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Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Shell) in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Required for new commercial construction, commercial additions, and shell buildings in Las Cruces. The City of Las Cruces runs its own certified local building program (Community Development Department — Building and Development Services, One Stop Shop) rather than routing permits through the state Construction Industries Division field-office model, per NMSA 1978 § 60-13-41(D)-(F). Plans are reviewed against the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (2021 IBC as adopted by CID), the 2021 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code, and 2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 for accessibility. The permit fee is valuation-based: the building official determines valuation from the City's adopted Valuation Table (February 2020 ICC Building Valuation Data, square-foot cost by occupancy group and construction type), adjusted by a scope modifier (New 100%, Addition 100%, Shell 75%) and an 88% local area modifier, then run through the City's Fee Table.

Verified 2026-08-01 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required for commercial new construction, additions, and alterations; electrical, mechanical, and plumbing sub-contractor permits and fees are required when associated with the general permit
  • A pre-submittal review meeting is REQUIRED for all commercial projects with a project valuation of $1 million and up (optional below $1 million) — requested via email to inspectionrequest@lascruces.gov before noon on Tuesdays; meetings are in person for one hour, 9:00 am to noon, in conference room 1158 every Tuesday
  • Drawings must be at least 90% complete for each discipline at the pre-submittal review or the meeting is cancelled and must be re-requested
  • Submittal contents are governed by Las Cruces Municipal Code Sec. 30-274 (Submittal requirements)
  • Apply through the City of Las Cruces Citizen Portal (Accela); after paying for the permit record application, an email invitation is sent from the City's electronic plan review software, ProjectDox, where construction drawings are uploaded
  • All drawings must be uploaded as single-page PDF files in landscape orientation, each named to match the sheet label on the plans (e.g., Cover Sheet, Site Plan, C1.0, A1.0, S1.0, P1.0, M1.0, E1.0)
  • Reviewed concurrently by eleven agencies: Building, Plumbing & Mechanical, Electrical, Planning, Landscaping, Engineering Services, Environmental Compliance, Flood, Traffic, Fire, and Utilities
  • A Public Safety Impact Fee (PSIF) will be added based on the approval from Fire Review; a utility estimate is provided prior to issuance of the permit
  • Safety and ADA issues must be satisfied before a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy can be issued (2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 is the adopted accessibility standard)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Commercial Building Permit Fee (valuation-based Fee Table)City of Las Cruces 2023 Schedule of Fees (effective February 1, 2023), Fee Table (p. 8). Valuation is determined by the building official using the City's Valuation Table (February 2020 ICC Building Valuation Data, p. 9), adjusted by the scope modifier (New 100%, Addition 100%, Shell 75%) and the 88% local area modifier. Fee is due at time of permit issuance and is tripled on permits for work started or completed without an approved permit.
Under $2,000: $50; $2,001-$25,000: $50 for the first $2,000 plus $10 per additional $1,000; $25,001-$50,000: $280 for the first $25,000 plus $8 per additional $1,000; $50,001-$100,000: $480 for the first $50,000 plus $7 per additional $1,000; $101,001-$500,000: $830 for the first $100,000 plus $6 per additional $1,000; $500,001-$1,000,000: $3,330 for the first $500,000 plus $5 per additional $1,000; $1,000,001 or more: $5,830 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4 per additional $1,000
Plan Check FeeDue at time of application (when plans are submitted); non-refundable. The remaining permit fee can be paid at submittal or before issuance. City of Las Cruces 2023 Schedule of Fees and Commercial Construction Process guide.
First 25% of the building permit fee
Technology Fee — Commercial New, Alteration and AdditionCity of Las Cruces 2023 Schedule of Fees, Administrative Fees section; also restated in the Commercial Construction Process guide
Greater of $100 or 5% of the permit fee
Public Safety Impact Fee (PSIF)Commercial Construction Process guide: 'PSIF will be added based on the approval from Fire Review.' No fixed amount is published in the 2023 Schedule of Fees.
Varies — added based on the approval from Fire Review
Expedited PermittingCity of Las Cruces 2023 Schedule of Fees; available on request
$1,000 in addition to the permit and plan check fee
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO)Formal written request required; Safety & ADA issues must be satisfied prior to issuance. Schedule of Fees states the greater-of formula; the Commercial Construction Process guide summarizes it as 25% of the permit fee.
Greater of $150.00 or 25% of the building permit fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewLas Cruces’s published plan-review target
3–8 business days

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Shell) permit actually take in Las Cruces?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation / Footing

    After excavation and reinforcing steel placement, before concrete is placed. Inspections are requested through the Citizen Portal (Accela) after permit issuance — same-day requests are not permitted; inspections may be requested up to 5 working days out. The City publishes its inspection request categories (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Walls, Fences) but not a formal commercial-sequence checklist, so this sequence reflects standard IBC practice under the City's categories.

  2. 2

    Underground / Slab

    In-slab or under-floor plumbing, electrical conduit, and mechanical work before concrete placement

  3. 3

    Frame / Cover-Up

    Structural framing, fire blocking, and rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical complete, before concealment (the City's fee schedule lists a Cover-up Fee for work concealed without inspection)

  4. 4

    Trade Finals (Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fire)

    Final inspections on each sub-contractor trade permit and fire systems acceptance testing, before the general final

  5. 5

    Building Final / Certificate of Occupancy

    All work complete per approved plans; for a Same Day Certificate of Occupancy ($150.00), all inspections must be completed and logged by 12 pm and the CO is issued by 5 pm

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

Tips

  • Schedule the required pre-submittal meeting early for projects at or above $1 million — requests are only taken by email before noon for Tuesday slots, and drawings must be at least 90% complete per discipline or the meeting is cancelled.
  • The 88% local area modifier works in your favor: Las Cruces discounts the ICC square-foot valuation by 12% before computing the permit fee.
  • Budget for the Technology Fee (greater of $100 or 5% of the permit fee) and a Public Safety Impact Fee determined at Fire Review — both come on top of the Fee Table amount.
  • Commercial trade sub-permits are flat-fee: $300 mechanical, $300 plumbing (new/remodel/addition), and amp-based electrical ($150 up through 150 amps, $200 for 151-200, $300 for 201-400, $300 plus $50 per 100 amps over 401).
  • All fees are tripled on permits for work started or completed without an approved permit.
  • Properties inside the defined Infill Area can request reimbursement of permit fees through the Infill Incentive Program (LCMC Section 38-48) — the incentive is paid back when the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
  • Permits expire after 365 days; reinstatement is only valid for 180 days after expiration, and a commercial permit may be extended past 365 days only by written authorization from the building official.

Frequently asked questions

Las Cruces requires a commercial building permit (new construction, addition, shell) for: Building permit required for commercial new construction, additions, and alterations; electrical, mechanical, and plumbing sub-contractor permits and fees are required when associated with the general permit; A pre-submittal review meeting is REQUIRED for all commercial projects with a project valuation of $1 million and up (optional below $1 million) — requested via email to inspectionrequest@lascruces.gov before noon on Tuesdays; meetings are in person for one hour, 9:00 am to noon, in conference room 1158 every Tuesday; Drawings must be at least 90% complete for each discipline at the pre-submittal review or the meeting is cancelled and must be re-requested; Submittal contents are governed by Las Cruces Municipal Code Sec. 30-274 (Submittal requirements); Apply through the City of Las Cruces Citizen Portal (Accela); after paying for the permit record application, an email invitation is sent from the City's electronic plan review software, ProjectDox, where construction drawings are uploaded; All drawings must be uploaded as single-page PDF files in landscape orientation, each named to match the sheet label on the plans (e.g., Cover Sheet, Site Plan, C1.0, A1.0, S1.0, P1.0, M1.0, E1.0); Reviewed concurrently by eleven agencies: Building, Plumbing & Mechanical, Electrical, Planning, Landscaping, Engineering Services, Environmental Compliance, Flood, Traffic, Fire, and Utilities; A Public Safety Impact Fee (PSIF) will be added based on the approval from Fire Review; a utility estimate is provided prior to issuance of the permit; Safety and ADA issues must be satisfied before a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy can be issued (2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 is the adopted accessibility standard). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Las Cruces Community Development Department — Building and Development Services (One Stop Shop) at 575-528-3222 before starting work.

Valuation-based. The building official determines project valuation using the City's adopted Valuation Table (February 2020 ICC Building Valuation Data — square-foot cost by occupancy group and construction type), multiplied by a scope modifier (New 100%, Addition 100%, Shell 75%) and the 88% local area modifier. That valuation is then run through the Fee Table, which starts at $50 for projects under $2,000 and reaches $5,830 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4 per additional $1,000. A plan check fee (first 25% of the permit fee) and a Technology Fee (greater of $100 or 5%) are added. Source: City of Las Cruces 2023 Schedule of Fees.

It is tiered by valuation: 3 business days for projects up to $50,000, 5 business days for $50,001-$100,000, and 8 business days for projects over $100,001. Eleven agencies review concurrently. Source: City of Las Cruces Commercial Construction Process guide.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Signed Contract Between Permittee and Property Owner; Site Plan; Construction Drawings. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Las Cruces requires 5 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit (new construction, addition, shell), in order: Foundation / Footing, Underground / Slab, Frame / Cover-Up, Trade Finals (Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fire), Building Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Las Cruces Community Development Department — Building and Development Services (One Stop Shop) (575-528-3222).

Apply through City of Las Cruces Community Development Department — Building and Development Services (One Stop Shop) at 700 N. Main St., Suite 1100, P.O. Box 20000, Las Cruces, NM 88001. Phone: 575-528-3222, email: inspectionrequest@lascruces.gov. Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM; Wednesday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM (afternoon closed for admin/training); online access 24 hours. Official information: https://lascruces.gov/property/remodeling-and-construction/.

The City of Las Cruces issues its own. New Mexico's Construction Industries Division handles building permits only in jurisdictions without their own certified code-enforcement program; Las Cruces operates a full-service local Building and Development Services department (One Stop Shop) with its own building official, plan review, and inspection staff, per NMSA 1978 § 60-13-41(D)-(F).

Yes, for all commercial projects (new, alteration, or addition) with a project valuation of $1 million or more; it is optional below $1 million. Meetings are held in person every Tuesday from 9 am to noon in conference room 1158 and must be requested by email before noon; drawings must be at least 90% complete for each discipline.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-01.

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 Las Cruces building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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