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Wall / Fence Permit in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Required for walls and fences over six (6) feet high in Albuquerque; walls and fences under six feet require a permit from the Zoning Counter instead of Building Safety. Fee is based on wall/fence type and height per lineal foot.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Walls and fences over six (6) feet high require a building permit from the Building Safety Division
  • Walls and fences under six feet require a permit from the Zoning Counter, not Building Safety
  • Retaining walls are subject to the same Building Safety permit requirement based on height and construction type

Required documents

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Fee schedule

CMU Garden Wall, 6 ft2024 City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code, Table 112-F (Fence and Wall Construction Cost Guide Per Lineal Foot)
$41.70 per lineal foot
Adobe Garden Wall, 6 ftUAC Table 112-F
$71.40 per lineal foot
Wood Stud/Stucco Wall, 6 ftUAC Table 112-F
$69.30 per lineal foot
Wood Fence (Cedar), 6 ftUAC Table 112-F
$23.30 per lineal foot
Chain Link Fence, 6 ftUAC Table 112-F
$12.00 per lineal foot
CMU Retaining Wall (6-inch), 6 ftUAC Table 112-F
$45.75 per lineal foot (add 15% for reinforcement greater than code minimum)
Concrete Retaining Wall (3-inch), 6 ftUAC Table 112-F
$89.00 per lineal foot

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Albuquerque building department
~13–13 business days

How long did your Wall / Fence Permit 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

    Footing Inspection

    Required before concrete pour for footings supporting the wall or fence

  2. 2

    Final Inspection

    After construction complete

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

Tips

  • Confirm your wall or fence height first: over 6 feet requires a Building Safety permit; 6 feet or under is handled by the Zoning Counter instead.
  • Fee schedule (UAC Table 112-F) is priced per lineal foot and varies by material and height — CMU/adobe/stucco walls cost substantially more per foot than wood or chain-link fencing.
  • Reinforcement greater than the code minimum adds 15% to the CMU/concrete retaining wall fee.

Frequently asked questions

Only if it's over 6 feet high — that requires a building permit from the Building Safety Division, priced per lineal foot based on material and height under UAC Table 112-F. Fences and walls 6 feet or under are permitted through the Zoning Counter instead.

In Albuquerque, the published CMU Garden Wall, 6 ft is: $41.70 per lineal foot. Additional published fees: Adobe Garden Wall, 6 ft — $71.40 per lineal foot; Wood Stud/Stucco Wall, 6 ft — $69.30 per lineal foot; Wood Fence (Cedar), 6 ft — $23.30 per lineal foot; Chain Link Fence, 6 ft — $12.00 per lineal foot; CMU Retaining Wall (6-inch), 6 ft — $45.75 per lineal foot (add 15% for reinforcement greater than code minimum); Concrete Retaining Wall (3-inch), 6 ft — $89.00 per lineal foot. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a wall / fence permit in Albuquerque typically runs 13–13 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Albuquerque Planning Department — Building Safety Division at (505) 924-3320.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (Wall/Fence). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Albuquerque requires 2 inspection(s) for a wall / fence permit, in order: Footing 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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