Building permits in Albuquerque, NM

Short answer: In Albuquerque, permits are issued by City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division; of the 6 common projects we checked, 2 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 4 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division. Based on the City's 2020 Uniform Administrative Code and Building Safety permit pages. Walls and fences also need zoning approval.

Permit rules in Albuquerque
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project Platforms up to 30 in above grade (not over a story or basement) are exempt. Higher decks need a building permit.	2026-10-19
Fence	Depends on your project Fences and walls 6 ft or less need no building permit but do need a permit from the Zoning Counter. Taller ones need a building permit.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Tiling, cabinets and counters need no building permit. Installing or altering bathroom piping needs a plumbing permit.	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Permit required Yes. All re-roofs require a permit and inspection; residential re-roofs without truss repairs can use Express Permitting.	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No building permit for a one-story detached shed or playhouse up to 120 sq ft. Larger sheds need one.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Installing a water heater needs a plumbing/mechanical permit and a licensed contractor; residential replacements qualify for Express Pe…	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.cabq.gov/planning/building-safety-division/permits

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Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.