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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Required for new single-family homes, duplexes, and other new residential structures in Albuquerque. Issued and inspected under the City's Uniform Administrative Code, which locally administers the statewide 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code. Applications are submitted online through the ABQ-PLAN portal.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • All new residential construction requires a building permit and plan review under the Uniform Administrative Code and the 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code
  • Apply online through the ABQ-PLAN portal (electronic plan review)
  • Submit two sets of plans (or electronic equivalent) drawn to scale showing site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, framing plan, elevations, and wall section details sufficient to demonstrate code compliance (UAC Section 110.3)
  • Building permit can only be issued to a homeowner building their own owner-occupied home or to a New Mexico-licensed contractor (minimum GB-2 classification) Owner-builderContractor
  • All metal/aluminum frame construction plans must be certified by a New Mexico-registered professional engineer

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (Table 112-A, one- and two-family dwelling regional modifier 0.50 applied to valuation)2024 City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code, Table 112-A and Section 112.2.1 regional modifier table
$23.50 minimum for valuation $1–$2,000; then $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 per additional $100 (to $2,000); $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 per additional $1,000 (to $25,000); $391.75 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 per additional $1,000 (to $50,000); $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 per additional $1,000 (to $100,000); $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 per additional $1,000 thereafter — modifier of 0.50 applied to the resulting valuation for one- and two-family dwellings
Plan Review FeeUAC Section 112.3; separate from and in addition to the permit fee
65% of the building permit fee, paid at time of plan submittal
Building valuation basisCity of Albuquerque Regulation Governing Building Valuation Pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Code, signed by the Chief Administrative Officer following an April 17, 2026 public rulemaking hearing
Set per the ICC Building Valuation Data table scheduled under the Regulation Governing Building Valuation (ROA 1994 § 14-1-2): February 2018 ICC table applies through June 30, 2026; February 2021 ICC table July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027
Re-inspection FeeUAC Table 112-A, Other Inspections and Fees item 2, per Section 113.5.8
$47.00 each
Investigation Fee (work commenced without a permit)UAC Section 112.4.2
Equal to the amount of the permit fee otherwise required

Review timeline

Plan reviewAlbuquerque’s published plan-review target
13–13 business days

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction) permit actually take in Albuquerque?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation Inspection

    After excavation for footings is complete and required reinforcing steel is in place; forms in place for concrete foundations

  2. 2

    Foundation Insulation Inspection

    After insulation has been installed around the perimeter of slab-on-grade floors

  3. 3

    Frame Inspection

    After roof decking/underlayment, all framing, fire blocking, draft stopping, bracing, and framed openings are in place, and pipes, wiring, chimneys, ductwork, and vents are approved

  4. 4

    Frame Insulation Inspection

    After insulation and vapor barriers have been installed in frame walls, floors, and ceilings or roofs

  5. 5

    Exterior Lath / Wallboard Inspection

    After exterior lathing is in place but before plastering; wallboard inspection on firewalls, wet areas, and shear walls before joints/fasteners are taped and finished

  6. 6

    Final Inspection

    After the building is completed and ready for occupancy, called for by the permit holder before occupancy

See the full Albuquerque inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Apply through ABQ-PLAN for electronic plan review — no need to visit the Building Safety counter in person unless assistance is needed.
  • The City's live Permit Timeline Dashboard (average issuance time, January 1, 2026 to present) reports Residential Building Permits at 13 business days.
  • A building permit can only be issued to a homeowner building their own owner-occupied residence or to a New Mexico-licensed contractor with at least a GB-2 classification. Owner-builderContractor
  • Building valuation for fee calculation follows a City-scheduled ICC Building Valuation Data table (February 2018 edition through June 30, 2026); the Albuquerque regional modifier of 0.50 is then applied for one- and two-family dwellings.
  • Plan review fee (65% of the permit fee) is due at submittal; the permit fee itself is due once plan review is complete and plans are approved.

Frequently asked questions

Albuquerque requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: All new residential construction requires a building permit and plan review under the Uniform Administrative Code and the 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code; Apply online through the ABQ-PLAN portal (electronic plan review); Submit two sets of plans (or electronic equivalent) drawn to scale showing site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, framing plan, elevations, and wall section details sufficient to demonstrate code compliance (UAC Section 110.3); Building permit can only be issued to a homeowner building their own owner-occupied home or to a New Mexico-licensed contractor (minimum GB-2 classification); All metal/aluminum frame construction plans must be certified by a New Mexico-registered professional engineer. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Albuquerque Planning Department — Building Safety Division at (505) 924-3320 before starting work.

The fee is based on the project's building valuation looked up on the currently scheduled ICC Building Valuation Data table, run through UAC Table 112-A's fee formula, with the Albuquerque regional modifier applied (0.50 for one- and two-family dwellings, 0.67 for apartments/public/commercial). A separate plan review fee equal to 65% of the permit fee is paid at submittal.

Per the City's Permit Timeline Dashboard (average issuance times, January 1, 2026 to present), residential building permits average 13 business days. Plan review for residential projects generally takes about two and a half weeks depending on complexity, per the Building Safety FAQs.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Site Plan; Foundation Plan; Floor Plan and Framing Plan; Wall Section Details and Elevations. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Albuquerque requires 6 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Foundation Inspection, Foundation Insulation Inspection, Frame Inspection, Frame Insulation Inspection, Exterior Lath / Wallboard Inspection, Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Albuquerque Planning Department — Building Safety Division ((505) 924-3320).

Apply through City of Albuquerque Planning Department — Building Safety Division at Plaza Del Sol Building, 600 2nd St. NW, Suite 190, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Phone: (505) 924-3320. Office hours: Building Permits & Plan Review: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday–Friday. Building/Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical Inspections & Trade Permits: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday. The Building Safety permit counter is closed every Friday from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM.. Official information: https://www.cabq.gov/planning/building-safety-division.

Albuquerque, New Mexico has adopted: 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code — adopted statewide by the NM Construction Industries Commission (NMAC Title 14), effective in Albuquerque December 14, 2023; 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code — adopted statewide by the NM Construction Industries Commission (NMAC Title 14), effective in Albuquerque December 14, 2023; 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code — effective in Albuquerque December 14, 2023; 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code — effective in Albuquerque September 28, 2023; 2021 New Mexico Mechanical Code, including Appendixes A, B, C, and D; 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code, including Appendixes A, B, C, D, E, F, I, K, and L; 2012 New Mexico Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code; 2012 New Mexico Solar Energy Code; 2021 New Mexico Residential Energy Conservation Code (includes EV-charging-readiness requirements adopted by the Construction Industries Commission, required on new construction starting July 30, 2024); 2021 New Mexico Commercial Energy Conservation Code (includes EV-charging-infrastructure parking requirements, required on new construction starting July 30, 2024); 2021 New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code; 2021 New Mexico Historic Earthen Buildings Code; New Mexico Boiler Code; 2023 Uniform Administrative Code of the City of Albuquerque (ROA 1994, Chapter 14, Article 1) — the City's local administrative amendment governing permitting, fees, and inspections; effective February 2, 2024; a 2024 edition (Exhibit A) is the current administrative chapter on file with Building Safety; City of Albuquerque Ordinance O-2022-024 (Council Bill O-22-23) — adopted the Uniform Administrative Code and technical codes, repealing the prior Chapter 14, Article 1, ROA 1994. Local amendments apply — see the Albuquerque overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-02.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Albuquerque building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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