What's Required in Albuquerque
- Same-location toilet, sink, faucet and tub replacements and toilet resets need no plumbing permit; rearranged pipes or fixtures do.
- Tile, paint, cabinets and counter tops are exempt finish work; wall removal or a room conversion needs a building permit.
- New or altered wiring, circuits, outlets and lighting require an electrical permit; same-type receptacle replacement does not.
- A new ducted exhaust fan requires a mechanical permit and a licensed contractor.
- Plumbing and electrical permits go to licensed contractors or a homeowner who passed the city exam at 75 percent or better.
- Building permits go to the owner-occupant (one homeowner's permit per 12 months) or a GB-2/GB-98 contractor; rentals need a licensed contractor.
- Rough plumbing and electrical must be inspected and approved before the frame inspection and before finishes cover them.
- Trade permits expire 180 days after issuance; re-inspections cost $47.
Do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Albuquerque?
It depends on whether anything moves. The 2024 Uniform Administrative Code exempts painting, tiling, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work from a building permit, and its plumbing chapter goes further than most cities: no plumbing permit is required for the removal and reinstallation of water closets, for clearing stoppages or repairing leaks, or for replacement of plumbing fixtures with the same type of configuration, as long as the work does not rearrange valves, pipes or fixtures. So a new toilet, vanity, faucet or tub in the same spot on the same rough-in is permit-free. On the electrical side, replacing a receptacle with the same type or a fixed appliance of the same type and rating in the same location is exempt.
The permits return when the layout changes. The Building Safety permits page lists installation or alteration of bathroom or kitchen piping under plumbing permits, any addition or alteration of wiring or devices under electrical permits, and the FAQ counts reworking your plumbing among projects that need a permit. Moving the toilet or shower drain, adding a second sink or a new shower, running a new circuit, or removing a wall are all permitted work, and a wall change means a building permit with plan review.
How much does a bathroom remodel permit cost in Albuquerque?
Trade permits are per item plus a $47 administrative charge on each application: $10 per plumbing fixture including its drain and vent, $6 per gas outlet, $1.50 per electrical outlet, switch or fixture for the first 20, $14 for a ventilation fan connected to a single duct on the mechanical table. A building permit is UAC Table 112-A on the stated valuation, times the 0.50 modifier for one- and two-family homes, plus 65 percent plan review. Worked examples:
- Relocating the toilet, sink and shower drains: $47 + 3 x $10 = $77 plumbing permit.
- New GFCI circuit with 4 outlets or lights: $47 + 4 x $1.50 = $53 electrical permit.
- New ducted exhaust fan: $47 + $14 = $61 mechanical permit.
- $15,000 remodel that moves a wall: Table 112-A gives $69.25 + 13 x $14.00 = $251.25; x 0.50 = $125.63 permit + $81.66 plan review = $207.29; with the three trade permits above, about $398.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New toilet, vanity, faucet or tub in the same place | No permit | Same-configuration fixture replacement and toilet reset are exempt from a plumbing permit. |
| Retiling the shower and floor, new paint and mirror | No permit | Finish work exemption in UAC 109.2.1. |
| Moving the toilet or shower drain, adding a sink | Plumbing permit | $47 plus $10 per fixture; licensed plumber or exam-qualified homeowner. |
| Converting a tub to a shower with a new drain location | Plumbing permit | Rearranged pipes and fixtures end the exemption; rough-in inspection before tiling over it. |
| New circuit, outlets or lighting | Electrical permit | $47 plus $1.50 per outlet or fixture; like-for-like receptacle swaps are exempt. |
| Adding an exhaust fan ducted outside | Mechanical permit | $47 plus $14 per ventilation fan on a single duct; ductwork by a licensed contractor. |
| Removing a wall or converting a closet into a bathroom | Building permit + plan review + trades | Valuation-based; about $207 at $15,000 plus trade permits. |
Who pulls the permits and what is inspected?
Plumbing and electrical permits are issued to New Mexico CID-licensed contractors, or to a homeowner who passes the city's written exam with a score of 75 percent or greater (four hours, two attempts, one passing exam a year). Mechanical equipment and ductwork can only be completed by a licensed contractor. A building permit for structural changes goes to the owner-occupant under a homeowner's permit or a GB-2 or GB-98 general contractor; homes rented to others need a licensed contractor for any permit. Trade permits without plans are issued on application and expire 180 days after issuance. Plan review, when plans are required, takes about two and a half weeks. Inspections come before anything is covered: the frame inspection is made only after all pipes, wiring and vents are approved, and each permit ends with a final; re-inspections are $47.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Albuquerque
Decide what moves
Same-spot fixture swaps and tile need no permit; relocated drains, new circuits, a ducted fan or a wall change each need their permit.
Choose who pulls each permit
Licensed plumbing, electrical and mechanical contractors pull their own; an owner-occupant can pull plumbing or electrical after passing the city exam.
Apply in ABQ-PLAN
Trade permits are applied for per fixture and outlet; a structural change needs a floor plan with fixture locations, a stated valuation and plan review at 65 percent of the permit fee.
Rough-in inspections
Call the plumbing and electrical rough inspections before closing walls or tiling; framing is inspected after the trades are approved.
Finals
Request the final on each permit within 180 days of issuance and keep the permits on site until approved.