New Mexico / Bernalillo County
HVAC Permit in Bernalillo County, New Mexico
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before installing or replacing a furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, boiler, evaporative cooler or ductwork.
Issued byBernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Bernalillo County issues residential mechanical permits (Accela type MGRE) itself, applied for online through Accela Citizen Access by a state-licensed contractor. Its ordinance exempts only portable heating, ventilating and cooling units, portable evaporative coolers, closed piping inside regulated equipment, unit refrigerating systems and replacement of component parts that do not alter an appliance's approval. Installing or replacing a furnace or air conditioner needs a permit, and homeowners may not install gas heating or cooling appliances or ductwork under a homeowner plumbing test.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Sponsored
HVAC contractors usually pull this permit as part of the job. If you have not picked one yet, compare a few quotes before you commit.
Compare HVAC contractor quotes on Angi
Sponsored link. PermitNotebook may earn a fee if you request quotes through it. Partners never influence our permit data.
When a permit is usually needed
Before installing or replacing a furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, boiler, evaporative cooler or ductwork.
What an HVAC permit costs in Bernalillo County
How to apply in Bernalillo County
In Bernalillo County, a residential HVAC (mechanical) permit application must identify the covered equipment and scope of work, since installing, altering, or replacing a heating or cooling system is regulated work that cannot start until the application is submitted and the permit issued. The equipment itself must be picked by a real sizing calculation rather than a rule of thumb.
What most HVAC permit applications include:
- For Bernalillo County, a mechanical permit is required before anyone may install, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system regulated by the code, and the work may not begin until the application is submitted and the permit is issued (IRC R105.1).
- For Bernalillo County, the application identifies the specific equipment being installed, such as a furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner, since the unit must be installed according to its listing and the manufacturer's installation instructions (IRC M1401.1).
- For Bernalillo County, the proposed equipment location must leave the clearances needed to clean coils and replace filters, blowers, motors, and controls after installation (IRC M1401.2).
- For Bernalillo County, the application carries the equipment sizing basis: ACCA Manual J building loads and Manual S equipment selection, or another approved sizing method, not a rule of thumb (IRC M1401.3).
- For a split system, the work covered by the permit includes refrigerant suction line insulation, since the piping is inspected against that standard once installed (IRC M1411.6).
General submittal guidance from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Chapter 1 (Permits) and Chapter 14 (Heating and Cooling Equipment and Appliances). 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
HVAC 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 | 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 | |
| Albuquerque | Permit required | Any size | ...charge applicable to all applications and additions to permit" $47.00... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Bernalillo County, mechanical work gets a rough in inspection after the ductwork, refrigerant lines, and gas piping are in but before they are covered or concealed, followed by a final inspection that confirms the equipment operates correctly and its clearances, combustion air, and condensate disposal are in place. A straight equipment changeout with no new ductwork commonly gets a single final inspection instead of a separate rough in trip.
- In Bernalillo County: rough inspection of the mechanical and gas systems must be made before the work is covered or concealed, before fixtures or appliances are set or installed, and before the framing inspection (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Bernalillo County: where a cooling coil is added to an existing warm air furnace, the rough in confirms the coil is not installed upstream of the heat exchanger unless the furnace is listed for it, and that the blower can handle the added static pressure (IRC M1411.2).
- In Bernalillo County: the rough in and final both confirm the appliance access opening and working space are large enough to service the unit (IRC M1305.1).
- In Bernalillo County: at final inspection, the inspector verifies the equipment has adequate combustion air, with openings kept clear for the distance the code requires (IRC M1402.3).
- In Bernalillo County: final inspection also checks that the condensate line drains to an approved point of disposal with the required slope and does not create a nuisance (IRC M1411.3).
- In Bernalillo County: for a straight equipment changeout with no new ductwork, many permit offices require only a single final inspection, while a new installation still gets a rough in inspection before the final (common local inspection practice).
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 (Required Inspections) and Chapter 14 (Heating and Cooling Equipment and Appliances). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your HVAC Permit checklist for Bernalillo County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Usually needed: Before installing or replacing a furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, boiler, evaporative cooler or ductwork.
- Budget the fee. Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-C Mechanical Permit Fees: administrative charge $23.50 each; "Each appliance, includes ducts and venting (does not include boilers, refrigeration units, air conditioning units, or absorption units" $7.00; repair, alteration of, or addition to each heating appliance, refrigeration unit, cooling unit or evaporative cooling system $8.00; each evaporative cooler other than portable type $7.00; gas outlet $3.00. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Bernalillo County, a residential HVAC (mechanical) permit application must identify the covered equipment and scope of work, since installing, altering, or replacing a heating or cooling system is regulated work that cannot start until the application is submitted and the permit issued. The equipment itself must be picked by a real sizing calculation rather than a rule of thumb. 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, mechanical work gets a rough in inspection after the ductwork, refrigerant lines, and gas piping are in but before they are covered or concealed, followed by a final inspection that confirms the equipment operates correctly and its clearances, combustion air, and condensate disposal are in place. A straight equipment changeout with no new ductwork commonly gets a single final inspection instead of a separate rough in trip.
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 an HVAC permit in Bernalillo County?
- Bernalillo County issues residential mechanical permits (Accela type MGRE) itself, applied for online through Accela Citizen Access by a state-licensed contractor. Its ordinance exempts only portable heating, ventilating and cooling units, portable evaporative coolers, closed piping inside regulated equipment, unit refrigerating systems and replacement of component parts that do not alter an appliance's approval. Installing or replacing a furnace or air conditioner needs a permit, and homeowners may not install gas heating or cooling appliances or ductwork under a homeowner plumbing test. Always confirm with the Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Building Section before starting.
- How much does an HVAC permit cost in Bernalillo County?
- Resolution 25-2009 Table 3-C Mechanical Permit Fees: administrative charge $23.50 each; "Each appliance, includes ducts and venting (does not include boilers, refrigeration units, air conditioning units, or absorption units" $7.00; repair, alteration of, or addition to each heating appliance, refrigeration unit, cooling unit or evaporative cooling system $8.00; each evaporative cooler other than portable type $7.00; gas outlet $3.00. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does an HVAC permit take in Bernalillo County?
- The county says it will make every effort to process trade permit submittals received by 3:00 p.m. on the same day (Apply for Trade Permits page). Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for an HVAC 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 an HVAC 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 |
| Fence Permit | 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... |
| 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 |
HVAC 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 HVAC 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 HVAC Permit requirements across New Mexico localities