Building Permits, Inspections & City Services
The City of Albuquerque Building Safety Division, part of the Planning Department, handles building permits, trade permits, plan reviews, and construction inspections within its jurisdiction.
To apply for a permit, use the City’s ABQ-PLAN online portal. For permit questions or inspection scheduling, call 505-924-3320.
Open Official Permit Portal ↗ Inspection Instructions ↗City of Albuquerque
Planning Department — Building Safety Division
Plaza del Sol
600 2nd Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-924-3320 (Option 2)
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
505-924-3320 (Option 1)
Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Which Building Permits Do You Need?
Albuquerque requires permits for many new construction, remodeling, and trade projects. Some projects need more than one permit, and zoning approval may be separate from building approval.
| Permit Type | Common Examples |
|---|---|
| Building | New buildings, additions, structural alterations, re-roofing, solar installations, and walls or fences over six feet. |
| Electrical | New wiring, electrical equipment, service upgrades, and alterations to existing electrical systems. |
| Plumbing | Bathroom or kitchen piping changes, sewer or water service work, and water-heater installations. |
| Mechanical | Heating and cooling systems, ventilation, exhaust hoods, and ductwork. |
| Other Approvals | Demolition, site development, certain fences, signs, zoning-related work, and other project-specific requirements. |
Local distinction: The City directs applicants seeking approval for walls or fences under six feet to its zoning counter, while walls or fences over six feet fall under its building-permit guidance. Additional requirements may apply to retaining walls or unusual construction.
For a definitive determination, describe your project and property address to Building Safety at 505-924-3320. Do not assume minor work is automatically exempt.
How to Apply for an Albuquerque Building Permit
The City accepts building and construction trade applications through ABQ-PLAN. Follow this process before starting regulated construction.
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Confirm the property’s jurisdiction.
Open the City Address Report and search the property address. Confirm whether the location is within Albuquerque city limits. Unincorporated Bernalillo County properties may have a different permitting authority.
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Choose the permit and applicant.
Identify whether the project needs building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or multiple permits. Determine whether the homeowner may apply or a licensed contractor is required.
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Prepare the drawings and supporting documents.
Gather the site plan, construction drawings, contractor information, and other documents required for your project. Commercial development may also need site-plan or additional agency approvals.
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Sign in to ABQ-PLAN.
Visit the official ABQ-PLAN portal. Choose Register if you are a new user, or Log In if you already have an account. Former POSSE or ePlan users should use their previously associated email address when creating the new account.
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Complete and submit your application.
Select the appropriate application, enter the property and project details, upload the documents, and pay the applicable plan-review charges. Keep your submission confirmation and application number.
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Respond to reviews and obtain approval.
Check your ABQ-PLAN dashboard for review comments. Submit requested corrections, pay remaining permit fees, and obtain the issued permit before beginning work that requires approval. Schedule inspections at the appropriate construction stages.
For account setup, uploads, application reviews, and inspection requests, use the official ABQ-PLAN instructions and user guides.
Documents to Prepare Before Applying
Building plan review requirements depend on project size and scope. The City’s published requirements identify the following common documents:
- Site or plot plan: Property location, existing and proposed structures, dimensions, distances to property lines, and required setbacks.
- Construction drawings: Floor plans, elevations, foundations, framing, and applicable electrical, plumbing, or mechanical details.
- Structural documentation: Truss specifications, beam calculations, engineering reports, and specialized construction details where required.
- Applicant information: Property and project details, relevant contractor credentials, and applicable business-license information.
- Additional approvals: Zoning, drainage, site development, HOA, or other supporting approvals when applicable.
For example, someone adding a bedroom should prepare a dimensioned floor plan showing the addition and its connection to the existing home, a plot plan showing property setbacks, and any required structural and trade drawings.
The City provides project-specific handouts for residential additions, new construction, garages, patios, roofs, solar projects, accessory buildings, pools, and commercial work on its Building Safety Resource Page.
Permit Fees and Plan Review Times
How Permit Fees Are Calculated
Albuquerque does not charge one flat building-permit fee for every project. Fees depend on factors including the construction valuation, square footage, permit type, and required reviews.
- Plan review: The City’s FAQ describes the standard plan-review fee as 65% of the building-permit fee, with applicable zoning and hydrology charges added.
- Permit issuance: Building-permit fees are generally collected after the required reviews and approvals are complete.
- Additional charges: Trade permits, specialized reviews, and expedited services may have separate fees.
Check the City’s published fee resources or contact Building Safety for the amount applicable to your project. Confirm current rates before relying on older downloadable fee tables.
How Long Does Approval Take?
| Application | City-Reported Timeline |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | 12 days |
| Commercial building permit | 18 days |
| Electrical or plumbing/mechanical permit | 1 day |
| Eligible express permit | Potential same-day approval |
These figures come from the City’s Building Safety dashboard, updated October 5, 2026. They are reported timelines, not guaranteed approval deadlines. Incomplete submissions, corrections, and additional agency reviews can take longer.
FasTrax: Albuquerque also offers optional expedited plan review. Its published charge is three times the normal plan-review fee, with a $1,000 minimum. The City reports an average review turnaround of approximately 10 days for this service, which applies to the first review cycle. Call 505-924-3320 to discuss eligibility and current arrangements.
Express Permits for Smaller Projects
Albuquerque’s Express Permitting System can provide faster approvals for certain straightforward work. The City’s published eligible examples include:
- Residential re-roofing without truss repairs.
- Roof-mounted solar systems under 50 kW.
- Residential water-heater replacement.
- Minor repairs or alterations such as qualifying window and door replacements.
Express processing does not eliminate applicable licensing requirements or required inspections. Eligibility depends on the exact project and application.
Check the City’s Express Permit rules and eligible project types.
Schedule a Building Inspection
After a permit is issued, inspections are required at relevant construction stages. Work should remain accessible for inspection, and approved plans should be available when required.
- Find the active permit. Have the permit number, job-site address, inspection type, and contact details ready.
- Request the inspection. Sign in to ABQ-PLAN and open the relevant permit to request an inspection, or call 505-924-3320.
- Check who is responsible. If a contractor obtained the permit, the City generally expects that contractor to schedule inspections. Homeowner permit holders may schedule their own.
- Prepare the site. Complete the work being inspected, provide required access, and avoid concealing work before the required inspection.
- Review the result. If corrections are identified, complete them and arrange a follow-up inspection as instructed.
The City says requests received before 4:15 p.m. are generally scheduled for the next business day, excluding holidays and weekends.
Exact inspection arrival times are not guaranteed because the City uses routing-based scheduling. Same-day emergency inspections are discretionary.
Typical inspection categories include foundation, framing, building-code compliance, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and final inspections, depending on the project. New homes and certain commercial projects may also require a certificate of occupancy.
Homeowner Permits and Contractor Requirements
Homeowners can apply for certain permits when they qualify to perform the work. However, not every project can be completed under a homeowner permit.
- Rental properties: The City states that licensed contractors are required to obtain permits for work on homes leased or rented to others.
- Electrical or plumbing homeowner exams: The City’s permit guidance allows qualifying homeowners to obtain certain trade permits after passing the applicable written examination with at least 75%.
- Exam rules: The City publishes a four-hour exam allowance, a 30-day wait before a second attempt after failure, a two-attempt limit, and one passing examination per year.
- Contractor-only work: Certain installations, including specified water-heater and ductwork projects, must be performed by licensed contractors.
- HOA properties: Homeowners should secure required association approvals separately. City permit approval does not replace HOA authorization.
Before performing regulated work yourself, verify that your project qualifies for a homeowner permit through the City’s permit eligibility instructions.
Building Codes Used in Albuquerque in 2026
Albuquerque applies New Mexico construction codes together with applicable city administrative requirements and local ordinances.
| Code Category | Published Code Edition |
|---|---|
| Residential construction | 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code |
| Commercial construction | 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code |
| Existing buildings | 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code |
| Electrical | 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code |
| Plumbing and mechanical | 2021 New Mexico Plumbing and Mechanical Codes |
| Energy conservation | 2021 New Mexico Residential and Commercial Energy Conservation Codes |
| City administration | City’s published 2024 Uniform Administrative Code |
The City reports that its 2021 residential, commercial, and existing-building codes became effective locally on December 14, 2023. The 2020 electrical code became effective September 28, 2023. The City’s administrative-code update took effect in February 2024.
Additional fire, accessibility, zoning, energy, and project-specific provisions may apply. Confirm applicable amendments and effective dates before preparing final construction documents.
View Albuquerque’s official building-code list.
Check a Permit, Find Records or Report a Violation
Open ABQ-PLAN to search or track building-permit applications. The City’s search instructions identify address, permit number, contractor, date, and project name as search options.
The City’s Building Safety Resource Page provides additional historical permit searches, including older KIVA records and subsequent reporting systems.
For records such as plans, inspection documents, or occupancy records not available through ordinary searches, submit a City public-records request with the property address and document details.
For suspected construction without required permits, contact Albuquerque 311. Provide the location and a brief description of the work.
Official Albuquerque Building Resources
- Building Safety Division — department information, contacts, and services.
- Building Permit Requirements — permit types and applicant eligibility.
- ABQ-PLAN Portal — submit applications, pay fees, and track records.
- ABQ-PLAN Help — account setup, PDF uploads, and portal guidance.
- Plan Review — required drawings and review procedures.
- Building Inspections — scheduling and inspection requirements.
- Forms and Fee Resources — handouts, historical records, and fee references.
- Current Building Codes — state and city code information.
- Address Report — check property and jurisdiction information.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is the Albuquerque Building Department located?
The City’s Building Safety Division operates at Plaza del Sol, 600 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Call 505-924-3320 for building permits, plan review, and inspections. Confirm counter availability before visiting.
2. How do I apply for a building permit in Albuquerque?
Use the City’s ABQ-PLAN online portal. Create or access your account, select the correct permit application, enter the project details, upload required plans, submit the application, and complete the required payments and reviews.
3. Do I need a permit to replace a roof or build a fence?
Albuquerque generally requires permits for re-roofing. The City identifies walls and fences over six feet as building-permit projects and directs applicants with shorter walls or fences to zoning. Confirm the requirements for your specific project.
4. Does Albuquerque handle permits for every Bernalillo County property?
No. The City’s Building Safety Division serves properties under Albuquerque’s jurisdiction. Use the official City Address Report to check whether a property is inside city limits or in unincorporated Bernalillo County, where permitting authority may differ.
5. Can a homeowner obtain a building or trade permit?
Qualifying homeowners may obtain certain permits. Albuquerque requires a passing written exam for specified homeowner electrical and plumbing permits. Work on rented or leased homes generally requires a licensed contractor to obtain the permit.
6. What drawings are needed for building permit approval?
Common requirements include a site or plot plan, building dimensions, setbacks, floor plans, elevations, foundation and framing drawings, and applicable trade or engineering details. Exact requirements depend on the construction project.
7. How much does an Albuquerque building permit cost?
Fees vary by construction valuation, square footage, permit type, and required reviews. The City’s published guidance describes a plan-review charge of 65% of the permit fee, plus applicable zoning and hydrology fees. Confirm the actual amount before submitting.
8. How long does Albuquerque building permit approval take?
The City’s October 5, 2026 dashboard reports 12 days for residential building permits and 18 days for commercial building permits. These figures are not guarantees. Incomplete documents, plan corrections, and additional approvals may extend the process.
9. How do I schedule a building inspection in Albuquerque?
Permit holders can request inspections through ABQ-PLAN or call 505-924-3320. Requests received before 4:15 p.m. are generally scheduled for the next business day, excluding holidays and weekends. Exact arrival times are not guaranteed.
10. Which building codes apply in Albuquerque in 2026?
The City’s published code list includes the 2021 New Mexico residential, commercial, existing-building, plumbing, mechanical, and energy codes, the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code, and the City’s 2024 Uniform Administrative Code. Project-specific requirements and amendments may also apply.
Information checked: October 8, 2026. Sources: City of Albuquerque Planning Department and official municipal resources. USBuilding.org is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the City of Albuquerque. Verify time-sensitive requirements directly with the responsible department.