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Residential Building Permit in Roswell, New Mexico

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.

Verified 2026-07-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Required for renovations, remodels, additions, or building of any kind
  • Required for storage sheds larger than 200 sq. ft. (residential) or 120 sq. ft. (commercial) — smaller accessory structures use the Placement Permit for Fence or Accessory Structure instead
  • Required for patio covers, gazebos, decks, pergolas, porches, carports, and pools
  • All re-roofs and applications of roof coating systems require a building permit and inspections per 14.5.2.8 NMAC
  • Two sets of submittal documents required per 14.5.2.10 NMAC: site plan (with setbacks and drainage plan), specifications, engineering calculations, diagrams, and soil investigation/geotechnical reports (including density/compaction tests prior to pouring foundation)
  • IECC Thermal Bypass Checklist and IECC Duct Sealing Visual Inspection Checklist must be completed and submitted to the AHJ prior to Certificate of Occupancy issuance
  • A homeowner's permit may be issued to a residential property owner subject to the limitations of 14.5.2.18 NMAC
  • Persons who are not appropriately, validly, and currently licensed by the Construction Industries Division are not eligible to apply for or be issued a permit (except under the homeowner's permit provision)
  • Separate permits required for general building, electrical (now issued by CID), and plumbing/mechanical/LPG work (19.15.40 NMAC)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation $0-$549City of Roswell Building Fee Schedule (DocumentCenter/View/26127), verified verbatim from the published PDF and matching the Building Inspections webpage table
$24.00
Building Permit Fee — valuation $10,500-$11,499City of Roswell Building Fee Schedule — mid-range example tier
$195.00
Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,500-$200,499City of Roswell Building Fee Schedule
$1,554.00
Building Permit Fee — valuation $900,500 to $1,000,000City of Roswell Building Fee Schedule; fees above $1,000,000 add $3.65 per additional $1,000
$5,609.00
Commercial Plan Review Fee — BuildingCity of Roswell Building Fee Schedule
10% of the Building Permit Fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Roswell building department
~10–15 business days

How long did your Residential Building Permit permit actually take in Roswell?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation / Density-Compaction

    Density/compaction tests required prior to pouring foundation per 14.5.2.10(A)(1)(f) NMAC

  2. 2

    Roof Decking (for re-roofs)

    Required at minimum upon removal of existing roof, per 14.5.2.8(E)(3) NMAC

  3. 3

    Final

    Final inspection of the roof system or roof coating application upon completion of a roofing project; general final inspection for all other building permits before Certificate of Occupancy

See the full Roswell inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Roswell's Building & Inspections Division enforces the statewide New Mexico codes as the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) under NMAC 14.5.2 — there is no separately-published Roswell municipal building code.
  • Storage sheds 200 sq. ft. or smaller (residential) or 120 sq. ft. or smaller (commercial) use the simpler Placement Permit for Fence or Accessory Structure rather than a full building permit.
  • The Building Permit Application explicitly does NOT cover plumbing, mechanical, or electrical work — those require separate permit applications.
  • Apply online through CloudPermit (us.cloudpermit.com/gov/login) or submit paper forms by email to permits@roswell-nm.gov.
  • Contact Miller Butts, Certified Building Official, at (575) 637-6286 or m.butts@roswell-nm.gov for building permit questions; Mike Christensen, Building Inspector, at (575) 637-6293 or m.christensen@roswell-nm.gov for inspections.

Frequently asked questions

Roswell requires a residential building permit for: Required for renovations, remodels, additions, or building of any kind; Required for storage sheds larger than 200 sq. ft. (residential) or 120 sq. ft. (commercial) — smaller accessory structures use the Placement Permit for Fence or Accessory Structure instead; Required for patio covers, gazebos, decks, pergolas, porches, carports, and pools; All re-roofs and applications of roof coating systems require a building permit and inspections per 14.5.2.8 NMAC; Two sets of submittal documents required per 14.5.2.10 NMAC: site plan (with setbacks and drainage plan), specifications, engineering calculations, diagrams, and soil investigation/geotechnical reports (including density/compaction tests prior to pouring foundation); IECC Thermal Bypass Checklist and IECC Duct Sealing Visual Inspection Checklist must be completed and submitted to the AHJ prior to Certificate of Occupancy issuance; A homeowner's permit may be issued to a residential property owner subject to the limitations of 14.5.2.18 NMAC; Persons who are not appropriately, validly, and currently licensed by the Construction Industries Division are not eligible to apply for or be issued a permit (except under the homeowner's permit provision); Separate permits required for general building, electrical (now issued by CID), and plumbing/mechanical/LPG work (19.15.40 NMAC). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Roswell Community Development — Building & Inspections Division at (575) 637-6280 before starting work.

Fees are valuation-based per the City of Roswell Building Fee Schedule, ranging from $24.00 for projects valued $0-$549 up to $5,609.00 for projects valued between $900,500 and $1,000,000, plus $3.65 per additional $1,000 above $1,000,000.

Plan review for a residential building permit in Roswell typically runs 10–15 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Roswell Community Development — Building & Inspections Division at (575) 637-6280.

You'll need: City of Roswell Building Permit Application; Checklist for Residential Plans; Site Plan (with setbacks and drainage plan); Geotechnical / Soil Investigation Report. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Roswell requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential building permit, in order: Foundation / Density-Compaction, Roof Decking (for re-roofs), Final. Schedule each through City of Roswell Community Development — Building & Inspections Division ((575) 637-6280).

Apply through City of Roswell Community Development — Building & Inspections Division at 400 W. 2nd St., Roswell, NM 88201 (mailing: PO Box 1838, Roswell, NM 88202-1838). Phone: (575) 637-6280, email: permits@roswell-nm.gov. Official information: https://www.roswell-nm.gov/1279/Building-Inspections.

Roswell enforces the state-adopted 2021 International Building Code (as the New Mexico Commercial Building Code) and 2021 International Residential Code (as the New Mexico Residential Building Code), per the City of Roswell Building Codes reference sheet published by the Building & Inspections Division.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-02.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Roswell building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Other permits in Roswell

Re-Roofing PermitPlacement Permit for Fence or Accessory StructureElectrical Permit (State-Administered)Plumbing / Mechanical (Gas/HVAC) PermitEV Charger / EVSE Permit (State CID Electrical)Solar PV Permit (City Building Permit + State CID Electrical)Homeowner's Plumbing PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System PermitChange of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy PermitCommercial Building Permit

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