City Guide · Verified 2026
Shed Installation Permits in Albuquerque
Local Rule
City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division; City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code, Article 14-1 of ROA 1994
A building permit is not required for a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool storage shed, playhouse, or similar use, provided the building does not exceed 120 square feet, per the city's own Storage Building handout. A storage building over 120 square feet requires a building permit, two sets of plans, an extra site plan, and a water conservation sheet. On an interior lot, an accessory building has no required side or rear setback, but any wall less than 5 feet from a property line must be one-hour fire-resistive construction, and accessory buildings may not occupy more than 25 percent of the side and rear yards combined.
Source · Verified September 2026
Albuquerque Building Department
Office: City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division
Address: 600 2nd St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 924-3320
Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.
How This Compares to Bernalillo County
Albuquerque's own rule is shown above (No permit under 120 sqft). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:
Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services
County's own Code of Ordinances (Municode Chapter 10) states textually a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool/storage shed is exempt if "the projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet" stricter than the 200 sq ft statewide baseline cited for New Mexico generally, via the county's own local amendment. Distinctively, New Mexico's Construction Industries Division (CID) serves as a unique state-level backup permit issuer and inspector for jurisdictions without their own local building department (not applicable here since Bernalillo maintains its own).
Nearby Cities with Verified Rules
Other cities near Albuquerque with a confirmed shed installation rule:
FAQs
Which department handles Shed Installation permits in Albuquerque?
City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety Division; City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code, Article 14-1 of ROA 1994 handles Shed Installation permits in Albuquerque.
Is Albuquerque different from Bernalillo County on Shed Installation?
Yes. Albuquerque's rule is "No permit under 120 sqft", while Bernalillo County in general is "Depends on project scope". See the full breakdown of each below.
Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need
Popular tools and materials homeowners use for a shed installation project:
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