Skip to main content
PermitBase

Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy in Hobbs, New Mexico

Hobbs does not operate a separate 'change of use' permit product distinct from its general Building Permit. City of Hobbs Municode Section 15.04.030(A) makes it unlawful to 'convert, or change occupancy of any building, structure, or sign... within City limits AND the 5-mile Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), without first obtaining a permit,' so a change of occupancy is processed through the same general Building Permit Application used for new construction and remodels (marked 'Other' for project type), reviewed against the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (NMAC 14.7.2) and the 2021 International Existing Building Code (NMAC 14.7.7), both adopted by Municode 15.04.010. The City issues a Certificate of Occupancy as the final step of the standard building permit process.

Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A permit is required before any change of occupancy of a building or structure, within Hobbs city limits or its 5-mile Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (Municode 15.04.030(A))
  • Processed on the standard City of Hobbs Building Permit Application (marked 'Other' for project type, since it is not New/Remodel/Addition construction) rather than a dedicated change-of-use form
  • Reviewed against the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (NMAC 14.7.2) and the 2021 International Existing Building Code (NMAC 14.7.7), both adopted by Municode 15.04.010, which govern requirements for a change in occupancy classification of an existing building
  • Planning & Engineering Department approval is required before applying for a building/occupancy permit in most cases (City of Hobbs Commercial Construction Guide, 'Land Use Planning & Engineering Approvals Required')
  • Final electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections must be approved before the final general construction inspection that leads to Certificate of Occupancy issuance (Commercial Construction Guide, Required Inspections item 7)
  • The Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the City of Hobbs Building Inspection Department upon approval of the final general construction inspection, confirming the building has met safety standards for the new occupancy (City of Hobbs Building Services page, Permit Process step 7)

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 2 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee -- valuation-based (same Municode 15.28.010 schedule used for new construction)No separate 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' fee line item is codified in Hobbs Code of Ordinances Chapter 15.28; a change of occupancy is processed as a Building Permit application, so the same valuation-based schedule applies. Where no construction or alteration accompanies the occupancy change, no dedicated minimum/flat fee figure specific to that no-construction scenario was located in any City of Hobbs-published document after checking the Commercial Construction Guide, Residential Construction Guide, and Building Services page -- confirm the applicable fee with the Building Inspection Department at (575) 391-8158 before applying.
Ranges from $20.00 (valuation $1-$2,000) up to $800.00 plus $1.00 per additional $1,000 for valuation over $400,000

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy permit actually take in Hobbs?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final General Construction Inspection

    Building official verifies the space meets applicable code requirements for the new occupancy classification; final electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections must be approved first. The Certificate of Occupancy is issued upon approval (City of Hobbs Commercial Construction Guide, Required Inspections item 7; Building Services page, Permit Process step 7)

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

Tips

  • Hobbs does not have a separate 'change of use' permit application or fee schedule -- a change of occupancy is processed through the same general Building Permit Application (marked 'Other'), and results in a Certificate of Occupancy once approved.
  • If your change of occupancy involves any construction, remodeling, or alteration, that work is valued and charged under the standard Municode 15.28.010 Building Permit Fee Schedule, the same schedule used for new construction.
  • The City's Design Review Team meets weekly (Thursdays) to review new commercial projects and can address occupancy-change questions in the same forum -- call (575) 391-8158 to get on the agenda.

Frequently asked questions

Hobbs requires a change of occupancy / certificate of occupancy permit for: A permit is required before any change of occupancy of a building or structure, within Hobbs city limits or its 5-mile Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (Municode 15.04.030(A)); Processed on the standard City of Hobbs Building Permit Application (marked 'Other' for project type, since it is not New/Remodel/Addition construction) rather than a dedicated change-of-use form; Reviewed against the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (NMAC 14.7.2) and the 2021 International Existing Building Code (NMAC 14.7.7), both adopted by Municode 15.04.010, which govern requirements for a change in occupancy classification of an existing building; Planning & Engineering Department approval is required before applying for a building/occupancy permit in most cases (City of Hobbs Commercial Construction Guide, 'Land Use Planning & Engineering Approvals Required'); Final electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections must be approved before the final general construction inspection that leads to Certificate of Occupancy issuance (Commercial Construction Guide, Required Inspections item 7); The Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the City of Hobbs Building Inspection Department upon approval of the final general construction inspection, confirming the building has met safety standards for the new occupancy (City of Hobbs Building Services page, Permit Process step 7). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Hobbs Building Inspection Department (Planning & Engineering / Community Development) at (575) 391-8158 before starting work.

In Hobbs, the published Building Permit Fee -- valuation-based (same Municode 15.28.010 schedule used for new construction) is: Ranges from $20.00 (valuation $1-$2,000) up to $800.00 plus $1.00 per additional $1,000 for valuation over $400,000. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Hobbs does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Hobbs Building Inspection Department (Planning & Engineering / Community Development) at (575) 391-8158 for current turnaround.

You'll need: City of Hobbs Building Permit Application; Site/Floor Plan Describing Proposed Occupancy. Depending on your project, Hobbs may also ask for: Signed Owner-Contractor Contract. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Hobbs requires 1 inspection(s) for a change of occupancy / certificate of occupancy permit, in order: Final General Construction Inspection. Schedule each through City of Hobbs Building Inspection Department (Planning & Engineering / Community Development) ((575) 391-8158).

Apply through City of Hobbs Building Inspection Department (Planning & Engineering / Community Development) at 200 E. Broadway, Hobbs, NM 88240. Phone: (575) 391-8158, email: hobbs.permits@hobbsnm.org. Office hours: City Hall: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (noon). Official information: https://www.hobbsnm.org/building_services.html.

No. City of Hobbs Municode Section 15.04.030(A) requires a permit before any change of occupancy of a building, but this is processed through the same general Building Permit Application used for construction projects (marked 'Other' for project type), not a separate change-of-use product. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued once the Building Official approves the final inspection.

Occupancy changes are reviewed against the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (NMAC 14.7.2) and the 2021 International Existing Building Code (NMAC 14.7.7), both adopted by City of Hobbs Municode Section 15.04.010.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.

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

Other permits in Hobbs

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Electrical PermitResidential Plumbing PermitResidential Mechanical / HVAC PermitResidential Re-Roof PermitResidential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitEV Charger / EVSE PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit

Change of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy in other cities

Bernalillo, New MexicoCarlsbad, New MexicoClovis, New MexicoDeming, New MexicoLas Cruces, New MexicoRoswell, New MexicoButte-Silver Bow, MontanaDouglas County, Nevada

Compare change of occupancy / certificate of occupancy fees across New Mexico →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Hobbs project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Hobbs — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →