The rule
The change came in O-22-54. The City Council voted on 21 June 2023, the Mayor signed it on 6 July 2023 and it took effect on 27 July 2023. Before it, casitas with kitchens were allowed only in small areas and two corridors of R-1.
| Item | City of Albuquerque rule |
|---|---|
| Zones | R-1, citywide |
| Where on the lot | Rear yard only, where all setbacks and other requirements can be met |
| Size | 750 sq ft maximum |
| Height | No taller than the main house |
| Parking | One off-street space per casita |
| Number | One detached unit; up to two attached units (a two-family home) |
| Free plans | Four casita construction plans from the Planning Department |
The page does not set out setback distances, an owner-occupancy rule or casita-specific short-term rental rules. Setbacks are in the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) on the Planning Department's site; the City says it proposed citywide short-term rental limits in O-23-69. On property taxes, the City says to talk to an attorney and the County Assessor.
What it means for hiring a builder
- Check the lot first. The rear-yard rule plus setbacks plus a parking space is what rules most lots in or out. Ask the builder to draw all three on a site plan before you pay for full drawings.
- Consider the free plans. The City's four free casita plans are a starting set; a builder who has built one of them before can quote from it faster.
- The permit. A casita is a new dwelling, so expect the full building permit set and trade permits. The rules for new houses are in Albuquerque new home permit, and New Mexico licenses are in Albuquerque contractor license lookup.
- Utilities. The zoning page says nothing about separate water, sewer or electric service. Ask the builder to price the utility runs from the street or the main house on the quote, not as an allowance.
Compare Albuquerque addition builders by permit record →
What Albuquerque permits show
| Measure | Additions | New homes |
|---|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 227 | 1,370 |
| Firms | 169 | 136 |
| Usual filed value | $40,000 | $181,444 |
| Middle half of firms' usual job | $22,258 to $75,000 | $156,784 to $300,000 |
| Firms with a single permit | 78.1% | 66.9% |
| Share held by the five busiest firms | 9.7% | 78.4% |
| Busiest month | January | December |
The two markets look nothing alike. New homes are dominated by tract builders (the five busiest held 78.4%), while additions are spread across 169 firms and the busiest one filed only 4 in the last 12 months. A casita builder is more likely to come from the addition side, so expect a short track record and ask to see one finished project.
Check a builder in five minutes
- Ask for two past Albuquerque permit numbers for additions or casitas.
- Look them up as in Albuquerque building permit search.
- Compare the builder's filed values with the middle half above on our Albuquerque addition list and addition costs.
Related
Our national guides: ADU construction cost and ADU vs addition. Counts by year: Albuquerque permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
Albuquerque permits in our file do not label casitas or ADUs, so we cannot count them or price them directly; a casita may be filed as an addition or as a new dwelling. The file also has no issue-to-final times for these categories.
How we know this
The casita rules are from the City of Albuquerque's Housing Forward ABQ zoning changes page, read 23 October 2026. Permit counts are City of Albuquerque building permits on homes in our addition and new-home categories, October 2023 to September 2026.
Numbers come from City of Albuquerque building permits, data through October 16, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Can I build a casita in Albuquerque?
In an R-1 zone, yes, since 27 July 2023. The City's Housing Forward ABQ page says casitas are now allowed in R-1 zones citywide, in the rear yard, on lots with enough room to meet all setbacks and other requirements. Before the change, casitas with kitchens were allowed only in small areas and two corridors.
- How big can a casita be in Albuquerque?
750 sq ft, and no taller than the main house. Each casita also needs one off-street parking space.
- How many casitas can I have on one lot in Albuquerque?
1 detached casita. The City says a property can have one detached unit and up to 2 attached units, that is, a two-family home.
- Does Albuquerque have free casita plans?
Yes. The City says the Planning Department offers four free casita construction plans, along with an ADU FAQ and a one-page Casitas/ADU overview, through the Housing Forward ABQ pages.
- How much does it cost to build a casita in Albuquerque?
Our permits do not separate casitas, but they show the neighbors: the usual Albuquerque addition permit was filed at $40,000, with the middle half of firms between $22,258 and $75,000, and the usual new-home permit at $181,444.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Arlington's 2,500-square-foot rule: when an addition or new house needs a Land Disturbing Activity and stormwater permit
- Scottsdale ESL and NAOS rules: building in north Scottsdale's desert overlay, and what it means for your contractor
- Washington's 2024 building and energy codes take effect 3 May 2027: what changes for new homes, additions and AC replacements
- Albuquerque contractor license lookup: the CID license, its classification and the City permits
- Arlington, TX building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Do I need a roofing permit in Aurora, CO? Reroof permits, the homeowner exemption and 10,525 permits
For one city
- Housing Forward ABQ: Zoning Changes — City of Albuquerque (accessed 2026-10-23)