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Home  /  Solar site surveys  /  New Mexico  /  Albuquerque

Solar site surveys · Albuquerque, NM

Solar site surveys in Albuquerque

Roof, attic and service panel captured in one visit, with the plan set built for the Albuquerque AHJ you submit into and the utility that serves the address.

Book a 15-min callPermitting in Albuquerque
NEC 2020Electrical code in effect
2AHJs covered here
48 hrsSurvey to deliverable
Nationwide500+ technicians
Short answer

Albuquerque issues roof-mounted solar permits under 50 kW as same-day express permits through its ABQ-PLAN portal, with building and electrical inspections still required. The city works under New Mexico's statewide codes (2020 NEC, 2021 IRC) and its own 2021 IFC-based fire code, and PNM handles interconnection. Unincorporated areas go to Bernalillo County, which asks for engineering showing the roof can carry the array.

What changes in Albuquerque

New Mexico state rules apply here, plus whatever the local AHJ amends.

NM · ALBUQUERQUEAlbuquerque
Code stack
2020NEC 2020National Electrical Code · effective Mar 28, 2023. The 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (14.10.4 NMAC) adopts the 2020 NEC with state amendments. It took effect March 28, 2023, and after September 28, 2023 permits could only be issued under it; as of September 2026 the Construction Industries Division still lists it as the current electrical code.1,2
2021IRC 2021The New Mexico Residential Building Code (14.7.3 NMAC) adopts the 2021 IRC with state amendments. It took effect July 14, 2023, with permits allowed under the older rule until December 14, 2023.3,2
2021IFC 2021The State Fire Marshal adopted the 2021 IFC under 10.25.5 NMAC, effective November 1, 2022, and local fire authorities may adopt stricter rules; Albuquerque runs its own fire code on the 2021 IFC with city amendments.4,5
2021Energy Code 2021The 2021 New Mexico Residential Energy Conservation Code (14.7.6 NMAC) took effect July 30, 2024.2
Rooftop fire access. Rooftop PV access follows the pathway and setback rules of the adopted 2021 IRC (Section R324.6) and 2021 IFC; CID's residential rule does not amend the IRC solar section. In Albuquerque the permit checklist asks for a scaled site plan showing street access, arrays, disconnects, ridge and eave lines and access pathways, and commercial projects must follow the Albuquerque Fire Department's PV installation guidelines.3,4,6

Climate and site factors

Express permits

The city's express system issued permits for more than 90 rooftop installations in its first days in October 2025, as applications surged ahead of the end of the federal residential solar tax credit.7

Snow and wind

City Building Safety handouts list a 20 psf ground snow load and a 16-inch frost depth for Albuquerque structures.8,9

Engineer review triggers

A New Mexico structural engineer's roof review is needed for residential jobs with more than one existing roof covering, point loads over 45 pounds, more than 200 pounds added to one truss or rafter, unlisted mounting, or over-spanned framing.6

Electrical drawings

The city's checklist asks for a one-line diagram under 10 kW and a three-line diagram above it, and PV on services larger than 200 amps needs drawings stamped by a New Mexico licensed electrical engineer.6

Historic districts

Properties in a historic preservation district need that approval before the building permit, and state law keeps local power to restrict solar in historic districts.6,10

Permitting in Albuquerque

The main AHJs, and how the rest of the metro splits up.

City of Albuquerque Planning Department, Building Safety

Since October 2025, roof-mounted solar installations under 50 kW qualify for the city's express permitting, which can issue a permit the same day through the ABQ-PLAN dashboard; field inspections are still scheduled there. Roof-mounted PV needs both building and electrical permits.11,12,6

Official page ↗

Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services

Permits unincorporated Bernalillo County. Solar PV needs a building permit and an electrical permit, and roof-mounted applications include a roof framing plan, electrical plans and an engineering certification that the existing roof can support the added dead load.13

Official page ↗

Across the metro

Nearby cities and villages run their own permit offices under the state codes, and Bernalillo County covers unincorporated land around Albuquerque.2,13

New Mexico-wide rules that still apply

Utilities and interconnection

PNM serves greater Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas and Belen, so it handles interconnection and net metering for most of the metro.16

Public Service Company of New Mexico PNM

The state's largest electric utility, serving more than 550,000 customers in greater Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and other communities. Applications go online through PNM's customer solar program, and since April 1, 2024 new systems must use inverters that meet IEEE 1547-2018.16,17

Interconnection page ↗
Export compensation. The PRC's rule 17.9.570 NMAC lets utilities credit or pay small customer generators for net excess energy at the utility's energy rate, with unused credits carried forward month to month and paid out if the customer leaves. PNM banks net excess from systems of 10 kW or less as kWh credits that do not expire and pays for excess from larger systems at its Rate 12, as of September 2026.18,19

What we capture on every Albuquerque survey

The same capture standard as every other New Mexico job, so the plan set is built on what the technician verified on site.

Roof and structure

  • Measured roof planes: pitch, azimuth, dimensions
  • Every penetration and obstruction, located
  • Rafter or truss size, spacing and span
  • Decking type and condition
  • Layer count at a cut edge
  • Setbacks and fire pathway constraints
  • Horizon shading capture per array area

Electrical and interconnection

  • Main breaker and bus bar rating, photographed separately
  • Meter location and configuration
  • Slot count: used, open, tandem, double-tapped
  • Available interconnection points
  • Existing loads and sub-panels
  • Conduit route, measured along the actual path
  • Grounding electrode and bonding path

Commercial buildings

  • Membrane type, age and condition, with drainage pattern
  • Bar joist depth, spacing and span
  • Deck type and gauge
  • Switchgear and available bus capacity
  • Access and lift constraints for the install crew

Every visit

  • Roof and electrical in one visit, no second trip
  • 48-hour turnaround from survey to deliverable
  • Photo documentation throughout
  • Permit sets available, stamped, 6 days from survey

Albuquerque solar survey FAQ

How fast can I get a solar permit in Albuquerque?

Roof-mounted systems under 50 kW qualify for the city's express permitting, which can issue the permit the same day you apply through ABQ-PLAN. Inspections are still required.11,12

Does an Albuquerque rooftop solar permit need an engineer?

Not always. The city's checklist calls for a New Mexico structural engineer's review of the existing roof only in listed cases, such as multiple roof layers, heavy point loads, unlisted mounting or over-spanned framing.6

Who permits solar outside Albuquerque city limits?

In unincorporated areas, Bernalillo County Planning & Development Services issues the building and electrical permits and asks for engineering certification of the roof. Nearby cities such as Rio Rancho have their own offices.13

Which fire code applies to solar in Albuquerque?

The city has adopted the 2021 IFC with local amendments as the City of Albuquerque Fire Code, enforced by Albuquerque Fire Rescue; permit drawings show access pathways, ridge and eave lines, and disconnect locations.5,6

Services and further reading

State-level detail is on the New Mexico page; every location is on the solar site survey hub.

Residential

Roof, attic and service panel in one visit

Explore →

Commercial & Industrial

Roof, structure and switchgear

Explore →

Utility-Scale

Terrain, build and operations

Explore →

Site surveys

Roof and electrical, one visit

Explore →

Permitting & engineering

Stamped sets, six days from survey

Explore →

Shading analysis

SA, TOF and TSRF per plane

Explore →

From Field Notes

Sources

Every local fact on this page links to where it came from. Codes, programs and tariffs change: confirm the current requirement with the AHJ and the utility before you design.

  1. https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title14/14.010.0004.html
  2. https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/rules-laws-and-building-codes/
  3. https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title14/14.007.0003.html
  4. https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title10/10.025.0005.html
  5. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-133072
  6. https://documents.cabq.gov/planning/BuildingSafety/Roof%20Mounted%20Solar%20Checklist.pdf
  7. https://citydesk.org/2025/10/22/abq-fast-tracks-solar-permits-as-federal-tax-credit-deadline-looms/
  8. https://documents.cabq.gov/planning/BuildingSafety/Storage%20Building.pdf
  9. https://documents.cabq.gov/planning/BuildingSafety/Covered%20Patio.pdf
  10. https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/ECMD/RenewableEnergy/SolarRightsAct.html
  11. https://www.cabq.gov/planning/building-safety-division/express-permitting-system
  12. https://www.cabq.gov/planning/news/city-adds-more-project-types-to-express-permitting-program
  13. https://www.bernco.gov/planning/wp-content/uploads/sites/58/2024/02/SOLAR-PACKET-4.21.2023-updated.pdf
  14. https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/chapter-3/article-18/section-3-18-32/
  15. https://clean.energy.nm.gov/new-solar-market-development-tax-credit-nsmdtc/
  16. https://www.pnm.com/about-pnm
  17. https://www.pnm.com/customer-solar-program1
  18. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-mexico/17-9-570-14-NMAC
  19. https://www.pnm.com/solar-interconnection-benefits

Researched September 30, 2026.

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