 residents. It is a useful gauge of how busy the local permit office is.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual data · population 562,540.