Shed Permit in Albuquerque, NM
Permit Summary
Do You Need a Shed Permit?
Exemptions
A building permit is not required for a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, or similar use when its building area does not exceed 120 square feet. The exemption does not authorize work that violates the technical codes or other City laws and ordinances, and separate trade permits may still be required.
Attached Shed Rules
The 120-square-foot building-permit exemption applies only to detached accessory buildings, so an attached shed or enclosed addition is not exempt under that provision. For zoning purposes, the IDO allows an accessory building to be connected to the principal building by a roof only when at least two sides of the connecting structure remain unenclosed except for roof supports, and the connector roof is at least as far from any side lot line as the principal building roof.
Shed Use Rules
The building-permit exemption is specifically for one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses. Under the IDO, an accessory building is detached from and generally smaller than the primary building on the same lot, and its use must be subordinate and customarily incidental to the primary use.
Zoning & Placement Rules
Zoning Rules
All sheds remain subject to the current IDO even when no building permit is required. For low-density residential development, accessory buildings must comply with the accessory-building standards in IDO §14-16-5-11(C)(4). Routine site-plan zoning review may occur as part of building-permit review, while projects or properties that trigger a separate site-plan, variance, overlay, or other land-use process require the applicable additional approval.
Setback Rules
For low-density residential development, an accessory building may not be in a required front setback. Unless the IDO specifies otherwise, an accessory building has no required setback from a lot line and may encroach into required side or rear setbacks subject to the building, fire, and housing codes. On a corner lot whose rear yard abuts the front yard of a residentially zoned lot, the accessory building must meet the same street-side setback as the primary building. An accessory building also may not extend across the full width of a side or rear yard unless a passage at least 5 feet wide is provided.
Maximum Height Rules
There is no single citywide numeric maximum height for every shed. IDO building-height limits apply to structures generally. In low-density residential development, an accessory building located in a required setback may not exceed the height of the primary building or applicable Solar Access limits; in a required street-side setback, it may not exceed the maximum wall or fence height allowed by the IDO. Zone, overlay, and neighborhood-edge standards can impose additional limits.
Lot Coverage Rules
For low-density residential development, the total combined area of all accessory buildings may not exceed 25% of the total combined area of the side and rear yards. Other zone- or site-specific dimensional standards may also apply.
Special Area Rules
Overlay-zone and small-area standards can modify the general IDO rules and should be checked against the property's current zoning maps. In addition, the IDO building-height stepdown applies on Regulated Lots: portions of a primary or accessory building within 100 feet of the nearest Protected Lot property line are limited to 30 feet; in UC-MS-PT areas, the rule applies within 50 feet of a Protected Lot.
Construction Requirements
Foundation Rules
The UAC's 120-square-foot exemption does not state a separate foundation-type condition, but exempt work must still comply with applicable technical codes. For permit-required sheds, the City's plan-review checklist requires foundation drawings. Under the current New Mexico Residential Building Code, exterior footings, where used, must be placed at least 12 inches below grade.
Fire Separation Rules
Zoning permission for an accessory building to encroach into a side or rear setback does not waive building or fire-code requirements. Residential accessory structures are subject to the adopted New Mexico Residential Building Code fire-resistant construction rules, where exterior-wall and projection requirements depend on fire-separation distance. New Mexico adds exceptions for qualifying perpetual, platted, and recorded non-buildable easements that create specified separation between structures on adjacent properties.
Permit & Review Path
Permit / Review Path
If the shed meets the UAC's one-story, detached, 120-square-foot-or-less exemption for tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, no Building Permit application is required, but zoning and technical-code compliance and any required trade permits still apply. Otherwise, apply for a Building Permit through ABQ-PLAN, upload the site plan and construction documents, address review comments if issued, pay applicable fees after required approvals, obtain the permit before work, and complete required inspections.
Trade Permits & Professional Design
Trade Permit Rules
Unless separately exempted by the UAC, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work requires the applicable separate trade permit even when the shed qualifies for the building-permit exemption. The City's permit page identifies installation of wiring/electrical equipment as electrical-permit work and specified plumbing, mechanical, equipment, duct, sewer, and water-service work as plumbing/mechanical-permit work.
Professional Design Rules
The UAC generally requires architect and/or professional-engineer-prepared and sealed plans for IBC occupancies but lists exceptions, including certain dwellings and garages or other structures no more than two stories high that are appurtenant to those dwellings. The Building Official may still require New Mexico architect- or engineer-prepared and sealed plans for specific construction involving public safety, health, or other conditions. Supporting truss details, beam calculations, unusual-material specifications, and engineering specifications for metal/steel construction may be required when applicable.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
For a shed that is not exempt, obtain the Building Permit before construction, submit the required plans and project information, and comply with the currently adopted technical codes and the Integrated Development Ordinance. Separate electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits are required when the proposed work triggers those permit requirements, even when the shed itself is building-permit-exempt.
Required Documents
For a permit-required shed, the City requires a site/plot plan showing the property, existing buildings, proposed structure dimensions and distances to property lines, and required setbacks. Construction drawings include elevations, a floor plan, foundation drawings, framing plans, and electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans when those systems are included. Supporting items such as truss details, beam calculations, unusual-material specifications, or engineering specifications for metal/steel construction may be required as applicable.