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Residential Plumbing Permit in Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Required for plumbing fixture installation, water heater replacement, gas piping, and related plumbing work in Rio Rancho residential properties. Fees are itemized by fixture group and item type.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Repair, replace, relocate, or add to any plumbing system or fixture group
  • Base permit fee of $33.00 plus itemized fixture/item fees
  • Administrative fee of $23.00 applies to all permits
  • A double fee is assessed for work started before securing a permit
  • Permit includes three (3) inspections; additional inspections may require additional fees

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Plumbing Fixtures (group of 8 or less)Plumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho (rrnm.gov/DocumentCenter/View/76099); electric under-sink instant hot water heaters may be included but must be counted separately
$60.00
Each additional group of 4 fixturesPlumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$21.00
Natural Gas (NG) / LP Gas (LPG) System, 4 outlets or lessPlumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$40.00 (plus $40.00 for each additional group of 4 outlets)
Hot Tub / Swimming Pool / Spa / Irrigation Sprinkler SystemPlumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$40.00 each
Water Heater (tanked or tankless)Plumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$33.00 each
Fire Protection Sprinkler System / Backflow Device / Water System Re-pipe / Water ConditionerPlumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$33.00 each
Base Permit FeePlumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$33.00
Administrative FeePlumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$23.00 on all permits
Overtime InspectionPlumbing Permit (Residential) application form, City of Rio Rancho
$47.00/hr (2 hour minimum)

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Rio Rancho building department
~1–5 business days

How long did your Residential Plumbing Permit permit actually take in Rio Rancho?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough-In Inspection

    After all piping has been installed and before any piping has been covered or concealed or any appliances attached

  2. 2

    Top Out Inspection

    After all piping above the floor to the extensions through the roof and/or walls have been completed and before any piping is covered or concealed

  3. 3

    Final Inspection

    When all plumbing is complete, fixtures are installed and ready for service

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

Tips

  • Water heater replacement (tanked or tankless) requires a plumbing permit at $33.00 per unit plus the $33.00 base fee and $23.00 administrative fee.
  • A plumbing permit includes three inspections (Rough-In, Top Out, Final); additional inspections may incur additional fees.
  • Fees will be doubled for work started without first securing a permit.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Water heater replacement requires a plumbing permit in Rio Rancho. The fee is $33.00 base permit fee + $33.00 per water heater + $23.00 administrative fee. Source: City of Rio Rancho Plumbing Permit (Residential) application form.

In Rio Rancho, the published Plumbing Fixtures (group of 8 or less) is: $60.00. Additional published fees: Each additional group of 4 fixtures — $21.00; Natural Gas (NG) / LP Gas (LPG) System, 4 outlets or less — $40.00 (plus $40.00 for each additional group of 4 outlets); Hot Tub / Swimming Pool / Spa / Irrigation Sprinkler System — $40.00 each; Water Heater (tanked or tankless) — $33.00 each; Fire Protection Sprinkler System / Backflow Device / Water System Re-pipe / Water Conditioner — $33.00 each; Base Permit Fee — $33.00; Administrative Fee — $23.00 on all permits; Overtime Inspection — $47.00/hr (2 hour minimum). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a residential plumbing permit in Rio Rancho typically runs 1–5 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Rio Rancho Development Services — Building Inspection Division at (505) 891-5005.

You'll need: Plumbing Permit Application (Residential). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Rio Rancho requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential plumbing permit, in order: Rough-In Inspection, Top Out Inspection, Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Rio Rancho Development Services — Building Inspection Division ((505) 891-5005).

Apply through City of Rio Rancho Development Services — Building Inspection Division at 3200 Civic Center Circle NE, Suite 130, Rio Rancho, NM 87144. Phone: (505) 891-5005, email: Permits@rrnm.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://www.rrnm.gov/77/Building-Division.

Rio Rancho, New Mexico has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — with New Mexico state amendments; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — with New Mexico state amendments; 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — with New Mexico state amendments; 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — with New Mexico state amendments; 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — with New Mexico state amendments; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — with New Mexico state amendments; 2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessibility Code; 2021 International Fire Code (IFC); 2012 Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code; Current New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) Title 14 construction code chapters, as adopted and amended by the Construction Industries Division; City of Rio Rancho Code of Ordinances, Title XV Land Use: Chapter 151 (Building Regulations), Chapter 152 (Flood and Erosion Control), Chapter 153 (Storm Drainage Requirements), Chapter 154 (Planning and Zoning). Local amendments apply — see the Rio Rancho 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 Rio Rancho building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Residential Plumbing Permit in other cities

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