Showing ordinances that apply to Sandia Heights, NM
Sandia Heights is an unincorporated community (population 3,273) in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Because Sandia Heights is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Bernalillo County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The panel permits rules below are the ones that govern your area.
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.
See how Sandia Heights's panel permits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.