Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Bernalillo County?

Yes, per the county's FAQ: 'a building permit is required for any structural change or alteration made in a building, or when any new construction is undertaken.' Refer to Chapter 10, Article II, Section 110 of the Building Ordinance for what does NOT need a permit.

How much does a residential building permit cost in unincorporated Bernalillo County?

Per Administrative Resolution 25-2009 (Table 3-A): $30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000 of project valuation for the building permit fee, plus $30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000 of valuation for plan review. Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical fees are calculated separately based on fixture/item counts.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Bernalillo County?

The general turn-around time for a residential building permit is 5 working days; commercial permits should allow at least 10 working days, per the Building Services FAQ.

Residential Building Permit in Unincorporated Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Verified

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.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

From$30.00Building Permit Fee — see all 5 fees below

When you need this permit

New single-family dwelling construction
Additions to existing residential structures
Any structural change or alteration to a building (per FAQ: 'a building permit is required for any structural change or alteration made in a building, or when any new construction is undertaken')
Project must comply with the Bernalillo County Zoning Ordinance for the applicable zone (A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, or M-H)
Homeowners may self-perform work on their own primary residence via a Homeowner Permit (requires a signed Homeowner Responsibility form and, per State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division rules, filing the CID Homeowner Building Permit Application/Instructions packet in lieu of a CID license)

Required documents

Required
Bernalillo County Building Permit Application
County application form included in the Residential Building Packet; requires site information, UPC number, legal description, contractor or homeowner-permit designation, construction data, and valuation of work
Required
Plot Plan (min. 8.5x11 in)
Owner's name, site address, legal description (subdivision/lot/block), UPC number, distances from property lines and existing structures to proposed construction, location of water supply and liquid waste disposal
Required
Foundation Plan (min. 8.5x17 in)
Location, size, dimensions and depth below grade of all footings, piers, stem walls and retaining walls, footing section detail, and perimeter insulation R-value/size/depth
Required
Floor Plan (min. 8.5x17 in)
All rooms labeled by use, door/window sizes and U-factors, safety glazing locations, smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm locations (hard-wired with battery backup, inside and outside each bedroom), garage separation
Required
Floor and Roof Framing Plan (min. 8.5x17 in)
Size, spacing and spans of structural members; lumber grade/species; engineered truss details; job-specific engineering for non-conventional wood members (vigas, log posts) requires a lumber grading stamp/certification
Required
Elevations (min. 8.5x17 in)
Four exterior elevations showing windows, doors, porches, columns, roof height, finish floor and finish grade elevations
Required
Wall Section (min. 8.5x17 in)
Interior/exterior wall construction, footing depth/height, insulation R-values, roof decking and slope
Required
IECC Residential Compliance Certificate
Completed International Energy Conservation Code Residential Compliance Certificate (based on current adopted NMAC) with supporting documentation for the chosen compliance path (Prescriptive, U-Factor Alternative, Total UA Alternative, or Simulated Performance)
Required
Manual J / Manual D Calculations
HVAC equipment sizing (Manual J) and duct sizing (Manual D) calculations, prepared by a qualified professional, plus a duct layout plan with duct/outlet sizes labeled
Optional
Onsite Wastewater or Sewer Documentation
Where city sewer is unavailable, a wastewater permit from Bernalillo County Natural Resource Services (NRS) is required (10-day review); where city water is unavailable, a Water Source application from NRS is required
Required
Residential Water Conservation Measures Form
Must be approved before permit issuance for new construction or additions with plumbing, per the county Water Conservation Ordinance

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit Fee	$30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation	Bernalillo County Administrative Resolution 25-2009, Table 3-A, effective May 1, 2009 and still the fee schedule linked from the county's current Permit Fees page (bernco.gov/planning/building-services/permit-fees-res-25-2009/)
Building Plan Review Fee	$30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation	Resolution 25-2009, Table 3-A
Re-inspection Fee	$47.00 each	Resolution 25-2009, Table 3-A, Item 2
Inspections Outside Normal Business Hours	$47.00 per hour (2-hour minimum); $75.00 per hour weekends/observed holidays (4-hour minimum) per Item 8	Resolution 25-2009, Table 3-A, Items 1 and 8
Preliminary and Integrated Plan Review	$75.00 per hour	Resolution 25-2009, Table 3-A, Item 6

Review timeline

5–10 business days

Unincorporated Bernalillo County’s published plan-review target

Inspection process

1
Foundation/Footing
Before concrete pour — verify excavation, forms, rebar, footing dimensions
2
Framing
Structural members, headers, beams, truss details, wall/roof framing before cover
3
Rough MEP (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing)
Rough-in inspections for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems before concealment
4
Insulation
After insulation installed, before drywall — verify R-values match IECC compliance certificate
5
Final
All work complete; smoke/CO detectors installed hard-wired with battery backup

Tips

The general turn-around time for a residential building permit is 5 working days; commercial building permits should allow at least 10 working days, per the county's own Building Services FAQ.
Homeowners may pull a Homeowner Permit for their own primary residence, but must submit New Mexico Construction Industries Division's 'Homeowner Building Permit Application' instruction/acknowledgement packet (in lieu of a contractor license) — per the packet's own instructions, 'disregard the application for permit section' of the state form and instead submit the Bernalillo County residential building permit application.
Retaining walls exceeding 4 feet in height are required to be designed by a registered professional per the Residential Building Packet requirements.
All yard walls and retaining walls that are not part of the building must have their own separate permits.
Grading and Drainage plans are required for single-family dwellings in North Albuquerque Acres and Sandia Heights, and may be required for other residential construction over 500 square feet.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Bernalillo County?: Yes, per the county's FAQ: 'a building permit is required for any structural change or alteration made in a building, or when any new construction is undertaken.' Refer to Chapter 10, Article II, Section 110 of the Building Ordinance for what does NOT need a permit.
How much does a residential building permit cost in unincorporated Bernalillo County?: Per Administrative Resolution 25-2009 (Table 3-A): $30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000 of project valuation for the building permit fee, plus $30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000 of valuation for plan review. Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical fees are calculated separately based on fixture/item counts.
How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Bernalillo County?: The general turn-around time for a residential building permit is 5 working days; commercial permits should allow at least 10 working days, per the Building Services FAQ.

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 Unincorporated Bernalillo County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Other permits in Unincorporated Bernalillo County

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