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Commercial Building Permit in Hobbs, New Mexico

Required for new commercial construction, commercial additions, and commercial remodels/alterations in Hobbs and its 5-mile Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (Municode 15.04.030(A)). Hobbs is NOT a CID-direct jurisdiction: although New Mexico's Construction Industries Division (CID) issues permits directly in uncertified localities, the City of Hobbs runs its own Building Inspection Department (a unit of Planning/Engineering) that issues commercial building permits locally as the AHJ, enforcing the statewide NMAC code set (2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code, NMAC 14.7.2, based on the 2021 IBC) adopted by Municode 15.04.010. The process, plan-set standard, and inspections are set out in the City of Hobbs Commercial Construction Guide (Revised 06-10-24); fees are valuation-based per Municode 15.28.010 plus a 20% commercial plan-review fee.

Verified 2026-08-01 · Source

When you need this permit

  • The licensed GB98 contractor requesting the permit must sign the City of Hobbs Building Permit Application, which must state description of work, building address, construction material, total square footage, specific use of building, project owner's name/address, contractor's business name/address/license number, and architect's name/address/license number (Commercial Construction Guide, Permit Application Data)
  • Planning approval from the City of Hobbs Planning & Engineering Department is required BEFORE applying for a commercial building permit in most cases; the City's Design Review Team (DRT) of City-wide Division Directors meets Thursdays as a pre-conference forum for new commercial projects — call 575-391-8158 to get on the DRT agenda, or Planning & Engineering at 575-397-9232
  • Two complete scaled sets of plans (1/4 inch = 1 foot minimum) and specifications, sufficiently clear to show the project in its entirety, following the Guide's 16-item minimum plan-set standard (cover sheet with IBC design criteria, site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, framing/roof framing plans, exterior elevations, building/wall sections, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems, structural calculations where required, and specifications); use the commercial checklist when preparing the submittal
  • Cover sheet must annotate applicable codes and a design criteria list: IBC Chapter 6 construction type, square footage per floor and total, IBC Chapter 3 occupancy group (including mixed occupancies), IBC Chapter 10 Section 1004 occupant load, allowable area calculations, exiting requirements, IBC Chapter 29/UPC plumbing fixture counts, fire sprinklers, height and number of stories, land-use setbacks, location, and seismic location
  • Signed contract between project owner and contractor required for valuation purposes (fees are based on total valuation including materials, labor, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing per Municode 15.28.010)
  • 2021 NM Commercial Energy Conservation Code energy calculations must be submitted; software programs such as ComCheck are permitted (Guide, plan-submittal item 10)
  • Fire sprinkler system plans are approved by the City of Hobbs Fire Marshal's Office within the same submittal (Guide, plan-submittal item 9)
  • Accessibility per 2021 IBC Chapter 11 as amended by NMAC 14.7.2.19, with ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017 as the adopted standard; site plan must show all required parking including accessible parking, access aisles, and ramps per ANSI
  • Commercial demolition and renovation: the NM Air Pollution Control Bureau (1-800-224-7009) must be notified 10 days in advance of any demolition or renovation of existing commercial structures for asbestos-containing-material handling (Commercial Construction Guide)
  • Projects outside City limits but within the 5-mile ETJ require a Lea County Address & New Construction application approved by Lea County prior to permit issuance (City Building Safety & Permitting Services page)
  • New commercial buildings must provision EV charging capacity for 1-5% of parking spaces depending on building use per the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Energy Conservation Code (14.7.9 NMAC) — see the ev-charger-permit entry

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (Municode 15.28.010)City of Hobbs Code of Ordinances Section 15.28.010 (Ord. No. 992, § 3, 6-16-2008) — the same sixteen-tier table itemized in full in this file's residential-building-permit entry applies to commercial projects; the section is titled 'Building permit fees in general' and the Commercial Construction Guide (Revised 06-10-24, fetched 2026-08-01) states valuation is based on Chapter 15.28.010. Valuation includes materials, labor, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing. The full tier table was re-verified verbatim against the codified Municode ordinance in a real browser session on 2026-07-30 (see residential entry note); Municode's Hobbs code text is JavaScript-rendered and was not re-fetched today.
$20.00 (valuation $1-$2,000) scaling through sixteen tiers to $800.00 plus $1.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation over $400,000
Commercial Plan Review Fee (new construction / remodel / addition)Municode 15.28.010 — commercial plan review fees for new construction, remodels, and additions are 20% of permit fees (re-verified against the codified ordinance 2026-07-30). Note the Commercial Construction Guide's general statement that the fee 'covers plan review, the permit notice and required inspections' — the codified 20% commercial plan-review line is the authoritative figure; confirm the total at application.
20% of permit fees
Re-inspection FeeMunicode 15.28.070; must be paid before the next inspection
$60.00
Red Tag (working without a permit)Municode 15.28.060
Double the permit fee
Refund PolicyMunicode 15.28.010; Commercial Construction Guide, Valuation and Fees
80% of total permit fees paid

Review timeline

Plan reviewHobbs’s published plan-review target
1–10 business days

How long did your Commercial Building Permit 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

    Foundation Inspection

    After excavations for footings are complete and required reinforcing steel is in place; forms in place prior to inspection for concrete foundations; all foundation materials on the job except ready-mixed concrete

  2. 2

    Concrete Slab or Under-Floor Inspection

    After all in-slab or under-floor building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories, and ancillary equipment are in place, but before concrete is placed or floor sheathing (including subfloor) is installed

  3. 3

    Frame Inspection

    After the roof, all framing, fire blocking, and bracing are in place, all pipes/chimneys/vents complete, and rough electrical, plumbing, and heating are approved

  4. 4

    Lath & Metal Fabric Inspection

  5. 5

    Energy-Insulation Inspections

  6. 6

    Special Inspections

    As required for the project; the Construction Inspector may also make or require other inspections to ascertain compliance with the New Mexico Building Code (Guide, Other Inspections)

  7. 7

    Gypsum Board Inspection

  8. 8

    Weather-Resistive Barrier Inspection

    After installation of the weather-resistive barrier and before it is covered

  9. 9

    Final Inspection (Certificate of Occupancy)

    After finish grading and the building is completed and ready for occupancy; final electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections must be conducted prior to the final general construction inspection. The City issues the Certificate of Occupancy to the contractor after approving final general construction inspections.

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

Tips

  • Hobbs does NOT publish a separate tenant-improvement permit product. The Commercial Construction Guide covers 'new commercial construction, additions, and remodels' under one application, one plan-set standard, and one fee schedule, and Municode 15.28.010's 20% commercial plan-review fee applies identically to 'new/remodel/addition' — a TI/remodel is simply a Commercial Building Permit valued at the cost of the improvement work.
  • For tenant improvements or renovations of existing commercial space, the NM Air Pollution Control Bureau must be notified 10 days in advance (1-800-224-7009) for asbestos-containing-material handling — build this into your schedule before demolition of finishes begins.
  • Get on the Design Review Team agenda early: the DRT (all City Division Directors) meets Thursdays as a pre-conference for new commercial projects, and planning approval is required before applying for the building permit in most cases (575-391-8158).
  • Despite Hobbs's Permian Basin oilfield economy, no distinct industrial/large-building or man-camp/workforce-housing permitting track is published by the City — large industrial and workforce-housing projects within city limits or the 5-mile ETJ go through the same Commercial Building Permit + DRT process (disclosed gap: any such project should confirm scope with Planning & Engineering at 575-397-9232; sites outside the ETJ fall under Lea County, not the City).
  • Trade work (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) is permitted separately to the licensed trade contractors — commercial mechanical/plumbing fees are codified at Municode 15.28.081 and electrical at 15.28.090 — and those licensed trade contractors are responsible for coordinating their own inspections.
  • The City's website has moved from hobbsnm.org to hobbsnm.gov (301 redirect observed 2026-08-01); the .org URLs still redirect but new links should use .gov.
  • Completed permit sets are accepted by email at hobbs.permits@hobbsnm.org; if mailing a final set, call ahead for the fee amount first.

Frequently asked questions

Hobbs requires a commercial building permit for: The licensed GB98 contractor requesting the permit must sign the City of Hobbs Building Permit Application, which must state description of work, building address, construction material, total square footage, specific use of building, project owner's name/address, contractor's business name/address/license number, and architect's name/address/license number (Commercial Construction Guide, Permit Application Data); Planning approval from the City of Hobbs Planning & Engineering Department is required BEFORE applying for a commercial building permit in most cases; the City's Design Review Team (DRT) of City-wide Division Directors meets Thursdays as a pre-conference forum for new commercial projects — call 575-391-8158 to get on the DRT agenda, or Planning & Engineering at 575-397-9232; Two complete scaled sets of plans (1/4 inch = 1 foot minimum) and specifications, sufficiently clear to show the project in its entirety, following the Guide's 16-item minimum plan-set standard (cover sheet with IBC design criteria, site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, framing/roof framing plans, exterior elevations, building/wall sections, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems, structural calculations where required, and specifications); use the commercial checklist when preparing the submittal; Cover sheet must annotate applicable codes and a design criteria list: IBC Chapter 6 construction type, square footage per floor and total, IBC Chapter 3 occupancy group (including mixed occupancies), IBC Chapter 10 Section 1004 occupant load, allowable area calculations, exiting requirements, IBC Chapter 29/UPC plumbing fixture counts, fire sprinklers, height and number of stories, land-use setbacks, location, and seismic location; Signed contract between project owner and contractor required for valuation purposes (fees are based on total valuation including materials, labor, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing per Municode 15.28.010); 2021 NM Commercial Energy Conservation Code energy calculations must be submitted; software programs such as ComCheck are permitted (Guide, plan-submittal item 10); Fire sprinkler system plans are approved by the City of Hobbs Fire Marshal's Office within the same submittal (Guide, plan-submittal item 9); Accessibility per 2021 IBC Chapter 11 as amended by NMAC 14.7.2.19, with ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017 as the adopted standard; site plan must show all required parking including accessible parking, access aisles, and ramps per ANSI; Commercial demolition and renovation: the NM Air Pollution Control Bureau (1-800-224-7009) must be notified 10 days in advance of any demolition or renovation of existing commercial structures for asbestos-containing-material handling (Commercial Construction Guide); Projects outside City limits but within the 5-mile ETJ require a Lea County Address & New Construction application approved by Lea County prior to permit issuance (City Building Safety & Permitting Services page); New commercial buildings must provision EV charging capacity for 1-5% of parking spaces depending on building use per the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Energy Conservation Code (14.7.9 NMAC) — see the ev-charger-permit entry. 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 (Municode 15.28.010) is: $20.00 (valuation $1-$2,000) scaling through sixteen tiers to $800.00 plus $1.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation over $400,000. Additional published fees: Commercial Plan Review Fee (new construction / remodel / addition) — 20% of permit fees; Re-inspection Fee — $60.00; Red Tag (working without a permit) — Double the permit fee; Refund Policy — 80% of total permit fees paid. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

The City states commercial permits are processed in 1-10 working days, depending on the information submitted. Complete, code-annotated plan sets per the Commercial Construction Guide's 16-item checklist move fastest.

You'll need: City of Hobbs Building Permit Application; Two Complete Scaled Plan Sets (1/4" = 1'-0" minimum); Geotechnical Report; Energy Calculations (2021 NM Commercial Energy Conservation Code); Signed Owner-Contractor Contract. Depending on your project, Hobbs may also ask for: Structural Calculations; Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Hobbs requires 9 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit, in order: Foundation Inspection, Concrete Slab or Under-Floor Inspection, Frame Inspection, Lath & Metal Fabric Inspection, Energy-Insulation Inspections, Special Inspections, Gypsum Board Inspection, Weather-Resistive Barrier Inspection, Final Inspection (Certificate of Occupancy). 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. Commercial remodels, alterations, and tenant improvements are processed as a standard Commercial Building Permit under the same Commercial Construction Guide and the same valuation-based fee schedule (Municode 15.28.010) used for new commercial construction, with the 20% commercial plan-review fee applying to new construction, remodels, and additions alike.

No. Although New Mexico's Construction Industries Division issues permits directly in localities without their own building program, the City of Hobbs operates its own Building Inspection Department that issues commercial building permits locally, enforcing the statewide NMAC-codified 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code adopted by Municode 15.04.010.

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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 PermitChange of Occupancy / Certificate of Occupancy

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