Bernalillo County, NM Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Uniform Plumbing Code (IAPMO), county-amended
- Permit required
- Yes, before plumbing work begins
- Max penalty
- $300 fine, 90 days jail
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only, not Albuquerque
- Engineer seal trigger
- Fixture count exceeds 4-inch drain capacity
Summary
Unincorporated Bernalillo County requires a permit for plumbing work under the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted at Code Sec. 10-34; Albuquerque, Los Ranchos, and Tijeras enforce their own separate building codes.
105.1 Required. Except as specified in subsection 110.2, no building, structure or building service equipment regulated by this Code and the Technical Codes shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished unless a separate appropriate permit for each building, structure or building service equipment has first been obtained from Bernalillo County.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
Bernalillo County Code § 10-34 adopts the Uniform Plumbing Code (IAPMO) as amended by the county's Exhibit A, governing plumbing work in the unincorporated county. Under the adopted Uniform Administrative Code § 105.1, no building service equipment, including plumbing, may be erected, altered, repaired, moved, or converted without a separate permit obtained from Bernalillo County first. Minor leak repairs and emergency work (if a permit follows the next business day) are exempt under § 105.2. Plumbing designs need a licensed New Mexico engineer's seal once the fixture-unit count exceeds a 4-inch building drain's capacity. This only covers unincorporated areas; Albuquerque, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, and Tijeras administer their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
Working without a permit violates Code § 10-32 and is punishable under the general penalty at Sec. 1-6: a fine up to $300, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, plus possible permit suspension under § 105.6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bernalillo County's plumbing code apply inside Albuquerque?
Is a permit needed to fix a leaky faucet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
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