Roswell building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Roswell, New Mexico.
Last verified 2026-07-02 · Source
Building department
- Address
- 400 W. 2nd St., Roswell, NM 88201 (mailing: PO Box 1838, Roswell, NM 88202-1838)
- Phone
- (575) 637-6280
- Office hours
- Website
- Official site
Codes adopted
New Mexico sets construction codes statewide by rule, not through home-rule discretion. Under the Construction Industries Licensing Act (NMSA 1978 §§ 60-13-1 et seq.), the state's Construction Industries Commission and Division (CID, within the Regulation & Licensing Department) adopt the technical construction codes codified at New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) Title 14 — including the state's own Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, Solar Energy, and Swimming Pool codes, and the National Electrical Code (14.10.4 NMAC currently adopts the 2020 NEC; the CID Commission periodically updates individual code chapters, so confirm the current edition with the applicable authority). Per NMSA 1978 § 60-13-44(E), these state codes "constitute a minimum requirement" binding every political subdivision in New Mexico — no city or county may adopt anything less stringent, though a jurisdiction may adopt stricter local amendments. Enforcement authority runs through whichever entity is the project's Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ, defined at NMAC 14.5.1.7.B): under NMSA 1978 § 60-13-41(D)-(F), a municipality or county that employs its own full-time certified building official may self-administer permitting, plan review, and inspection locally (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Farmington, and Roswell all operate this way); jurisdictions without a certified building official default to direct enforcement by a CID field office (e.g., Hobbs, Alamogordo). Some jurisdictions run a hybrid — locally certified for some trades while CID directly enforces others (Roswell's electrical permitting, for example, reverted to direct CID administration as of January 1, 2026). Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction whether it or the state CID is the acting AHJ for a given trade before submitting plans.
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit
Required for new construction, additions, remodels, alterations, and demolition of residential structures in Roswell, plus specified accessory uses (large storage sheds, patio covers, gazebos, decks, pergolas, porches, carports, and pools). Reviewed against the New Mexico Residential Building Code (2021 IRC base) by the City of Roswell Building & Inspections Division, which acts as the state's local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) under NMAC 14.5.2. Applications are submitted through CloudPermit or by paper application to Community Development.
Re-Roofing Permit
Required for all new roof installations, re-roofs, and applications of roof coating systems on residential and commercial buildings in Roswell, per 14.5.2.8(E) NMAC. Excludes manufactured/mobile homes, which are permitted through the state office. Reviewed by the City of Roswell Building & Inspections Division.
Placement Permit for Fence or Accessory Structure
A streamlined permit for installing a fence or a small accessory structure (such as a storage shed) that falls below the size threshold requiring a full building permit. Reviewed by the City of Roswell Building & Inspections Division for zoning and Public Works Specifications compliance.
Electrical Permit (State-Administered)
As of January 1, 2026, and until further notice, the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) — not the City of Roswell — conducts all electrical permit applications, plan review, permit issuance, and inspections within the City of Roswell. Existing City of Roswell-issued electrical permits must be converted to CID permits via a Conversion Permit. New electrical work is permitted directly through CID under standard statewide CID fee schedules.
Plumbing / Mechanical (Gas/HVAC) Permit
Required before any plumbing or mechanical (gas/HVAC) work is performed at a commercial or residential property in Roswell, including water heater installation, sewer taps, re-piping, solar (thermal) systems, swimming pools, and HVAC/duct/gas-appliance installations. Issued by the City of Roswell Building & Inspections Division.
Homeowner's Plumbing Permit
A dedicated plumbing permit application for homeowners performing plumbing work themselves on their own residence in Roswell, covering the same scope as the general plumbing permit but issued to the property owner rather than a licensed contractor.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- No data reported
- Year to date (2026 YTD)
- No data reported
- Full year 2025
- No data reported
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All New Mexico building activity
Tips & gotchas
- As of January 1, 2026 (until further notice), the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) — not the City of Roswell — handles ALL electrical permitting, plan review, and inspections in Roswell. Existing city electrical permits must be converted via a CID Conversion Permit (minimum $45 fee). Verify current status on the City of Roswell Building Inspections page before applying, since this is stated as a temporary arrangement.
- Roswell's Building & Inspections Division enforces the statewide New Mexico construction codes (2021 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IFC, 2020 NEC, 2021 IECC, 2021 UMC/UPC, 2017 ANSI A117.1) as the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) under NMAC 14.5.2 and the Construction Industries Licensing Act (CILA, NMSA 1978 §§ 60-13-3 and 60-13-45) — there is no separate Roswell-specific building code.
- Building, plumbing, and mechanical/gas permits remain issued directly by the City of Roswell Community Development, Building & Inspections Division, via CloudPermit (us.cloudpermit.com/gov/login) or by emailing paper applications to permits@roswell-nm.gov.
- The general Building Permit Application explicitly does NOT include plumbing, mechanical, or electrical work — always check whether a separate trade permit is also required.
- Storage sheds 200 sq. ft. or smaller (residential) or 120 sq. ft. or smaller (commercial), and fences, use the simpler Placement Permit for Fence or Accessory Structure rather than a full Building Permit.
- All re-roofs and roof coating applications require a permit and inspection, per 14.5.2.8(E) NMAC — this includes roof coatings alone, not just full tear-offs.
- Homeowners may self-perform plumbing work on their own residence via the Homeowner's Plumbing Permit, but must pass a 75%-minimum plumbing test for new construction.
- Jobs started without a permit are charged DOUBLE the standard permit and inspection rate across all City of Roswell permit types.
- Design standards for structural work: ground snow load per ASCE-7 Table 7.2-6, Seismic Design Category II B, basic wind speed 115(51) mph with Exposure Category B, frost depth 12 inches, Climate Zone 3B.
- Manufactured/mobile home re-roofs and electrical work are handled by the state (CID), not the city.
- Key contacts: Miller Butts, Certified Building Official, (575) 637-6286, m.butts@roswell-nm.gov; Mike Christensen, Building Inspector, (575) 637-6293, m.christensen@roswell-nm.gov; Paul Cordova, primary CID electrical inspector for the Roswell area during the electrical transition, (505) 670-2025, Paul.Cordova@rld.nm.gov.