Swimming pool permit rules in Albuquerque, NM — also covering above-ground pools, in-ground pools, and spa installations — set fencing, barrier, alarm, and inspection requirements.
Albuquerque requires a building permit from the Planning Department's Building Safety Division for residential in-ground pools, plus barrier compliance under the New Mexico Residential Code. Public and semi-public pools must additionally obtain an operating permit under Albuquerque Code Chapter 10, Article 3, administered by the Environmental Health Department.
Residential pool construction in Albuquerque is permitted by the Building Safety Division of the city Planning Department under Chapter 14, Article 8 of the Code of Ordinances, which adopts the New Mexico Residential Code (the state-amended IRC published by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division at 14.7.4 NMAC). The NMRC requires any in-ground or above-ground pool deeper than 24 inches to be enclosed by a barrier at least 60 inches (5 feet) high with no openings allowing passage of a 4-inch sphere, plus self-closing and self-latching gates with the latch at least 54 inches above grade. Permit applications are submitted through the city's Posse online portal and require a site plan showing pool location, setbacks, equipment, drainage, and barrier details; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing sub-permits are required for pool equipment, bonding, and gas heater hookups. Public, semi-public, and apartment-complex pools must additionally obtain an annual operating permit from the Environmental Health Department's Consumer Health Protection Division under Albuquerque Code Section 10-3-2-1, which requires NSF-certified equipment, drain anti-entrapment compliance with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act, and routine water-quality inspections. Inspections of residential pool work are scheduled with Building Safety at (505) 924-3320 and must occur before backfill, before pour, and at final.
Building or operating a pool without the required permit, or failing barrier inspection, is a Class A violation under Chapter 14 enforceable by stop-work orders, after-the-fact permit fees, and Metropolitan Court fines up to $500 per day. Operating a public pool without an Environmental Health permit can result in immediate closure under Section 10-3.
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