Solar Permit in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before installing any rooftop or ground-mounted photovoltaic system.
Issued byCity of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A photovoltaic system needs both a building permit and an electrical permit. Roof-mounted systems under 50 kW qualify for a same-day Express Permit; a New Mexico structural engineer's review is required for residential roofs with more than one existing covering or added loads above the checklist's limits.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your New Mexico Construction Industries Division (Regulation and Licensing Department) license active, and under which business name? Verify it on public.psiexams.com.
New Mexico's owner-builder rule (NMSA 1978, 60-13-3(D)(10), (11); 14.5.2.8(B) NMAC; 14.5.2.18 NMAC) sets what you may do on your own home without hiring anyone. Read the statute.
When a permit is usually needed
Before installing any rooftop or ground-mounted photovoltaic system.
What a solar permit costs in Albuquerque
How to apply in Albuquerque
In Albuquerque, a rooftop solar PV permit application is a combined structural and electrical plan set: a site plan and roof framing details proving the array's mounting can carry its added loads, plus a one line electrical diagram covering listed modules and inverters, disconnects, and the rapid shutdown design. Utility interconnection is a separate approval that runs in parallel with the permit.
What most solar permit applications include:
- Both a building permit and a separate electrical permit are required, since the array must be designed and installed to the residential code's solar provisions and to the National Electrical Code (IRC R324.3).
- For Albuquerque, the plan set identifies listed equipment: PV modules listed to UL 1703 (or both UL 61730-1 and UL 61730-2), and inverters listed to UL 1741, with grid-tied inverters listed for utility interaction (IRC R324.3.1).
- Structural drawings show that the roof framing is designed to structurally support the array and withstand the gravity loads it adds (IRC R324.4.1).
- For Albuquerque, the site plan lays out roof access pathways at least 36 inches wide, plus a ridge setback sized to how much of the roof the array covers, so firefighters retain pathways and ventilation access (IRC R324.6.1, IRC R324.6.2).
- For Albuquerque, the one line electrical diagram shows the rapid shutdown method and the location of its single initiation device, since one control point must bring all system conductors down to safe levels (NEC 690.12, NEC 690.56(C)).
- Interconnecting the array to the utility grid at a defined point of connection is a separate application process from the local building or electrical permit and must be approved before the system can operate (NEC 705.12).
- Some permitting offices route applications through SolarAPP+, an automated review platform that checks the plan set against code requirements and issues eligible permits instantly (DOE SolarAPP+).
General submittal guidance from IRC 2021 R324 (Solar Energy Systems) and NEC 2020 Article 690 (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) and Article 705 (Interconnected Power Production Sources). Source. City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division sets the exact checklist for Albuquerque.
Where to apply 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
Solar Permit in Albuquerque compared with nearby New Mexico localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each New Mexico schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | Permit required | Any size | ...the (.50) residential modifier, plus an electrical permit under Table 112-B ($47.00... | |
| Bernalillo County | Permit required | Any size | ...building permit (BRSP), valuation-based under Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-A ("$30.00... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Albuquerque, inspectors verify the installed array against the approved plans, and some agencies run a rough check of roof attachments and penetrations while they are still exposed before the wiring and roofing close them in. The final inspection confirms rapid shutdown, disconnects, grounding, and required labels are installed correctly, and the system cannot be energized until the utility separately approves interconnection.
- In Albuquerque: where an agency runs a rough or pre-inspection, it checks the array's roof penetrations while they are still exposed, confirming they are flashed and sealed (IRC R324.4.3).
- In Albuquerque: the inspector confirms whether rapid shutdown is required, how it is accomplished, and that it is properly identified (NEC 690.12, NEC 690.56(C)).
- In Albuquerque: pV disconnecting means must be permanently marked and installed where they are readily accessible, which the inspector confirms in the field (NEC 690.13).
- In Albuquerque: bonding and grounding of the array, including every exposed non current carrying metal part and the grounding electrode system, is checked before sign off (NEC 690.43, NEC 690.47).
- In Albuquerque: at the service equipment, the inspector looks for the required rapid shutdown placard, a labeled diagram showing the initiation device's location in the specified colors and letter sizes (NEC 690.56(C)).
- In Albuquerque: utility interconnection is inspected and approved separately from the local building department's sign off, and the system cannot be energized until both approvals are in hand (NEC 705.12).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Albuquerque permit portal or by phone at (505) 924-3320.
Inspection sequence from NEC 2020 Article 690 (690.12 rapid shutdown, 690.13 disconnects, 690.43/690.47 grounding, 690.56 labeling) and IRC 2021 R324.4.3 (roof penetrations). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Solar Permit checklist for Albuquerque
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before installing any rooftop or ground-mounted photovoltaic system.
- Budget the fee. Building permit by valuation under "TABLE 112-A BUILDING PERMIT FEES" with the (.50) residential modifier, plus an electrical permit under Table 112-B ($47.00 administrative charge plus line items); the City publishes a Solar Worksheet (spreadsheet) for estimating. City of Albuquerque 2024 Uniform Administrative Code (UAC), Section 112 and Tables 112-A through 112-G, cover date effective January 1, 2025. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Albuquerque, a rooftop solar PV permit application is a combined structural and electrical plan set: a site plan and roof framing details proving the array's mounting can carry its added loads, plus a one line electrical diagram covering listed modules and inverters, disconnects, and the rapid shutdown design. Utility interconnection is a separate approval that runs in parallel with the permit. Start at the Albuquerque permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division. Phone: (505) 924-3320. Address: Plaza del Sol Building, 600 Second NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
- Plan for inspections. In Albuquerque, inspectors verify the installed array against the approved plans, and some agencies run a rough check of roof attachments and penetrations while they are still exposed before the wiring and roofing close them in. The final inspection confirms rapid shutdown, disconnects, grounding, and required labels are installed correctly, and the system cannot be energized until the utility separately approves interconnection.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual data · population 562,540.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a solar permit in Albuquerque?
- A photovoltaic system needs both a building permit and an electrical permit. Roof-mounted systems under 50 kW qualify for a same-day Express Permit; a New Mexico structural engineer's review is required for residential roofs with more than one existing covering or added loads above the checklist's limits. Always confirm with the City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division before starting.
- How much does a solar permit cost in Albuquerque?
- Building permit by valuation under "TABLE 112-A BUILDING PERMIT FEES" with the (.50) residential modifier, plus an electrical permit under Table 112-B ($47.00 administrative charge plus line items); the City publishes a Solar Worksheet (spreadsheet) for estimating. City of Albuquerque 2024 Uniform Administrative Code (UAC), Section 112 and Tables 112-A through 112-G, cover date effective January 1, 2025. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a solar permit take in Albuquerque?
- In Albuquerque, a solar permit typically takes same day (Express Permit) for roof-mounted solar under 50 kW. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a solar permit in Albuquerque?
- You can apply through the Albuquerque permit portal or contact the City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a solar permit themselves in Albuquerque?
- Under New Mexico law (NMSA 1978, 60-13-3(D)(10), (11); 14.5.2.8(B) NMAC; 14.5.2.18 NMAC): Yes, with tight limits. CILA exempts from the contractor definition an individual who, alone or with wage-paid help, builds or makes installations, alterations or repairs to a single-family dwelling he owns and occupies or will occupy (60-13-3(D)(10)), and a person building or improving a single-family residence for personal use (60-13-3(D)(11)). The work must still meet all state codes, and CID's homeowner permit (14.5.2.18 NMAC) applies only to the owner's primary residence and its garages, carports and sheds, never to rental, other owned or commercial property. The homeowner must perform the major portion of the work by dollar amount and file a signed, notarized responsibility sheet. A homeowner electrical permit requires passing a CID homeowner electrical exam (75% to pass), a plumbing permit requires a competency showing that may include a written exam, and no homeowner permit is issued for HVAC, natural gas or LP gas work. The project may not be put on the market while under construction (doing so voids the permit and can bring unlicensed contracting charges), and only one single-family homeowner permit may be issued to the same owner in any 12-month period. Confirm how Albuquerque applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Albuquerque
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| 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... |
| Water Heater Permit | Permit required | Any size | Plumbing/mechanical permit with the $47.00 administrative charge (Tables 112-C and 112-D) |
Solar Permit in other New Mexico localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Albuquerque documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this solar permit page for Albuquerque was verified. 2 official sources: cabq.gov, documents.cabq.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Solar Permit requirements across New Mexico localities