Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in Albuquerque, New Mexico: Old Town
Yes. The City of Albuquerque requires a building permit to re-roof a home, and if your house sits inside the Old Town historic zone, roof work also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Landmarks Commission. Here is what each step involves and how to avoid delays.
1. Albuquerque Requires a Permit for Every Re-Roof
The city’s permit page lists re-roofing under building permits and states that “general permits are required for re-roof” (City of Albuquerque). Licensed contractors or homeowners request the permit for the work being performed, and for any home that is leased or rented to others, a licensed contractor must pull it.
You can apply online through ABQ-PLAN, which handles applications, plan uploads, payments and tracking, or in person with a permit technician (City of Albuquerque).
2. Simple Re-Roofs Can Use Express Permitting
The city’s Express Permitting System lists “residential re-roof without any truss repairs” as an available express permit (Express Permitting System). Two conditions matter:
- If the job involves truss repairs, it does not qualify for express permitting.
- All required inspections still apply and are requested through your ABQ-PLAN dashboard.
3. Old Town Adds a Historic Review
Old Town is one of Albuquerque’s Historic Protection Overlay (HPO) zones. The Landmarks Commission states that a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is required for “all exterior alterations, including porches, roofs, and windows,” and for changes in exterior materials (Landmarks Commission).
Routine maintenance that restores original condition does not need a COA, but the commission specifies that this exemption “does not include replacing roofing, windows, doors, etc.” In other words, a full roof replacement in Old Town needs historic review in addition to the building permit.
4. Who Reviews Your Old Town Roof Project
According to the commission, major alterations, new construction and demolition on properties listed as Contributing or Significant go to a public hearing. Smaller alterations can be decided by Landmarks staff, which the city says can take a few days or up to 10 working days (Landmarks Commission). Staff can be reached at 505-924-3860 to confirm which review level applies to your property.
5. HOA Approval Comes First
If your home is in a subdivision with a homeowners association, the city says all plans should be approved by the association before you apply for a building permit. The city does not enforce HOA rules, so that step is on you (City of Albuquerque).
6. What This Means for Your Timeline
- Standard re-roof outside a historic zone: building permit, often eligible for express permitting if no truss repairs are needed.
- Old Town or another HPO zone: Certificate of Appropriateness plus the building permit.
- Rental property: a licensed contractor must pull the permit.
Ask any contractor you are considering how they handle permits and inspections, and confirm the permit is in place before tear-off begins.
Planning a Roof Project in Old Town?
We serve Old Town and the rest of the metro. Ask us how permits and inspections will work for your roof replacement, or start with a roof inspection. Call (505) 477-4936.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Albuquerque?
Yes. The City of Albuquerque states that general permits are required for re-roofing (source).
Can a homeowner pull a re-roof permit?
The city says licensed contractors or homeowners request permits for the work performed, but a licensed contractor must pull permits for homes leased or rented to others (source).
Does a roof replacement in Old Town need historic approval?
Yes. The Landmarks Commission requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior alterations including roofs, and its maintenance exemption excludes replacing roofing (source).
How long does the historic review take?
Staff-level decisions can take a few days or up to 10 working days, according to the Landmarks Commission. Major alterations go to a public hearing, and the commission does not publish a timeline for those (source).
