What's Required in Albuquerque
- Cabinets, counter tops, tile, paint and flooring need no building permit (UAC 109.2.1).
- Any installation or alteration of kitchen piping requires a plumbing permit; same-configuration fixture replacement does not.
- New wiring, circuits, outlets or fixtures require an electrical permit; like-for-like appliance and receptacle replacement does not.
- A ducted exhaust hood requires a mechanical permit and must be installed by a licensed contractor.
- Removing or altering a wall or enlarging the kitchen requires a building permit with plans and 65 percent plan review.
- Homeowners may hold plumbing or electrical permits only after passing the city's written 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 general contractor; rentals need a licensed contractor.
- Trade permits expire 180 days after issuance; a rough inspection is needed before covering work.
Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Albuquerque?
Not for the cosmetic layer. The 2024 Uniform Administrative Code (109.2.1) exempts painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work from a building permit, and repairs under $1,000 in valuation. Everything behind the finishes is permitted work, and Albuquerque splits it by trade. The Building Safety permits page lists installation or alteration of bathroom or kitchen piping and installation of an exhaust hood under plumbing/mechanical permits, and any installation, addition, alteration or replacement of wiring, devices or equipment under electrical permits. Removing or altering a wall, or enlarging the room, is a building permit; the FAQ says building permits and inspections are required for residential remodeling work.
Two exemptions save money on smaller jobs. A plumbing permit is not required to replace a fixture with the same type of configuration, or to pull and reset a toilet, so a new sink and faucet in the same spot with no piping changes is permit-free. An electrical permit is not required to replace a fixed listed appliance of the same type and rating in the same location or to swap receptacles for the same type, so a new dishwasher or range on the existing circuit is exempt. Add a circuit, move an outlet, relocate the sink drain or run a new gas line and the permits come back.
How much does a kitchen remodel permit cost in Albuquerque?
Trade permits are per item with a $47 administrative charge on each application. Plumbing: $10 per fixture including drain and vent, $6 per gas outlet. Electrical: $1.50 per outlet, switch or fixture for the first 20, $8 for each residential fixed appliance of 30 amps or over. Mechanical: $14 for a range hood with its duct. A building permit, when a wall or the structure changes, is UAC Table 112-A on the stated valuation of the work, multiplied by the 0.50 modifier for one- and two-family homes, plus 65 percent plan review. Worked examples:
- Relocating the sink and adding a dishwasher line: $47 + 2 x $10 = $67 plumbing permit. A new gas outlet for the range adds $6.
- New circuits for a range, microwave and 8 outlets: $47 + $8 + 8 x $1.50 = $67 electrical permit.
- Ducted range hood: $47 + $14 = $61 mechanical permit.
- $30,000 remodel removing a wall: Table 112-A gives $391.75 + 5 x $10.10 = $442.25; x 0.50 = $221.13 permit + $143.73 plan review = $364.86, plus the three trade permits above, about $560 in all.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New cabinets, counter tops, backsplash, flooring, paint | No permit | UAC 109.2.1 finish-work exemption. |
| New sink and faucet in the same location | No permit | Replacement of plumbing fixtures with the same type of configuration is exempt. |
| New range or dishwasher on the existing circuit and hookups | No permit | Same type and rating in the same location is exempt from an electrical permit. |
| Moving the sink, adding a dishwasher or gas range line | Plumbing permit | $47 plus $10 per fixture and $6 per gas outlet; licensed plumber or exam-qualified homeowner. |
| New circuits, outlets or under-cabinet lighting | Electrical permit | $47 plus $1.50 per outlet or fixture and $8 per 30 amp appliance circuit. |
| Ducted range hood to the exterior | Mechanical permit | $47 plus $14 for the hood and its duct; equipment and ductwork only by a licensed contractor. |
| Removing a wall or opening the kitchen to the next room | Building permit + plan review + trades | Valuation-based; about $365 at $30,000 before trade permits. |
Who pulls the permits?
Trade permits go to New Mexico CID-licensed contractors. A homeowner can hold an electrical or plumbing permit only after passing the city's written exam with a score of 75 percent or greater: four hours per exam, a retake after 30 days, two attempts, one passing exam a year. There is no homeowner mechanical permit; the permits page says equipment and ductwork can only be completed by a licensed contractor. The building permit for structural work can go to the owner-occupant under a homeowner's permit (one per 12 months, notarized affidavit) or to a GB-2 or GB-98 general contractor; rented homes always use a licensed contractor. Plan review takes about two and a half weeks when plans are required; trade permits without plans are issued on application and expire 180 days after issuance. Expect a rough inspection before walls are closed and a final on each permit.
How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Albuquerque
Sort the scope by trade
List what moves: piping (plumbing permit), wiring (electrical permit), hood or ductwork (mechanical permit), walls or structure (building permit). Finish-only work needs nothing.
Line up who pulls each permit
Licensed plumbing, electrical and mechanical contractors pull their own permits; a homeowner can pull plumbing or electrical only after passing the city exam.
Apply in ABQ-PLAN
For structural work upload a floor plan of the existing and new layout with fixture and appliance locations, state the valuation and pay plan review; trade permits are applied for per item.
Rough-in inspections
Call plumbing, electrical and mechanical rough inspections before drywall or cabinets cover the work; framing is inspected after the trades are approved.
Finals
Request the final inspection on each permit within 180 days of issuance; re-inspections cost $47 each.