Sunland Park building permits

Requirements

• Submit a permit application in person at the Community Development office, 1000 McNutt Rd, Suite G, Sunland Park, NM 88063, or online at sunlandpark-nm.gov/community-development/
• Provide a basic site plan and building plans showing dimensions, materials, and layout (Community Development can provide a project-specific checklist)
• Obtain zoning approval for the building permit — the Development Fee Schedule lists a distinct 'Zoning Approval for Building Permit' plan-review line for residential new construction, billed per the City's Uniform Building Code Building Valuation Data (BVD) formula
• Projects requiring a zoning variance will extend the review timeline beyond the standard 7-10 days
• Licensed New Mexico contractors may apply on the owner's behalf; owners should confirm proof of issued permits before work begins

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCity of Sunland Park Community Development Department application; site plan and building plans (dimensions, materials, layout) required
• RequiredSite PlanBasic site plan showing the building footprint, setbacks, and property lines

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Prior to grading, notify the Community Development Department for a pre-inspection at (575) 589-3631
• Complete the Grading Permit Application specifying intended use of site, flood zone, legal description, owner/contractor info, estimated cut/fill (cubic yards), and acreage tier
• Select permit type: Clearing & Access (20% of total fee), Pre-Final Grading (40%), or Final Grading (100%), or Borrow/Waste
• $300,000 minimum combined single-limit liability insurance required for all permits on sites larger than one (1) acre
• A copy of the permit must be kept at the job site at all times
• No grading on weekends or holidays unless authorized in advance by the City Building Inspector (call (575) 589-3631 before 12:00 p.m. for weekend/holiday grading authorization)
• Permits (other than Borrow/Waste) are valid for one year from issuance; extensions must be requested one month prior to expiration, in writing

Required documents

• RequiredGrading Permit ApplicationCity of Sunland Park Community Development / Building Inspections Dept. form; requires legal description, cut/fill estimates, acreage tier selection, and liability insurance confirmation for sites over 1 acre

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No fence or wall may be constructed or altered until a building permit is issued by the BUILDING INSPECTOR (Land Development Code Section 10-4-10.1)
• Applicant is responsible for confirming location of property lines, placement of footings/walls within property boundaries, and location of any easements or underground utilities
• A wall must not increase the quantity or velocity of stormwater runoff onto neighboring property
• Residential districts: fences/walls in the front setback and front-yard sides limited to 3.5' max / 2.5' min height (wrought iron or transparent fencing may be up to 6'); beyond the front setback, walls may be up to 6' high
• Commercial/Industrial districts: a solid 6' wall is required when adjacent to a residential district or as a buffer between unlike uses; general fence/wall height max is 4' (min 2') in front/side yards, up to 6' beyond the front setback
• Permitted materials: rock and mortar, brick and mortar, split-faced CMU block, wrought iron, stucco finish, wood or panelized systems (subject to Building Inspector approval)
• Prohibited materials/colors: barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fencing, smooth-faced or plain concrete CMU (unless stucco-finished), and chain link/wire mesh fencing

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Fence/Wall scope)Refer to Title 9 (Building Regulations) for the City's building permit process; submitted to Community Development / Building Inspections

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Sign permits are required for all signs unless specifically exempted (e.g., directional signs under 6 sq ft, window displays, required regulatory signs)
• Standard Sign Permit Application requires: written proof of landlord approval, completed application form, site plan showing sign location, sign specifications/drawings, engineered plans (for signs over 10 feet), illumination details, and color/material samples
• Temporary Sign Permit Application requires: written proof of landlord approval, completed application, duration of display, installation/removal dates, site plan, sign specifications, and property owner authorization
• Temporary sign time limitations: bench signs up to 1 year; transit shelter signs per specified term; construction signs for duration of project; special event signs up to 10 days; searchlights up to 72 hours

Required documents

• RequiredStandard Sign Permit ApplicationFull documentation package per Land Development Code Section 10-4-11.6(A): landlord approval, site plan, sign specs/drawings, engineered plans if over 10', illumination details, color/material samples
• OptionalTemporary Sign Permit ApplicationPer Section 10-4-11.6(B): landlord approval, duration/installation-removal dates, site plan, sign specs, property owner authorization

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A building permit is required for reroof work, issued by the City's Building Inspections Division
• Fee is calculated using the Most Current Version of the Uniform Building Code (ICC Building Valuation Data), per the City's Development Fee Schedule
• Licensed New Mexico roofing contractor required unless the scope qualifies as owner-performed work

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Re-roof scope)Submitted to Community Development / Building Inspections Division

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A building/electrical permit is required for solar panel installation, issued by the City's Building Inspections Division
• Fee is calculated using the Most Current Version of the Uniform Building Code (ICC Building Valuation Data), per the City's Development Fee Schedule
• Installer must be a properly licensed New Mexico contractor

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Electrical Permit Application (Solar Panels scope)Submitted to Community Development / Building Inspections Division

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A building permit is required for swimming pool construction, with plan review billed per the Uniform Building Code Building Valuation Data formula
• A separate Zoning Swimming Pool Application Fee applies, also billed per the Uniform Building Code valuation formula
• Submit site plan showing pool location relative to setbacks and easements

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Swimming Pool scope)Submitted to Community Development / Building Inspections Division; includes Swimming Pool Plan Review Fee
• RequiredZoning Swimming Pool ApplicationSeparate zoning-side application and fee

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Submit a permit application for driveway repair/maintenance work to Community Development / Building Inspections
• Fee is 5% of the construction cost estimate for the work

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Driveway repair/maintenance scope)Submitted to Community Development / Building Inspections Division; requires a construction cost estimate

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A building/electrical permit is required for EV charger installation, issued by the City's Building Inspections Division
• Fee is calculated using the Most Current Version of the Uniform Building Code (ICC Building Valuation Data), per the City's Development Fee Schedule — same mechanism as this file's Solar Panel Permit entry
• Installer must be a properly licensed New Mexico contractor
• No dedicated EV/EVSE line-item was found on the City's Development Fee Schedule Building Permit Fees table

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Electrical Permit Application (EV Charger scope)Submitted to Community Development / Building Inspections Division; no dedicated EV/EVSE checkbox exists

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Submit fire sprinkler and/or fire alarm plans to the Community Risk Reduction Division (Sunland Park Fire Department) for plan review prior to installation, per the City's 'Fire Marshal's Office Plan Submittal Information Requirements' package
• The installing fire protection company must hold a current New Mexico State Fire Marshal's Office 'Certificate of Fitness' for the applicable system type (fire sprinkler, fire alarm, or hood suppression) — the Fire Marshal's Office verifies this before any work on a life safety system begins
• Plan review fees are tiered by device count (commercial fire alarm systems) or sprinkler head count (water/chemical fire sprinkler systems and tenant-improvement sprinkler work), per the City's Development Fee Schedule
• A separate Fire Pump Inspection (diesel or electrical) is required if the system includes a fire pump
• New/altered systems require a Community Risk Reduction Division final construction inspection before acceptance
• The Fire Department's currently adopted fire code is the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) per the Fire Department FAQ; note the Community Risk Reduction page's own plan-submittal-requirements blurb separately references the 2015 IFC edition for submittal formatting — this inconsistency between two City-published pages was not otherwise resolved during this chase

Required documents

• RequiredFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Plan Submittal PackagePer 'Fire Marshal's Office Plan Submittal Information Requirements 2023,' submitted to the Community Risk Reduction Division for plan review
• RequiredCertificate of Fitness (Installing Fire Protection Company)NM State Fire Marshal's Office licensing verification confirming the contractor's competence to work on the specific life-safety system type (sprinkler, alarm, or hood suppression); checked by the Fire Marshal's Office before work begins

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Obtain a New Mexico Tax ID number from NM Taxation and Revenue (also obtainable at the Community Development Department)
• Submit a complete Business Registration Application to the Community Development Department for zoning compliance verification (a distinct 'Zoning Approval for New Businesses' review/fee applies)
• If the business is home-based, submit a Home Occupation Business Registration form to Community Development for zoning compliance verification instead of the standard application
• A separate application is required for each business location
• Pay the registration fee before engaging in business ($35 per business, per calendar year, not prorated)
• Upon Community Development approval, the approved registration form is registered with the City Clerk
• Upon Planning Department approval, a request is submitted to BOTH the Fire Department and the Building Department for inspection of the specific building/space where the business will be conducted
• A business certificate is not issued until all fees are paid and the space has complied with all applicable city and state regulations

Required documents

• RequiredNew Business Registration ApplicationStandard business registration form submitted to Community Development for zoning compliance verification, per the Economic Development Department's published Business License and Registration process
• OptionalHome Occupation Business Registration FormAlternate form required instead of the standard application when the business is home-based, also routed through Community Development for zoning compliance verification

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Submit a permit application to the Community Development Department (in person at Community Development, McNutt Rd, Sunland Park, NM 88063, or online at sunlandpark-nm.gov/community-development/)
• Obtain zoning approval for the building permit — the Development Fee Schedule lists a distinct 'Zoning Approval for Building Permit — Plan Review _ Commercial' line, billed per the City's adopted ICC Building Valuation Data (BVD) formula
• Fire Department Commercial Plan Review is a separate, mandatory fee line tiered by project square footage (9 tiers, $75 for 3,000 sq ft or less up to $500 for 50,000+ sq ft), per the Development Fee Schedule
• New commercial site development may additionally require Detailed Site Development Plan Review (Administrative $350, Planning & Zoning Commission $600, or City Council $1,000 track) and, where applicable, a Commercial Conditional Use ($600), Special Use ($600), or Temporary Use ($600) permit under the Zoning fee tables
• A commercial zoning variance, if needed, is $1,000 ('All other variances — Commercial, Industrial, Preliminary Plat etc.') and will extend the review timeline
• Plan review in excess of two cycles triggers a $500 fee upon 3rd review (all divisions)
• Licensed New Mexico contractor required; a licensed contractor may apply on the owner's behalf
• A new tenant or changed use in the finished space separately requires the City's Business Registration / zoning-compliance-verification process (see this file's change-of-use-permit entry) before a business certificate is issued

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Commercial scope)City of Sunland Park Community Development Department application; building plans and specifications for the commercial scope
• RequiredSite PlanSite plan showing building footprint, setbacks, parking, and property lines; new commercial site development may require the fuller Detailed Site Development Plan Review track
• RequiredFire Department Commercial Plan Review SubmittalPlans routed to the Sunland Park Fire Department / Community Risk Reduction Division for commercial plan review, billed by square-footage tier

Fee schedule