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Case Tracking & Research

Find information about how to track and research documents related to development projects reviewed by Boards and Commissions or staff in the Planning Department.

The City Clerk stores records related to cases heard by Planning Department boards and commissions in the City's Digital Archive called OnBase, which is searchable via a public portal. 

Development Application Records

Every application is assigned a case number. Common records requested include:

  • Annexation.
  • Certificates of Appropriateness (historic preservation).
  • Certificates of Occupancy. 
  • Subdivisions (i.e., plats).
  • Site Plans.
  • Zoning Map Amendments (i.e., zone changes).

Online Research

You can look up case numbers and/or project numbers using the Advanced Map Viewer and turning on the "Case History" layer. Navigate to your property using the map tools or doing an address search.

Once you have located your property, use the “Identify” button to bring up specifics about your property.

  • Project numbers with beginning with PR are more recent cases. Clicking on the project number on the results tab will bring up more information about the application.
    • Case files with 7-digit project numbers can be looked up using Cognos.
    • Case files with PR project numbers can be looked up using ABQ-PLAN.
      • To track Code Enforcement complaints contact 311
      • Visit ABQ-PLAN to track a building permit 
  • The majority of project numbers that start with prefixes of Z, ZA, DRB, S, SV or V are older cases only available on microfilm. The City Clerk is working on scanning these into OnBase as of Spring 2023. In the meantime, see Records Request below.

OnBase Public Records Search

Many case files are available online:

Select "Land Development Records" from the drop-down menu.

Decision-makers:

  • DFT = Development Facilitation Team (Development Review Services)
  • DHO = Development Hearing Officer
  • DRB = Development Review Board
  • EPC = Environmental Planning Commission
  • LC = Landmarks Commission
  • ZEO = Zoning Enforcement Officer
  • ZHE = Zoning Hearing Examiner

Project Numbers and Case Numbers

Over the years there have been various systems that Planning has used to store case files, creating a variety of numbering systems. We have case files ranging from microfiche, hard copy files, to electronic files.

  • As of January of 2025, the Planning Department uses a case tracking system called ABQ-PLAN that creates a case number that indicates the type of decision requested in an application. Project numbers can be assigned based on location for projects with multiple cases approved over time.
  • From 2018 to 2025, we stored cases electronically in an application database called POSSE/MESA, which created project numbers with prefixes of PR, then the year, then a number assigned to a location, and case numbers, which indicate the type of decision requested in an application.
  • From 2008 to 2018, we stored cases electronically in an application database called Kiva, which continued to use the seven-digit project numbers starting with 100XXXX, along with case numbers that indicated the type of decision requested in an application.
  • From 1999 to 2008, we stored cases electronically in an application database called Cognos, which created seven-digit project numbers starting with 100XXXX, which were assigned to a location, and a case number, which indicated the type of decision requested in an application. 
  • Prior to 1999, applications were assigned project numbers starting with letter prefixes.
    • AX Numbers – Old EPC files
    • Z Numbers – Old EPC files
    • ZA Numbers – Old ZHE files
    • DRB Numbers – Old DRB files
    • S, V, SV, SP, SPR, SC5 Numbers – Old DRB files

Records Request

If the record you want is not available in OnBase, please make a records request from the City Clerk: