New Mexico / Bernalillo County
Fence Permit in Bernalillo County, New Mexico
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a solid fence or freestanding masonry wall more than 6 feet above grade on its lowest side.
Issued byBernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services (Building Section) issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits only for the UNINCORPORATED county: its building ordinance covers work "within the unincorporated boundaries of the county". Albuquerque, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Tijeras and the Bernalillo County part of Rio Rancho are incorporated and outside these rules, and the county does not hand trade permits to the state Construction Industries Division here; CID's role is adopting the state codes the county enforces. For fences, the ordinance exempts fences and freestanding masonry walls not over 6 feet above grade on the lowest side, and open-style fences such as chain-link at any height as the building official determines.
Typical threshold: height of a fence or freestanding masonry wall above grade, measured on the lowest side; open-style fences such as chain-link any height as determined by the building official.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before building a solid fence or freestanding masonry wall more than 6 feet above grade on its lowest side.
What a fence permit costs in Bernalillo County
How Bernalillo County compares in New Mexico
Closest fence permit thresholds outside New Mexico
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Bernalillo County's 6 feet in height.
- Anne Arundel County, Maryland, height of a fence accessory to a residential structure; any fence on waterfront property or a corner lot with intersecting streets needs a permit regardless of height
- Hawaii County, Hawaii, height of a fence; retaining walls follow a separate four foot rule
- Honolulu, Hawaii, fence height at which a building permit is required; the exemption does not apply on a street corner or in a flood zone
- New York City, New York, fences accessory to one- and two-family dwellings, measured from the higher of the two adjoining grades
How to apply in Bernalillo County
In Bernalillo County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own.
What most fence permit applications include:
- For Bernalillo County, a fence 7 feet or under is exempt from the model code's building permit, the same threshold the IRC uses for other small projects (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- That exemption only removes the building-code permit. It does not authorize skipping a jurisdiction's own zoning approval, which is why an exempt fence can still need its own land-use or zoning permit rather than a building permit (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- Whatever your jurisdiction calls that approval, the application centers on a basic site plan: a drawing of the property showing the fence's location, height, and material, and how it relates to the property lines (common local zoning practice).
- For Bernalillo County, the same plan is checked against required setbacks and, on corner lots or near intersections, a sight-triangle rule that caps fence height so it does not block sightlines for drivers (common local zoning practice).
- For Bernalillo County, a fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is handled as life-safety work rather than the light zoning process, and at least one state's adopted residential code requires a building permit for barrier fences regardless of the general fence exemption (Oregon Residential Specialty Code 2021, R101.2.2).
General submittal guidance from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R105.2. Source. Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section sets the exact checklist for Bernalillo County.
Where to apply in Bernalillo County:
Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section
- 415 Silver Ave. SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Phone: (505) 314-0350
- Email: permits@bernco.gov
Fence Permit in Bernalillo County compared with nearby New Mexico localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each New Mexico schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | It depends | height of a fence or freestanding masonry wall above grade, measured on the lowest side; open-style fences such as chain-link any height as determined by the building official | ...footage of the wall." Otherwise building permits are valuation-based: "$30.00 plus... | |
| Albuquerque | Permit required | Any size | ...Construction Cost Guide Per Lineal Foot" (for example "Wood Fence (Cedar)" $23.30... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Bernalillo County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
- In Bernalillo County: inspection duty attaches only to work for which a permit is required, so a fence that qualified for the permit exemption carries no inspection obligation under the model code (IRC 2021 R109.1).
- In Bernalillo County: where a fence permit was issued, the process skips the staged foundation, frame, and rough-in inspections used for buildings and goes straight to one final inspection once the fence is finished (IRC 2021 R109.1.6).
- In Bernalillo County: that single check is typically a zoning compliance inspection rather than a structural review, confirming the fence matches the approved height and site plan (common local practice).
- A fence built as a swimming-pool barrier breaks that light-touch pattern in Bernalillo County: it is separately inspected for barrier compliance, commonly required before the pool itself can be signed off (ISPSC 305; local pool-barrier inspection programs).
- In Bernalillo County: that barrier inspection checks dimensional rules from the swimming pool and spa code rather than ordinary fence rules, including the minimum 48 inch barrier height and limits on openings and gaps a young child could pass through (ISPSC 305).
- Gate hardware is inspected too in Bernalillo County: a self-closing, self-latching gate is part of the barrier requirement, since an unlatched gate defeats the fence's purpose as a barrier (ISPSC 305).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Bernalillo County permit portal or by phone at (505) 314-0350.
Inspection sequence from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R109, and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Fence Permit checklist for Bernalillo County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: height of a fence or freestanding masonry wall above grade, measured on the lowest side; open-style fences such as chain-link any height as determined by the building official. Usually needed: Before building a solid fence or freestanding masonry wall more than 6 feet above grade on its lowest side.
- Budget the fee. No fence line item in Resolution 25-2009. The Building Services FAQ says "Wall permits are based on the height and linear footage of the wall." Otherwise building permits are valuation-based: "$30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000.00 Valuation" Building Permit Fee plus "$30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000.00 Valuation" Building Plan Review Fee (Administrative Resolution 25-2009, effective May 1, 2009). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Bernalillo County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own. Start at the Bernalillo County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section. Phone: (505) 314-0350. Address: 415 Silver Ave. SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
- Plan for inspections. In Bernalillo County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Permitting activity in Bernalillo County
In 2025, Bernalillo County authorized permits for 1,560 new residential housing units (668 single-family, 892 in multi-family buildings), valued at $314M, up from 1,316 the year before. That works out to about 2.3 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual data · population 667,601.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fence permit in Bernalillo County?
- Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services (Building Section) issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits only for the UNINCORPORATED county: its building ordinance covers work "within the unincorporated boundaries of the county". Albuquerque, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Tijeras and the Bernalillo County part of Rio Rancho are incorporated and outside these rules, and the county does not hand trade permits to the state Construction Industries Division here; CID's role is adopting the state codes the county enforces. For fences, the ordinance exempts fences and freestanding masonry walls not over 6 feet above grade on the lowest side, and open-style fences such as chain-link at any height as the building official determines. Height of a fence or freestanding masonry wall above grade, measured on the lowest side; open-style fences such as chain-link any height as determined by the building official. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a fence permit cost in Bernalillo County?
- No fence line item in Resolution 25-2009. The Building Services FAQ says "Wall permits are based on the height and linear footage of the wall." Otherwise building permits are valuation-based: "$30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000.00 Valuation" Building Permit Fee plus "$30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000.00 Valuation" Building Plan Review Fee (Administrative Resolution 25-2009, effective May 1, 2009). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a fence permit take in Bernalillo County?
- The general turn-around time for a residential building permit is five working days (Building Services FAQ). Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a fence permit in Bernalillo County?
- You can apply through the Bernalillo County permit portal or contact the Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a fence permit themselves in Bernalillo County?
- 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 Bernalillo County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Bernalillo County
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 | Before moving or adding plumbing fixtures, adding circuits, or making structural changes | Building work is valuation-based under Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-A ("$30.00 plus $4.00... |
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of a platform above grade; also not over a basement or story below and not part of an accessible route | ...under Administrative Resolution 25-2009 (effective May 1, 2009), Table 3-A: "$30.00... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Before adding or altering wiring, circuits, outlets, panels or services | Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-B Electrical Permit Fees: administrative charge $23.50 each |
| EV Charger Permit | It depends | Before installing a hardwired charger or a new 240-volt circuit or receptacle for an... | Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-B: administrative charge $23.50 each |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing or replacing a furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, boiler... | Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-C Mechanical Permit Fees: administrative charge $23.50 each |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...under Administrative Resolution 25-2009 (effective May 1, 2009), Table 3-A: "$30.00... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Before installing, altering or relocating plumbing or gas piping, fixtures, sewer or... | Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-D Plumbing Permit Fees: administrative charge $23.50 each |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated pool accessory to a Group R-3 dwelling, installed entirely above ground, capacity not over 5,000 gallons | ...under Administrative Resolution 25-2009 (effective May 1, 2009), Table 3-A: "$30.00... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...under Administrative Resolution 25-2009 (effective May 1, 2009), Table 3-A: "$30.00... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use | ...under Administrative Resolution 25-2009 (effective May 1, 2009), Table 3-A: "$30.00... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...building permit (BRSP), valuation-based under Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-A ("$30.00... |
| Water Heater Permit | Permit required | Any size | Plumbing (Table 3-D) and mechanical (Table 3-C) each carry a $23.50 administrative charge |
Fence 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 Bernalillo County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this fence permit page for Bernalillo County was verified. 2 official sources: bernco.gov, bernco.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Fence Permit requirements across New Mexico localities