Local permits & fees

Bernalillo County, NM Food Facility Permits

Q: Is plan review required in Bernalillo County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Q: Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Bernalillo County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. figures from secondary food-truck guides, not a direct .gov fee table; Risk-based fee structure under 2024 ordinance

Q: Who issues food permits in Bernalillo County?

Food permits here are issued by City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department (within city limits); Bernalillo County Consumer Health Protection / NM Environment Dept for unincorporated county. See the department site for current details.

Q: Are city building and fire approvals separate?

Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.

Restaurants and food trucks.

City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department (within city limits); Bernalillo County Consumer Health Protection / NM Environment Dept for unincorporated county · department site →

Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department (within city limits); Bernalillo County Consumer Health Protection / NM Environment Dept for unincorporated county issues the health permit.

About 1,418 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 671,586. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)

Last verified: 2026-08-17 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Annual Food Establishment Health Permit (risk-based, per 2024 Food Service & Retail Ordinance)

Fee not published online — contact the department.

Fee is risk-based per the 2024 Food Service & Retail Ordinance (eff; 2024-08-01), set by establishment type, Class, and Risk Category in the Rules Appendices; specific dollar amounts NOT published on the fees web page; Discounts for non-profits, adult/child care, and microbusinesses (<=7 employees); amount not found online

Plan review — required

Fee not published online.

Turnaround: Plan review required for new construction or remodeling before a food establishment opens

Plan-review details & forms →

Reach the department

Phone(505) 314-0350

Office415 Silver Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Websitewww.cabq.gov →

Plan reviewwww.cabq.gov →

Inspection grading

Routine inspection — no public letter grade

Albuquerque/Bernalillo Environmental Health inspects and posts results online; no letter grade (downgrade/closure notices only).

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Unit (MFU) Permit

Reported approx
$200-$350/yr (City of Albuquerque EHD)
Unincorporated Bernalillo County reported to use a gross-receipts formula, min ~$200 to max ~$700/yr

figures from secondary food-truck guides, not a direct .gov fee table; Risk-based fee structure under 2024 ordinance

How to apply

Bernalillo County fees & payment information →Forms & applications →

Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.

Local food-service market

About 1,418 food & drinking establishments serve ~671,586 residents in Bernalillo County — one per ~474 residents, denser than the New Mexico average (one per ~563).

U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).

Watch out for

2024 Food Service & Retail Ordinance (eff; 2024-08-01) replaced prior food ordinances with a risk-based permitting/fee model
Online payments migrated to Tyler EnerGov for invoices issued after 2025-01-27

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

Category	Annual fee	Notes
temporary/seasonal/special-event	—	Special Event Vendor permitting listed; fee not published on page

Equipment your Bernalillo County plan review will check

Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.

Compartment sinks

3-bay wash / rinse / sanitize — sized to your menu

Hand sinks

required in prep, cook & warewashing areas

Grease traps / interceptors

sized by drainage fixture units

Reach-in refrigeration

cold-holding at 41°F or below

Work tables & surfaces

NSF-listed, non-absorbent

Hoods & ventilation

over cooking equipment; make-up air

Dishwashers

high-temp or chemical sanitizing

Nearby counties

Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Bernalillo County with its neighbors.

Cibola County, NM

Restaurant permit: $25

Sandoval County, NM

Restaurant permit: $25

Santa Fe County, NM

Restaurant permit: $100

Torrance County, NM

Restaurant permit: $25

Valencia County, NM

Restaurant permit: $25

How to open: typical permitting sequence

This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.

Confirm whether Bernalillo County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.

Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →

Frequently asked questions

Is plan review required in Bernalillo County?

Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility.

Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Bernalillo County?

In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. figures from secondary food-truck guides, not a direct .gov fee table; Risk-based fee structure under 2024 ordinance

Who issues food permits in Bernalillo County?

Food permits here are issued by City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department (within city limits); Bernalillo County Consumer Health Protection / NM Environment Dept for unincorporated county. See the department site for current details.

Are city building and fire approvals separate?

Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.

New Mexico statewide rules

Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.

What equipment you need

Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.

Permits & plan review, explained

The stack of approvals before you open.

Sources: www.cabq.gov · www.cabq.gov · www.cabq.gov · codelibrary.amlegal.com · observed 2026-08-06