What do these permits involve in Bernalillo County?

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Fire Safety Permit and Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspection

The Fire Prevention Bureau's Fire Safety Permit Requirements, included in the county's commercial business registration packet (ZCBL, Rev. 08/26), state that the county's fire code amendment 105.1.2(3) "requires a fire safety permit issued by the Fire Prevention Bureau for all persons conducting business in Bernalillo County" and that "This permit will be issued upon approval of your annual fire and life safety inspection." The quoted code text reads: "A fire safety permit allows the applicant to conduct business with in Bernalillo County and requires the applicant to provide business information annually or as required by the Fire Code Official. The permit is valid for one year from date of issuance, unless revoked by the Fire Code Official. Exception: Home based businesses are not required to obtain a Fire Safety Permit." The bureau's letter in the packet says the permit is to be posted next to the county business license and is in addition to other operational permits a business may need, such as cutting and welding or dispensing fuel. County Code § 14-35 also states that "A permit and inspection by the county fire department are required" as part of business registration. The packet includes a self-inspection fire and life safety checklist. Fire Prevention Bureau: 6840 Second St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

County Business Registration (Business License): commercial, home occupation and out-of-county

County Code § 14-34 states: "No person, unless otherwise exempted in this article, shall engage in an occupation without first paying the business registration fee." Under § 14-37 the fee is $35.00 a year, not prorated for part of a year, plus a $15.00 administrative fee on the initial application; the county's Business License & Registration page tells applicants to pay "the initial fee of $50" and states "Renewals are $35 per year", and the commercial (ZCBL, Rev. 08/26) and out-of-county applications both show "FEE: $50.00". County Code § 14-32 defines the area of the registration: "County means Bernalillo County, outside the Albuquerque city limits." The county's Business License & Registration page describes itself as covering "starting a business in the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County." Under § 14-35 the applicant first obtains a New Mexico tax identification number, files an application describing the business and each location, and the zoning office verifies the zoning and coordinates zoning, building, environmental health and fire inspections; § 14-35 also states that "A permit and inspection by the county fire department are required" (see the Fire Safety Permit record). The county page lists three license types: Commercial (commercially zoned property), Residential (home occupation, either permissive or conditional use) and Out of County ("commercial enterprises are conducting business activity in but not originating from Bernalillo County"). Under § 14-36 the registration runs one calendar year from the time of application; § 14-33 sets a $250.00 fine for not paying the fee. Contact: Permitting Center, (505) 314-0350, businesslicense@bernco.gov.

Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Sign Permits (unincorporated area)

Resolution 25-2009 of the Board of County Commissioners states that the Permit Fee Schedule of the Uniform Administrative Code, "effective May 1, 2009, and as amended from time to time, establishes fees for all construction projects within the unincorporated area of Bernalillo County." Table 3-A sets the building permit fee at $30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation and the building plan review fee at $30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation; inspections outside normal business hours and inspections with no listed fee cost $47.00 per hour (two-hour minimum), and re-inspections $47.00 each. Electrical (Table 3-B), mechanical (3-C) and plumbing (3-D) permits each carry a $23.50 administrative charge per application plus item fees. Table 3-E prices sign permits at $15.00 for signs of 2 to 20 sq. ft., $30.00 for over 20 to 100 sq. ft. and $45.00 for over 100 sq. ft. Valuation for Table 3-A is based on the building valuation data phased in by Section 2 of the resolution. The figures are as published on the county's current Building Services page titled "Permit Fees (Res. 25-2009)", which links the 2009 resolution as the fee schedule; no amending resolution is posted with it.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Fire Safety Permit and Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspectiononly if it applies to you	Bernalillo County Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau	No fee is published in the county's business registration packet (ZCBL, Rev. 08/26), which carries the Fire Prevention Bureau's Fire Safety Permit Requirements; contact the Bernalillo County Fire Prevention Bureau for any current charge.	one year from date of issuance, unless revoked by the Fire Code Official	2026-10-12
County Business Registration (Business License): commercial, home occupation and out-of-county	Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Permitting Center	$35.00 annual business registration fee, not prorated, plus a $15.00 administrative fee on the initial application (County Code § 14-37): $50 for a new registration and $35 for each annual renewal.	one calendar year from the time of application (County Code § 14-36)	2026-10-12
Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Sign Permits (unincorporated area)only if it applies to you	Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services, Permitting Center	Building permit $30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation; building plan review $30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation (Table 3-A). Re-inspection $47.00 each. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits: $23.50 administrative charge per application plus the item fees in Tables 3-B to 3-D. Sign permits: $15.00 for 2 to 20 sq. ft., $30.00 for over 20 to 100 sq. ft., $45.00 for over 100 sq. ft. (Table 3-E). As published on the county's Permit Fees (Res. 25-2009) page.	per permit	2026-10-12

Business licenses and permits in Bernalillo County, New Mexico

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Bernalillo County