Unincorporated Doña Ana County building permits

Requirements

• New single-family dwelling construction
• Recorded Proof of Ownership (Warranty Deed or Real Estate Contract) — copy obtainable at the County Clerk's Office, Room 200
• Proof Record Card from the County Assessor's Office, Room 220
• Proof of septic tank permit (NMED, (575) 288-2050) or a ready-willing-and-able letter from a sewer provider; utility bills are not accepted as proof
• Proof of a domestic well permit (State Engineer's Office, (575) 524-6161) or a ready-willing-and-able letter from a water provider; utility bills are not accepted as proof
• If more than one dwelling is proposed on the property, a septic permit is required for each dwelling
• SWPPP and NOI required for projects in a platted subdivision, or for projects outside a subdivision on a parcel exceeding one acre
• Driveway permit ($20.00) required if accessing a county road; a permit from NMDOT may be required if accessing a state road
• Homeowner-pulled permits additionally require a completed 'Instructions for Permit' form and a 'Responsibilities and Liabilities Acknowledgement'
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are obtained separately, AFTER issuance of the building permit, by the licensed tradesman for each trade

Required documents

• RequiredSingle Family Dwelling Permit ApplicationCounty application packet; requires 1 set of plans drawn to 1/4" = 1.0-foot scale including a detailed site plan (setbacks, on-lot ponding, dimensions), foundation plan, floor plan, building elevations with height dimensions, wall cross-section, roof/floor framing plan, and an electrical plan (meter, condenser location, one-line diagram, load calculations)
• RequiredTruss Layout/SpecificationsCopy of truss layout/specifications from the manufacturer
• Required2021 RESCheck Energy CertificateSigned Energy Certificate demonstrating IECC 2021 compliance
• RequiredProof Record CardObtained from the Doña Ana County Assessor's Office, Room 220
• RequiredRecorded Proof of OwnershipWarranty Deed or Real Estate Contract, obtained from the County Clerk's Office, Room 200
• RequiredSeptic or Sewer DocumentationNMED septic tank permit copy, or a ready-willing-and-able letter from the sewer provider; utility bills not accepted
• RequiredWater Service DocumentationState Engineer's Office domestic well permit copy, or a ready-willing-and-able letter from the water provider; utility bills not accepted
• OptionalSWPPP and NOIRequired only for projects in a platted subdivision, or on parcels exceeding one acre outside a subdivision
• OptionalDriveway PermitRequired if the property accesses a county road ($20.00); a separate NMDOT permit may be required for state-road access — verify with DAC Engineering, (575) 525-6164

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Cannot be issued until an associated building permit (or MHIP, for manufactured homes) has been issued, or in conjunction with an existing remodel not requiring a building permit
• New service, service change, remodel/addition, or miscellaneous electrical work (swimming pool, multi-building service, photovoltaic/solar, temporary power pole)
• One-line diagram required for any electrical service 200A and above
• Work must be performed by a New Mexico-licensed electrical contractor for permits pulled by a tradesman; homeowner permits are separately available for the homeowner's own primary residence

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit Application/Fee FormCounty form listing contractor info, license number, service amperage tier, and inspection location; requires the associated Building Permit or MHIP number
• OptionalOne-Line DiagramRequired for any electrical service rated 200A and above

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Cannot be issued until an associated building permit (or MHIP) has been issued, or in conjunction with an existing remodel not requiring a building permit
• Covers plumbing fixtures, water distribution, building drains, water heaters, swimming pools, water conditioners, backflow devices, evaporative coolers, ventilation/exhaust, refrigeration, ductwork, solar water heating, in-floor heating, gas piping, grease interceptors, and roof drains
• Gas unit items priced separately per unit: yard line, wall heater, range, capped opening, boiler, central furnace (by BTU), water heater (by BTU), pool heater (by BTU)
• Work must be performed by a New Mexico-licensed plumbing or mechanical contractor for tradesman-pulled permits

Required documents

• RequiredPlumbing/Mechanical Permit Application/Fee FormCounty form itemizing each plumbing/mechanical fee item and gas unit type; requires the associated Building Permit or MHIP number

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Complete reroof or reroof/overlay of an existing residential roof
• Incomplete applications are not accepted
• 25% of the permit fee is required at time of application
• Homeowner-pulled reroof permits require completion of 'Instructions for Permit' and 'Responsibilities and Liabilities Acknowledgement' forms

Required documents

• RequiredInvoice or ProposalShowing the scope of roofing work
• RequiredRoofing Material & Manufacturer SpecificationProduct specification sheet for the roofing material to be installed
• RequiredRecorded Proof of OwnershipWarranty Deed or Real Estate Contract with legal description of the property, obtainable at the County Clerk's Office, Room 200

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for the structural/mounting portion, valued under Doña Ana County Code § 179-16C's general valuation scale for 'construction not otherwise specifically addressed' in the fee article
• Separate Electrical Permit required for the interconnection work, obtained AFTER the building permit is issued, by a New Mexico-licensed electrical contractor — issued directly by Doña Ana County itself, not the State CID
• 25% of assessed permit fees due at building-permit application submittal when construction drawing/site plan review is required; remaining 75% collected prior to permit issuance, per County Code § 179-16D

Required documents

• RequiredDoña Ana County Building Permit ApplicationStandard application for the structural/mounting portion
• RequiredDoña Ana County Electrical Permit FormCounty-issued form listing the flat 'Photovoltaic (Solar PV)' fee category, filed after the building permit is issued

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical Permit required for the EV charger's dedicated circuit or service work — cannot be issued until an associated building permit (or MHIP) has been issued, unless performed in conjunction with an existing remodel not requiring a building permit
• Issued directly by Doña Ana County itself (not the State CID), by a New Mexico-licensed electrical contractor, or by the homeowner on their own primary residence under the county's homeowner permit option
• One-line diagram required if the installation involves a service rated 200A and above
• If the charger requires a new or upgraded service, the applicable amperage-tier residential fee applies instead of the miscellaneous catch-all fee

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit Application/Fee FormCounty form listing contractor info, license number, service amperage tier or miscellaneous category, and inspection location

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A sign permit is required before the erection, re-erection, construction, alteration, placement, or installation of any sign regulated by DAC Code § 350-508, except for the specific sign types listed as exempt in § 350-508H
• Also required for expansion of the face area or height of an existing sign, a change in the location of an existing sign, or a change in the dimensions of an existing sign
• Additional electrical and/or building permits may separately be required for a sign's structural or electrical components and must independently meet all requirements of those permits
• Allowed sign types, sizes, and quantities vary by zoning district/community type per UDC Table 5.24 (Signs Allowed by Zone or Community Type) — some types are allowed by right (B), some only for an active business (B), some are conditional (C), and others are prohibited outright depending on the zone
• Illuminated signs may only be illuminated from dusk to dawn and must permit no direct view of the bulbs; electrical raceways, conduits, and wiring must not be exposed
• Nonconforming signs may be maintained but not altered, enlarged, or replaced except to bring them into conformity, and must be brought into compliance with right-of-way/clear-sight-triangle prohibitions within 180 days of the code's adoption

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit ApplicationNo standalone sign permit application form is published on the Doña Ana County Building Services 'Permit Requirements' document list (verified 2026-07-22: the list's 20 published forms include Single Family Dwelling, Reroof, Electrical, Plumbing/Mechanical, Cell Tower Co-Location, MHIP, etc., but no sign permit form); sign permits are administered by the Community Development Department's Planning & Zoning Division rather than Building Services — contact planningdivision@donaana.gov or (575) 525-7350 for the current application
• RequiredSite Plan or Elevation DrawingShowing sign type, dimensions, height, and setback from the frontage line, needed to verify compliance with UDC Table 5.24 and the dimensional standards in § 350-508I

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A construction permit from the Fire Code Official is required before installing, altering, or extending an automatic fire-extinguishing (sprinkler) system or a fire alarm/detection system, per 2021 IFC § 105.7 as locally amended by DAC Code § 195-3(A)(10)
• All automatic sprinkler systems must be designed with a minimum 10 psi safety margin unless otherwise approved by the County Fire Chief, fire prevention personnel, or designee (IFC § 105.7.1.1, added by county amendment)
• Hydraulic calculations are required for a modification to an existing automatic fire-extinguishing system when the number of heads being added exceeds 10, or exceeds 10% of the system's total heads (IFC § 105.7.1.2, added by county amendment), or whenever the Fire Code Official otherwise deems it necessary
• Sprinkler system supervision and alarm requirements apply per IFC § 903.4, with a county-amended exception for limited-area systems serving fewer than 20 sprinklers in occupancies other than Group H (High Hazard) and Group I
• A permit is not valid until all required fees are paid (IFC § 105.1.1 as amended); facilities owned, operated, and maintained by government entities are exempt from the fee
• Construction documents must be submitted per requirements established by the Community Development Department (IFC § 105.4 as amended)

Required documents

• RequiredFire Code Construction Permit ApplicationNo distinct fire-sprinkler/alarm permit application form is published on Doña Ana County's Fire Rescue or Fire Prevention Division web pages, or on the Building Services 'Permit Requirements' form list, as of 2026-07-22 — apply directly through the Fire Prevention Division
• OptionalSprinkler/Alarm System Design Plans and Hydraulic CalculationsHydraulic calculations required per IFC § 105.7.1.2 when modifying an existing system by more than 10 heads or more than 10% of the system's total heads, or whenever required by the Fire Code Official

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No building or structure may be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure (or portion) may be made, until the Building Official issues a Certificate of Occupancy — adopted 2021 IBC § 111, unamended locally per DAC Code § 142-4 (which amends only IBC §§ 3302, 3305, and 107/R106)
• For new construction, the CO is issued upon successful completion of all required trade finals and the Building Final Inspection under the standard Single Family Dwelling/Building Permit process documented in this file's residential-building-permit entry
• For a change of use/occupancy classification on an existing building with no associated new construction, apply through the Doña Ana County Community Development Department — Building Services Division; the county does not publish a distinct standalone application, fee, or checklist for this scenario as of 2026-07-22
• If construction, alteration, or tenant-improvement work is required to accomplish the change of use, that work is separately permitted and fee-assessed as a standard building permit under the Building Permit Fee Schedule's general 'Other Construction' valuation scale (the same treatment this file already documents for the roofing-permit and solar-pv-permit entries)
• Doña Ana County's subdivision-infrastructure rules (DAC Code § 350-212) can independently withhold a certificate of occupancy for a new building in a subdivision or phase until the required subdivision infrastructure is deemed substantially complete by the County, with a limited exception allowing one model-home/sales-office CO per subdivision phase before that completion

Required documents

• RequiredCertificate of Occupancy Application / Change of Use RequestNo standalone published application form was found on the Building Services 'Permit Requirements' document list (20 forms checked, none titled for a certificate of occupancy or change of use) or on the Community Development Department's pages as of 2026-07-22; contact Building Services, (575) 647-7350, for the current process

Fee schedule