Bernalillo County requires electrical and building permits for solar PV installations through NM CID or the County Building Safety Division. Expedited SolarAPP+ permitting available. IBC fire setbacks (3 ft from ridge/eaves) apply.
Residential solar PV installations in unincorporated Bernalillo County require a combined building/electrical permit. Permits are issued by NM Construction Industries Division (CID) or, for some projects, Bernalillo County Building Safety. Albuquerque operates its own Planning Department permitting and has adopted SolarAPP+ for same-day rooftop PV approvals. Required: sealed structural letter or engineered layout, NEC 2017/2020 compliant electrical plan, PNM (utility) interconnection application, and fire setbacks per IFC §605.11 — 3-foot clear path at ridge, 18-inch offsets on hip roofs under 2:12 pitch. Ground-mount systems need IDO zoning review: minimum 5-ft side/rear setbacks, maximum 10 ft height in residential zones, and may need a conditional use permit over 20 kW. PNM net metering is available up to 10 kW residential under NM PRC Rule 570 and NMSA §62-16-4. State solar tax credit (10% up to $6,000) under NMSA §7-2-18.31 through 2032.
Install without permit: stop-work, double-fee retroactive permit, fines up to $500 under County Code. Interconnect without PNM approval: utility will disconnect; backfeed hazard to linemen is a felony exposure. Fire setback violation: inspection failure, must relocate panels.
Bernalillo County, NM
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Bernalillo County, NM
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Bernalillo County, NM
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Bernalillo County, NM
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Bernalillo County, NM
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Bernalillo County, NM
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