Bernalillo County Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services is the relevant local authority for unincorporated Bernalillo County. Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and other incorporated municipalities have their own permit and inspection authorities. Confirm the jurisdiction of the parcel before applying; the county’s Accela permit data specifically describes county-issued permits in the unincorporated area.

Bernalillo County building permits and Accela

County permit applications are handled through the Bernalillo County Accela portal, which provides application submission, record searches, fee payment, inspection scheduling, complaints, and application forms. The county residential permit packet identifies building permits for new construction, additions, alterations or repairs, demolition, walls over six feet, signs over six feet, solar arrays, and swimming pools.

Applicants should verify the parcel, address, zoning, access, utilities, and any floodplain or development-review requirements before submitting. A county permit does not replace a New Mexico contractor license or separate state permits that remain under CID jurisdiction.

Inspections, code compliance, and occupancy

County building inspectors and plan reviewers evaluate residential and commercial work against the Bernalillo County Building Ordinance and applicable state and national codes. The county’s Accela workflow is the confirmed online path for permit records and inspection scheduling. Keep the permit and approved plans available at the site and request each required inspection before work is covered.

Final inspections and required approvals must be complete before a permitted project is closed or occupied when a certificate of occupancy or building/use approval is required. Code-enforcement and permit records are also represented in the county’s official Accela permit GIS service.

Zoning and plan review requirements

Bernalillo County zoning data covers the unincorporated county. Planning and Development Services may require zoning, site, subdivision, grading and drainage, addressing, or other development review in addition to the building permit. The county’s zoning maps are a useful starting point, but applicants should obtain current parcel-specific direction from the county before relying on a zoning classification.

Official contact information

The county residential permit packet lists Planning and Development Services at 415 Silver Avenue SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, with (505) 314-0350. Use the Bernalillo County Accela portal to submit, search, pay, and request inspections for eligible unincorporated-county records. For state-administered work, use New Mexico CID’s current permit and inspection channels.