The County rule
Roofing is not on the list of building work exempt from a permit in Section 105.2 of the County Building Ordinance (Ordinance 2024-8, posted as "unsigned"), and the County's Getting Started page lists a Re-Roof Packet next to its residential, solar and pool packets. The Re-Roof Permit Application (March 2026, read 26 October 2026) sets what the County wants to know:
| The form asks | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Roof type (hip, gable, flat) and pitch, in /12 slope | Sets which products and underlayment the code allows |
| Existing deck to remain, or re-sheath / sheathing repair | Re-sheathing must use sheathing and fasteners "per most current Bernalillo County Building Ordinance", and adds a frame inspection |
| Existing covering, and whether it comes off | A tear-off versus an overlay |
| Remove and reinstall rooftop equipment | Evaporative coolers and AC units on the roof |
| Roofing manufacturer and product | Installed to the manufacturer's specs and its ICC-ES report |
The tile rule. "When concrete/clay roof tiles are replacing any other type of roof covering, the existing roof structure (i.e. trusses, rafters, etc.) must be inspected and certified by New Mexico Licensed architect or structural engineer", with the report submitted with the application.
Inspections. A frame inspection "whenever structural modifications have been done or re-sheathing of roof deck is part of scope", and a final "for all permitted work and when job is complete". A County notice in the packet adds that contractors must provide an OSHA-compliant extension ladder, tied off, at least 12 inches wide and extending 36 inches above the roof edge; with no ladder, "another scheduled inspection will be required, which may result in additional inspection fees."
This covers the unincorporated County: South Valley, North Valley, West Mesa and the East Mountains. City of Albuquerque addresses permit through the City.
Who can pull it
A licensed roofer, usually. The ordinance issues permits to contractors licensed by the state Construction Industries Division, and the re-roof form asks for the contractor's name and license number. New Mexico's roofing classification is GS-21 (14.6.6 NMAC); a GB-2 residential builder may also do roof work on a house. Check the license on PSI's search, steps in How to check a contractor's license in New Mexico.
A homeowner, possibly. The ordinance exception lets "a homeowner ... be issued a permit to build a single-family residence and or garage for his own use", and the County FAQ says "The homeowner or contractor can make the application." It also says the homeowner is responsible for making sure a permit is secured and posted on the job site, whoever applies.
What it costs
Re-roofs are building permits, which the County prices on valuation. From Administrative Resolution 25-2009, Table 3-A (effective 1 May 2009, "as amended from time to time"):
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Building permit | $30.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000 of valuation |
| Building plan review | $30.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000 of valuation |
| Re-inspection | $47.00 each |
| Inspection with no fee listed | $47.00 per hour, two-hour minimum |
By our arithmetic a $15,000 re-roof is $90 for the permit, and $150 if plan review is charged too; a $25,000 one is $130, or $210. The resolution does not say whether a simple re-roof gets plan review; the FAQ says "Exact fees are available after plans are reviewed."
How to apply
- Confirm the jurisdiction with your address or tax-bill UPC number; the County's main line is (505) 314-0350.
- Submit the Re-Roof Permit Application, with an engineer's report for a switch to tile, at Planning & Development Services, 415 Silver Ave SW, 2nd floor, or as the County directs; the County emails permits@bernco.gov for questions.
- Frame inspection if re-sheathing, then final, booked on (505) 314-0351. A permit expires if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days.
What 1,339 County roofing permits show
| Measure | Unincorporated Bernalillo County roofing |
|---|---|
| Re-roof permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 1,339 |
| Firms / with a permit in the last 12 months | 208 / 110 |
| Closed (permits a year or more old) | 60.8% |
| Usual days from issue to close (where dated) | 206 |
| Firms with 10+ permits closing under 70% | 19 of 26 |
| Busiest firm, last 12 months | East Mountain Roofing LLC (98 permits) |
| Firms with a single permit | 103 (49.5%) |
| Busiest / quietest month | October (150) / July (77) |
Re-roofs close less often here than other trades: 60.8% against 70.1% for electrical, and 19 of the 26 roofers with 10 or more permits closed under 70%. Half of all roofers (49.5%) filed one County re-roof in three years. Filing peaks in October (index 150) and is lowest in July. Re-roof permits almost never carry a value, so for prices see roof replacement cost.
See every Bernalillo County roofer by permits closed →
Related
Other cities' rules: do I need a permit for roof replacement. Choosing one: hiring a roofer. Counts by year: Bernalillo County permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
The County records a completion date on only about half of its closed roofing permits, and closed is not always a passed final. We cannot match New Mexico licenses. Fees are from the 2009 resolution the County links; the application form is dated March 2026.
How we know this
The re-roof requirements, tile rule and inspections are quoted from Bernalillo County's Re-Roof Permit Application (March 2026) and the ladder notice in it; exemptions, permit issuance and expiry from Building Ordinance 2024-8 (unsigned copy); fees from Administrative Resolution 25-2009; who applies from the County FAQ, all read 26 October 2026. Fee examples are our arithmetic. Our figures are County re-roof permits on homes in unincorporated Bernalillo County, October 2023 to September 2026.
Numbers come from Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services permits on homes in unincorporated Bernalillo County (the County's Accela permit layer; the City of Albuquerque issues its own permits and has its own separate pages), data through October 15, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Bernalillo County?
Yes. The County has its own Re-Roof Permit Application, and its building ordinance's list of work exempt from a building permit does not include roofing. The application asks whether the existing covering comes off and whether the deck is kept or re-sheathed.
- How much is a roofing permit in Bernalillo County?
Building permits are priced on the job's value under Resolution 25-2009: $30 plus $4 per $1,000 for the permit, and $30 plus $2 per $1,000 for plan review. By our arithmetic a $15,000 re-roof is $90 for the permit, or $150 if plan review is also charged. Ask the County whether plan review applies to your re-roof.
- What inspections does a re-roof get in Bernalillo County?
A final inspection on every re-roof, and a frame inspection as well when there are structural changes or the deck is re-sheathed. Contractors must provide an OSHA-compliant extension ladder for roof inspections or book and pay for another visit.
- Can I switch to a tile roof in Bernalillo County?
Yes, with an engineer. The County's application says that when concrete or clay tile replaces any other roof covering, a New Mexico licensed architect or structural engineer must inspect and certify the existing structure for the added weight, and the report goes in with the application.
- Can a homeowner pull a re-roof permit in Bernalillo County?
The ordinance lets a homeowner be issued a permit to build a single-family residence for their own use, and the County's FAQ says the homeowner or a contractor can apply. The re-roof form itself asks for the contractor's license number, so ask the County before filing as an owner.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a roofing permit in Anaheim? The $375 reroof fee, the one-layer rule and two inspections
- Do I need a roofing permit in unincorporated Boulder County? Yes past one square, with a Class A roof and a photo final
- Do I need a roofing permit in Boulder? Yes: Class A roofing, a D-2 roofer and photo inspections
- Burlington, VT building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Do I need a roofing permit in Chicago? Not for a pitched roof on a house, yes for a flat one
- Do I need a roofing permit in Citrus Heights? The 10% repair rule, the fee basis and three inspections
For one city
- Do I need an electrical permit in Bernalillo County? The exemptions, the homeowner exam and the fixture-based fee
- Home improvement costs in Bernalillo County, NM (2026): what 6 kinds of jobs were filed at
- Do I need an HVAC permit in Bernalillo County? Furnaces, AC, swamp coolers and the mechanical permit
- Re-Roof Permit Application (3-2026) — Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Getting Started (permit application packets) — Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Bernalillo County Building Ordinance, Ordinance 2024-8 (unsigned copy, Sec. 105.2, 105.5, Issuance) (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Administrative Resolution 25-2009, Permit Fee Schedule (Table 3-A Building) — Bernalillo County (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Frequently Asked Questions — Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services (accessed 2026-10-26)
- License search — PSI (New Mexico CID licensing) (2026-10-20)