Unincorporated Bernalillo County building permits

Verified

Department contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Unincorporated Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

Last verified 2026-07-02 · Source

Building department

Address: 415 Silver Ave SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 314-0351 (Building Services / Inspection Line); (505) 314-0350 (Planning & Development Services main line / Permitting & Development Center)
Email: permits@bernco.gov (Building Services); zoning@bernco.gov (Planning & Development Services main)
Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Building Services page separately lists 8–5 p.m.; the FAQ and Residential Building Packet both confirm 8:00 AM–4:30 PM for permit submittal)
Website: Official site

Codes adopted

New Mexico sets construction codes statewide by rule, not through home-rule discretion. Under the Construction Industries Licensing Act (NMSA 1978 §§ 60-13-1 et seq.), the state's Construction Industries Commission and Division (CID, within the Regulation & Licensing Department) adopt the technical construction codes codified at New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) Title 14 — including the state's own Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, Solar Energy, and Swimming Pool codes, and the National Electrical Code (14.10.4 NMAC currently adopts the 2020 NEC; the CID Commission periodically updates individual code chapters, so confirm the current edition with the applicable authority). Per NMSA 1978 § 60-13-44(E), these state codes "constitute a minimum requirement" binding every political subdivision in New Mexico — no city or county may adopt anything less stringent, though a jurisdiction may adopt stricter local amendments. Enforcement authority runs through whichever entity is the project's Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ, defined at NMAC 14.5.1.7.B): under NMSA 1978 § 60-13-41(D)-(F), a municipality or county that employs its own full-time certified building official may self-administer permitting, plan review, and inspection locally (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Farmington, and Roswell all operate this way); jurisdictions without a certified building official default to direct enforcement by a CID field office (e.g., Hobbs, Alamogordo). Some jurisdictions run a hybrid — locally certified for some trades while CID directly enforces others (Roswell's electrical permitting, for example, reverted to direct CID administration as of January 1, 2026). Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction whether it or the state CID is the acting AHJ for a given trade before submitting plans.

Bernalillo County Building Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2024-8 (adopted August 13, 2024; repeals and replaces prior Ordinance 2009-5) — Bernalillo County Code Chapter 10, Article II — GOVERNANCE MODEL: Bernalillo County operates its OWN Local Enforcement Agency (the Planning & Development Services Building Program, headed by a County Certified Building Official) for the unincorporated area, rather than defaulting to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) for plan review/inspection. However, Sec. 10-34 of the ordinance expressly adopts BY REFERENCE 'the current codes adopted by the State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division,' amended by the county's own Exhibit A amendments — so the substantive code editions in force track whatever CID has currently adopted statewide, layered with Bernalillo County-specific amendments.International Building Code (IBC), including Appendix Chapters B, C, E, H, I, and J — adopted by reference to the current CID-adopted edition, per Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(1)International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendix Chapters G, H, and K — adopted by reference to the current CID-adopted edition, per Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(2)International Existing Building Code (IEBC), as published by ICC — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(3)International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(4). NM CID's Construction Industries Commission voted to adopt the 2021 IECC/energy code family (per CID's own 2024 press release 'Construction Industries Commission votes to adopt new energy-efficient building codes' and CID's 2021 Residential Energy Code Fact Sheet), which is the edition presently in force through this reference chain.New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code — CID-adopted, effective July 1, 2011 — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(5)New Mexico Non-Load Bearing Straw Construction Building Standard — CID-adopted, effective July 1, 2011 — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(6)International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), as published by ICC — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(7)Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), as published by IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(8). NOTE: Bernalillo County uses the IAPMO Uniform Mechanical/Plumbing/Solar/Pool code family rather than the ICC's IMC/IPC/IFGC family used by many other states.Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), as published by IAPMO — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(9). The county's own homeowner plumbing-test materials (Homeowners Plumbing/Electrical/Mechanical Work page, bernco.gov) cite the 2015 IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code as the current test/reference edition in practice.National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by NFPA — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(10). NOTE: The county's own Homeowners Electrical Exam information sheet (Electrical-HomeOwners-exam-info, rev. 8/2025) specifies the only code books permitted for the county's homeowner electrical exam are the '2020 N.E.C., 2020 N.M.E.C. [New Mexico Electrical Code], and the most current Bernalillo County Ordinance' — indicating 2020 NEC is the edition in practical current use for that exam, even though the ordinance text itself does not hard-code an edition year.New Mexico Electrical Safety Code, as adopted by CID, effective January 1, 2008 — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(11)Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, as published by IAPMO — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(12)Uniform Solar Energy Code, as published by IAPMO — Ordinance 2024-8 Sec. 10-34(13)Bernalillo County amendments to the above International/Uniform/New Mexico codes are compiled as Exhibit A to Ordinance 2024-8 and together with the base codes are termed the 'Uniform Construction Codes of Bernalillo County,' controlling within the unincorporated area.

Permit types & fees

Residential Building Permit

Required for new residential construction, additions, and structural alterations in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Issued directly by Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services (not the City of Albuquerque) for properties located in the unincorporated county. The Residential Building Packet (rev. 2/18/2025) is the county's official application bundle.

Electrical Permit

Required for electrical installations, alterations, and repairs in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Professional contractors apply through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) online portal; homeowners performing their own electrical work on a primary residence must pass a county Homeowners Electrical Exam.

Plumbing Permit

Required for plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs, including water heater replacement, in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Governed by the Uniform Plumbing Code (IAPMO) as adopted through Bernalillo County Building Ordinance 2024-8. Professional applications go through Accela Citizen Access; qualifying homeowners may take a county plumbing test to self-perform limited scopes of work.

Mechanical / HVAC Permit

Required for furnace/AC installation or replacement, gas appliance work, and ventilation systems in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Governed by the Uniform Mechanical Code (IAPMO) as adopted through Bernalillo County Building Ordinance 2024-8. Professional applications go through Accela Citizen Access.

Re-Roof Permit

Required for roof replacement and re-roofing in unincorporated Bernalillo County, using the county's dedicated Re-Roof Permit Application (rev. 3/2026). Per the county's zoning permit matrix, simple repair of shingles or corrugated metal roofing does not require a permit, but full re-roofing, recovering, or replacement does.

Solar Panel Permit

Required for residential and commercial solar PV and solar hot water installations (roof-mounted, ground/pole-mounted) in unincorporated Bernalillo County, per the county's Solar Packet (rev. 2/19/2024). Structural engineering may be exempted for roof-mount systems meeting specific weight/height/attachment criteria.

Accessory Dwelling Unit (Secondary Dwelling Unit / Accessory Living Quarters)

Bernalillo County does not use the term 'ADU' — it recognizes a Secondary Dwelling Unit (SDU, locally called a 'casita': a detached second dwelling with a full kitchen and bathroom) and an Accessory Living Quarters (ALQ: a detached living space with a bathroom but no kitchen/stove), per the county's Multi-Generational & Property Owner Housing Options brochure (updated April 2025). Both are available in the A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, and M-H zoning districts.

Water Heater Permit

Water heater installation and replacement is regulated under Bernalillo County's Plumbing Permit process and fee-priced as a plumbing fixture item under Resolution 25-2009.

Swimming Pool Permit

Required for in-ground and above-ground swimming pool installation exceeding 24 inches in depth in unincorporated Bernalillo County, per the county's Swimming Pool Packet (rev. Dec. 2024). Requires coordination across Building Services, Public Works, and Natural Resource Services.

Fence / Wall Permit

Fences and walls in unincorporated Bernalillo County require a permit above certain height thresholds, per the county's Detailed Property Zone Permit Information matrix (rev. 3/2019), applicable uniformly across the A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, and M-H zones.

Demolition Permit

Required for demolition of structures in unincorporated Bernalillo County, per the county's zoning permit matrix and the fee resolution's dedicated demolition fee tier.

Manufactured / Mobile Home Placement Permit

Required for placement of a manufactured, modular, or mobile home in unincorporated Bernalillo County, administered jointly by Planning & Development Services (zoning), Public Works (legal access approval), and Natural Resource Services (water/wastewater approval), per the county's Zoning Manufactured Home Permit Requirements sheet.

New residential construction activity

New privately-owned residential construction only

Housing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).

Latest month (2026-05): 96units
55 buildings · $20.3M valuation
Trailing 12 months: 1,813units
12 of 12 months reported · #1 in New Mexico coverage by units
Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-05): 817units
352 buildings · $164.7M valuation
Full year 2025: 1,560units
696 buildings · $313.9M valuation

County-wide figures: BPS reports county-wide totals; jurisdiction is the unincorporated remainder — county totals include incorporated Albuquerque (the vast majority of the county's population) plus the smaller incorporated municipalities of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Tijeras, and part of Rio Rancho. Building permits for unincorporated areas (South Valley, North Albuquerque Acres, East Mountains/Sandia Park/Tijeras area outside town limits, etc.) are issued directly by Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, not the City of Albuquerque. StateFips '35' and countyFips '001' verified directly against the U.S. Census Bureau's own 2020 ANSI county reference file (www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/cou/st35_nm_cou2020.txt), which lists 'NM|35|001|01702363|Bernalillo County|H1|A'.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All New Mexico building activity

Tips & gotchas

Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services (415 Silver Ave SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87102) issues permits ONLY for the unincorporated area. If your property is within Albuquerque city limits, you must instead contact the City of Albuquerque Planning Department at (505) 924-3850 — confirm jurisdiction first by providing your address or Uniform Property Code (UPC) number, which the county cross-references against its GIS system.
Bernalillo County operates its OWN Building Safety/Local Enforcement Agency (a County Certified Building Official and inspection staff) rather than routing plan review/inspections through the New Mexico Construction Industries Division — but its Building Ordinance (2024-8) adopts the CID's current statewide code editions by reference, then layers county-specific amendments (Exhibit A).
Professional trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing/gas) can no longer be submitted as paper/PDF applications — all must go through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) online portal at epermits.bernco.gov, and require a valid NM contractor license plus a current Bernalillo County Business License. No refunds are issued for application errors.
Homeowners may self-perform building, electrical, or plumbing work on their own primary residence, but each trade has its own qualifying process: a signed Homeowner Responsibility acknowledgement (building), a proctored Homeowners Electrical Exam ($25, 2020 NEC/2020 NMEC, Mondays 8:30 AM), or a Homeowner Plumbing Test ($25, IAPMO 2015 UPC, limited scope — excludes gas piping and gas appliance work).
The county's Detailed Property Zone Permit Information matrix (rev. 3/2019) sets specific no-permit thresholds: sheds/storage buildings under 120 sq ft, and low freestanding walls under 30 inches not attached to a dwelling, do not require permits. Simple shingle/corrugated-metal roof repair (not full re-roofing) also does not require a permit.
Pool/spa/hot tub barriers have their own separate zoning requirement (6 ft, or 4 ft with an approved cover) under Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Section 22.D.2.c, distinct from any building-code fence provisions.
Bernalillo County distinguishes a Secondary Dwelling Unit (SDU/'casita' — full kitchen+bath, up to 1,000 sq ft) from an Accessory Living Quarters (ALQ — bath only, no stove, up to 500 sq ft); most other jurisdictions' single 'ADU' concept maps to two different county categories with different rules.
New residential construction valuations for permit fee purposes are set by the Building Official per the referenced IBC valuation section (packets cite 2015 IBC Sec. 108.3/109.3); final fees are calculated after plan review, not fully self-service from the fee schedule alone.
Inspection requests for all trades go through the same Inspection Line: (505) 314-0351.
Bernalillo County's Administrative Resolution 25-2009 fee schedule has been in effect since May 1, 2009 (unchanged per the county's own current Permit Fees page as of this verification) — dollar amounts in that schedule are NOT adjusted for inflation and remain the fees actually charged today.

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