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Albuquerque permit search: look up, apply and check a permit

Search Albuquerque permit activity by address or case number on the public Info Connect map. Use ABQ-PLAN for permit applications, plan submissions and inspection scheduling; it replaced POSSE and ePlan. The city requires permits for residential new construction, additions and remodeling. Search permits on Info Connect

InstaBids is an AI-run marketplace for homeowners and property managers: describe a home job once, by chat or through your own AI assistant, add photos, and get multiple written quotes on the same scope, compared apples to apples, with no phone calls or home visits before you pick.

Sources read: 2026-10-31Updated 2026-10-31

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What home job do you need done in Albuquerque, NM? Describe it once to start your written scope.

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Albuquerque permit timelines at a glance

Residential building — city dashboard12 Days; dashboard updated October 27, 2026.Building Safety Division — City of Albuquerque, City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31
Plumbing/mechanical — city dashboard1 Day; dashboard updated October 27, 2026.Building Safety Division — City of Albuquerque, City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31
Electrical — city dashboard1 Day; dashboard updated October 27, 2026.Building Safety Division — City of Albuquerque, City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

Download this table: CSV · JSON

Do I need a permit for a fence in Albuquerque?

The city’s fence instructions distinguish the Building Permit route from the Zoning Counter route by fence height. The lower-height line still directs the project to a permit counter. Read both parts of the city’s statement when describing a fence project; the instruction is more specific than a general building-permit exemption.

Walls and fences over six (6) feet high. Note: Walls and fences under six (6) feet require a permit from the Zoning Counter.

Source: Permits — City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

The related building-permit exemption appears in the city’s Uniform Administrative Code, section 109.2.1(2).

Start my request for a fence in Albuquerque

Do I need a permit to repair or replace a roof in Albuquerque?

Albuquerque expressly lists reroofing among projects requiring a general permit. Its Uniform Administrative Code, section 109.1, also names reroofs in the permit-and-inspection requirement. The city’s wording below concerns reroofing; it does not classify a particular small repair from a description alone.

Re-Roofing – general permits are required for re-roof

Source: Permits — City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

Start my request for a roof repair or replacement in Albuquerque

Can a homeowner pull their own permit in Albuquerque?

Albuquerque publishes an exam route for a homeowner seeking an electrical or plumbing permit. The city ties that route to the exam result, and says a contractor must request the permit when the homeowner cannot obtain the required score. This is a trade-permit rule, rather than a general permission for a homeowner to perform every kind of project.

An electrical or plumbing permit may be issued to a homeowner who successfully completes a written plumbing and/or electrical exam with a score of 75% or greater. If a homeowner cannot obtain the required score, a contractor will be required to request a permit for the work that will be performed.

Source: Permits — City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

The city allows four hours for each exam. A repeat attempt follows a 30-day wait, with two attempts to pass and one passing exam a year. The homeowner permit is issued immediately after passing.

For a home leased or rented to others, the city assigns obtaining the permit to a contractor. Its rental-work paragraph is a separate rule from the homeowner exam route.

What work does not need a permit in Albuquerque?

Section 109.2.1 of Albuquerque’s Uniform Administrative Code lists building-permit exemptions, including the finish-work example below. The code separately preserves plumbing, electrical and mechanical permit requirements unless another exemption applies. A building-permit exemption therefore does not resolve those trade-permit questions.

8) Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work.

Source: 2024 City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code, read 2026-10-31

Unless otherwise exempted by this Code, separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.

Source: 2024 City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code, read 2026-10-31

How much is a permit and how long does it take in Albuquerque?

The city bases permit fees on project square footage and valuation. Its linked fee handout is marked revised April 2010; this page does not use that table as a current fee quote. For timing, the city publishes separate dashboard entries for residential building, plumbing/mechanical and electrical permits.

The dashboard’s residential building entry is 12 Days, compared with 1 Day for plumbing/mechanical and 1 Day for electrical. The published update is October 27, 2026. These entries are labelled permit timelines by the city; they do not identify a particular application’s completion date.

Residential Building 12 Days

Source: Building Safety Division — City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

Plumbing/ Mechanical 1 Day

Source: Building Safety Division — City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

Electrical 1 Day

Source: Building Safety Division — City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

Before you apply in Albuquerque: checklist

Start with the application and the documents for the correct permit type. The city’s process description puts submission before the subsequent project-review steps. ABQ-PLAN supports submitting plans and managing individual projects, so the application portal and the public map serve different purposes in that process.

The first step is submitting an application and all required documents for the correct permit. Once the permit has been submitted, it goes through a series of steps to ensure the project will be completed in accordance with adopted codes and ordinances.

Source: Permits — City of Albuquerque, read 2026-10-31

How do I contact the Albuquerque building department?

The City of Albuquerque Building Safety Division publishes its department contact information through Contact Us. Use that department page to reach the office responsible for building-permit questions.

Sources

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