foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Bernalillo County, NM — Commercial Kitchen Permits

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.

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). Contact EHD 505-768-2738. UNVERIFIED - 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 →

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

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

How to apply

Apply / county portal →Forms & applications

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

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
temporary/seasonal/special-event—Special Event Vendor permitting listed; fee not published on page
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