You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-07-19.
Lovington building permits
Lovington, New Mexico — as published 2026-07-19.
Reviewed 2026-07-19 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Building Permit (Residential & Commercial Construction)
VerifiedRequired for new construction, additions, and structural work on site-built or modular homes and commercial buildings in Lovington. The City of Lovington Planning and Zoning Department reviews zoning, setback, and floodplain compliance and signs a cover sheet BEFORE the applicant submits the actual building/electrical/plumbing/structural permit application to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), which administers the state-adopted New Mexico Building/Residential Code. The City performs its own preliminary (pre-construction, zoning-compliance) and final inspections separate from any CID code inspection.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a completed, legible, signed and dated Planning and Zoning Application (basic information for all City permitting applications)
- Provide proof of ownership or interest in the property — a deed with legal description or property lease; an Affidavit by Property Owner(s) if the applicant is not the owner
- Submit site plans for all structural work showing property lines, building dimensions (including height), lot area, lot dimensions, easements, building setbacks, road access points, and location of utilities
- Submit a Property Address for the Lea County Enhanced 9-1-1 System (obtained from Lea County Emergency Management, Elisa Millan, emillan@leacounty.net, (575) 391-2983, 1019 E Bender Blvd, Hobbs NM 88240)
- Submit a Floodplain Determination Letter, obtained by submitting the Lea County E-911 letter to the City Planning and Zoning Coordinator
- Submit a complete State building permit (CID) application cover sheet for the City Planner and Floodplain Manager signatures — these must be obtained BEFORE submitting the application to the State; the project must pass the City's preliminary inspection before the City Planner will sign the State permit
- Submit an Access permit from NM DOT if the site is on a State-owned highway or road
- Call 811 before digging, to locate buried utility lines
- Preliminary inspection required: outline the project area with flags/strings/markers and contact the City Planner to verify compliance with setbacks, zoning, and land development requirements
- Pay the City Permit Fee (amount determined by City staff at time of application; not a published fixed schedule)
- Final inspection required after construction to confirm work meets all City requirements
Required documents
- RequiredPlanning and Zoning ApplicationBase application listing project type, applicant, owner, property, zone, and legal description; includes an Affidavit by Owner(s) section for notarized owner authorization
- RequiredCity Building Permit Application (checklist)11-item checklist covering proof of ownership, site plan, Lea County E-911 addressing, Floodplain Determination Letter, State CID permit cover sheet, NM DOT access permit (if applicable), preliminary and final inspection sign-off
- RequiredState Building Permit (CID) ApplicationThe actual construction/structural/electrical/plumbing permit, submitted to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division after City sign-off
- OptionalAffidavit by Property Owner(s)Required only if the applicant is not the property owner
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| City Permit Fee (processing) | Not published as a fixed schedule — the dollar amount is filled in by City Planning & Zoning staff at the time of application | City of Lovington Building Permit Application checklist, item 10 (lovington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/checklist_building.pdf), accessed 2026-07-18 — no city-published fee table exists elsewhere on lovington.org or in Municipal Code Title 15 for this fee. (Re-checked 2026-07-19: also searched lovington.org (City Forms and Documents, Ordinances page, Meeting Agendas/NovusAGENDA portal) and the NM Sunshine Portal/NM DFA LGBMS for a standalone City fee schedule/resolution — none found; confirmed via the City's own Code of Ordinances Title 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE (Chs. 3.04, 3.08, 3.12, 3.16, 3.20 — no fee-schedule chapter) and the complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table (Ords. 218 through 612, current supplement 2026 S-21 through Ord. 612, 6-9-25) that no ordinance or appendix has ever established a general City permit fee schedule. Re-fetched checklist_building.pdf directly (2026-07-19) and confirmed item 10 still reads 'Pay City Permit Fee in the amount of $_______________ Date paid_______________' — genuinely left blank for staff to fill in.) |
| State Building Permit (CID) Fee | Based on type of construction, square footage, type of materials, and construction cost — CID does not publish a fixed valuation table online; applicants are directed to call a CID field office for a project-specific quote | NM RLD Construction Industries Division, Forms and Applications: Fees page (rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/forms-and-applications/fees/), accessed 2026-07-18 |
Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit
VerifiedRequired for placement of a mobile or manufactured home within Lovington city limits. Governed by City zoning (Municode Title 17), the City's Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit checklist, and a State CID permit that must be visible on the home at the City's final inspection.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a completed Planning and Zoning Application
- Pay the Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit processing fee
- Provide proof of ownership or interest in the property (deed with legal description or lease; Affidavit by Property Owner(s) if applicant is not owner)
- The property must be zoned for mobile or manufactured homes: double-wide homes may be placed in Zones A, B, or C; single-wide homes are allowable only in Zones B or C
- Submit a Property Address for the Lea County Enhanced 9-1-1 System
- Submit a Floodplain Determination Letter
- Provide proof of model year — homes must be 1985 or newer, shown via title, DMV registration, other verifiable document, and pictures of the ANSI insignia
- Submit a site plan showing property lines, lot area, lot dimensions, proposed buildings/structures, easements, building setbacks, road access points, and an approved water and sewer connection
- Submit an Access permit from NM DOT if the site is on a State-owned highway or road
- Meet zone-specific setback requirements: mobile home park placement requires 15 ft separation from any other mobile home/RV/permanent structure and a 9 ft x 20 ft parking area per space; Zones A/B/C require 25 ft front, 30 ft or 20% of lot depth (whichever is smaller) rear, and 5 ft side setbacks (double-frontage lots: 25 ft front and rear; corner lots: 15 ft side)
- Meet minimum lot area: 4,000 sq ft (mobile homes under 18 ft wide), 5,000 sq ft (mobile homes 18 ft+ wide, or any manufactured home)
- Meet minimum lot dimensions: 40 ft wide x 100 ft deep (mobile homes under 18 ft wide); 50 ft wide x 100 ft deep (mobile homes 18 ft+ wide, or any manufactured home)
- Pass a final inspection after placement; the State CID permit must be visible on the home at this inspection
Required documents
- RequiredCity Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit (checklist)13-item checklist covering zoning eligibility, model year, Lea County E-911 addressing, floodplain determination, site plan, setbacks, and lot area/dimension requirements
- RequiredPlanning and Zoning ApplicationBase application form
- RequiredState CID PermitState-issued permit that must be physically visible on the home at the City's final inspection
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit processing fee | Not published as a fixed schedule — filled in by City staff at time of application | City of Lovington Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit checklist (lovington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/city_mobille_or_manufature_home_permit.pdf), item 2, accessed 2026-07-18 (image-only PDF, rendered to PNG and read visually). (Re-checked 2026-07-19: also searched for a standalone City fee resolution/schedule covering mobile/manufactured home permits — none found on lovington.org, in Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning) or Title 3 (Revenue and Finance), or in the complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table (Ords. 218-612, current through Ord. 612, 6-9-25). Re-fetched and re-rendered the checklist PDF to PNG (2026-07-19) and visually confirmed item 2 still reads 'Pay the Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit processing fee $__________ Date Paid______________' — genuinely left blank for staff.) |
Carport Permit
VerifiedRequired for construction of a carport anywhere in Lovington's zoning districts, subject to Municode Chapter 17.20 design standards.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a completed Planning and Zoning Application
- Provide proof of ownership or interest in the property
- Submit a site plan showing property lines, building dimensions (including height), lot area, lot dimensions, easements, building setbacks, road access points, and location of utilities
- Meet setback requirements: 5 feet from the point below the roofline to the property line on the front and side; no rear setback requirement
- Carport must not exceed 720 square feet, have no walls or doors that interfere with vision, be constructed of wood or metal sufficient to support the structure, and be accessed by a concrete driveway the width of the carport
- Submit a complete State building permit (CID) application cover sheet for City Planner and Floodplain Manager signatures, obtained before submitting to the State; project must pass preliminary inspection first; submit the approved State permit to the City Planner
- Pass a final inspection after construction
- Pay the Carport Permit processing fee
- Call 811 before digging
Required documents
- RequiredCity Carport Permit Application (checklist)9-item checklist covering ownership, site plan, setbacks, design specifications, State CID cover sheet, and inspections
- RequiredPlanning and Zoning ApplicationBase application form
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carport Permit processing fee | Not published as a fixed schedule — filled in by City staff at time of application | City of Lovington Carport Permit Application checklist (lovington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/checklist_carport.pdf), item 8, accessed 2026-07-18. (Re-checked 2026-07-19: also searched for a standalone City fee resolution/schedule covering carport permits — none found on lovington.org, in Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.20 (carport standards) or Title 3 (Revenue and Finance), or in the complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table (Ords. 218-612, current through Ord. 612, 6-9-25). Re-fetched checklist_carport.pdf directly (2026-07-19) and confirmed item 8 still reads 'Pay the Carport Permit processing fee $ __________________Date Paid____________' — genuinely left blank for staff.) |
Water/Sewer Connection Permit
VerifiedRequired for new water or sewer service connections in Lovington. Water connections are performed by the City Water Department itself; sewer connections must be performed by a licensed contractor and are inspected by the City after completion.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a completed Planning and Zoning Application
- Provide proof of ownership or interest in the property
- Submit a site plan showing property lines, building dimensions, lot area, lot dimensions, easements, building setbacks, road access points, and location of utilities
- For sewer connections: submit a statement of the connection size and type of materials to be discharged into the sewer
- For water connections: submit a statement of meter size and purpose for which the water is required (e.g., residential use, car wash)
- Call 811 before digging
- Pay the applicable Water/Sewer Connection Permit processing fee(s) and the fee for the required water meter
Required documents
- RequiredCity Water/Sewer Connection Permit (checklist)9-item checklist; separate approval blocks for Sewer Superintendent, Water Superintendent, and a final Sewer inspector sign-off
- RequiredPlanning and Zoning ApplicationBase application form
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water/Sewer Connection Permit processing fee | Not published as a fixed schedule — filled in by City staff at time of application | City of Lovington Water/Sewer Connection Permit checklist (lovington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/checklist_wtrswr.pdf), item 2, accessed 2026-07-18. (Re-checked 2026-07-19: also searched for a standalone City fee resolution/schedule covering this administrative connection-permit processing fee specifically — found Ordinance 607 (2024, amending Municode Ch. 13.12 Rates, Billing and Collection), but it establishes only utility deposit amounts, water/sewer usage rates, and the new-water-meter cost schedule (see the separate 'Water meter fee' line item below), not a distinct connection-permit processing fee; no ordinance or appendix in the complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table (Ords. 218-612, current through Ord. 612, 6-9-25) establishes one. Re-fetched checklist_wtrswr.pdf directly (2026-07-19) and confirmed item 2 still reads 'Pay the applicable Water/Sewer Connection Permit processing fee(s). $____________' — genuinely left blank for staff.) |
| Water meter fee (new meter cost, by size) | ¾ inch meter: $1,000.00; 1 inch meter: $1,000.00; 2 inch meter: $2,050.00; 3 inch meter: $3,500.00; 4 inch meter: $4,500.00; 5 inch meter: $6,000.00 | FOUND 2026-07-19 while re-chasing this line item beyond the checklist: City of Lovington Code of Ordinances Section 13.12.040(G) (Ord. 607, 2024; current through 2026 S-21, Ord. 612, 6-9-25, with no further amendment to this subsection) — 'For every new application for service, an initial inspection of the meter will be performed by the Water Department. If there is no meter on the lot, if the meter on the lot is not functioning, or if the current meter installed is no longer deemed reliable to accurately read flow data, the customer will require a new meter at the following cost' [table by pipe size, effective October 1, 2024]. This directly answers checklist item 8's 'fee for the required water meter,' which the City's own checklist (lovington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/checklist_wtrswr.pdf) leaves blank for staff to fill in at the counter — the checklist simply doesn't point applicants to the codified table. Superseded the prior 'not published' conclusion for this line item only; the separate connection-permit processing fee above remains genuinely unpublished. |
Sign Permit
VerifiedRequired prior to erection of any temporary or permanent signage in Lovington, per Municode Chapter 12.20. Requires a surety bond or liability insurance in addition to the standard permit checklist.
Verified 2026-07-18 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a completed Planning and Zoning Application
- Submit a site plan sketch showing the sign's proposed position relative to nearby structures and the road/intersection
- Submit two copies of blueprints or ink drawings (plans) and specifications, including the method of construction and attachment
- Submit one copy of stress sheets and calculations showing the structure is designed for adequate dead load and wind pressure in any direction
- Submit the name of the person(s) or contractor who will erect the sign
- Provide copies of all State building permits associated with the proposed sign, including electrical permitting
- Provide a continuing surety bond of $1,000 or proof of liability insurance indemnifying the City
- Pass a preliminary inspection (after sign placement is marked on location) and a final inspection after completion
- Call 811 before digging
- Pay the Sign Permit processing fee
Required documents
- RequiredCity Sign Permit (checklist)11-item checklist covering site plan, plans/specifications, stress calculations, contractor identification, State permits, surety bond, and inspections
- RequiredPlanning and Zoning ApplicationBase application form
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sign Permit — annual fee for signs other than temporary signs | $1.00 (minimum) | City of Lovington Code of Ordinances Section 12.20.060 (Prior code Section 21-1-6) — codified as a flat, low-dollar figure carried forward from the pre-1992 codification and not separately updated since; likely superseded in current administrative practice. The City's own Sign Permit checklist (item 2) instead leaves the processing fee amount blank for staff to fill in. |
| Sign Permit — temporary signs | $1.00 per 60 sq ft or fraction thereof | Lovington Code of Ordinances Section 12.20.060 (Prior code Section 21-1-6) |
| Continuing surety bond (or liability insurance in lieu) | $1,000.00 | City of Lovington Sign Permit checklist (lovington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/checklist_sign.pdf), item 8, accessed 2026-07-18 |
Curb Cut Permit
VerifiedRequired for construction of a new driveway curb cut in Lovington, per Municode Chapter 12.04.
Verified 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- Submit a completed Planning and Zoning Application
- Pay the Curb Cut Permit processing fee
- Provide proof of ownership or interest in the property
- Submit a site plan showing property lines, easements, road access points, and locations of utility lines
- After preliminary approval, construct the curb cut to City standards, including at least a 3-foot concrete apron into the driveway
- After the curb is cut and forms are set (before concrete is poured), call or email Planning and Zoning to request a preliminary inspection — allow 3 business days for the inspection to be scheduled
Required documents
- RequiredCity Curb Cut Permit Application (checklist)6-item checklist covering ownership, site plan, construction standard, and inspection scheduling
- RequiredPlanning and Zoning ApplicationBase application form
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Curb Cut Permit processing fee | Not published as a fixed schedule — filled in by City staff at time of application | City of Lovington Curb Cut Permit Application checklist (lovington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/checklist_curb_cut.pdf), item 2, accessed 2026-07-18. (Re-checked 2026-07-19: also searched for a standalone City fee resolution/schedule covering curb cut permits — none found on lovington.org, in Municipal Code Chapter 12.04 (Curb Cuts) or Title 3 (Revenue and Finance), or in the complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table (Ords. 218-612, current through Ord. 612, 6-9-25). Re-fetched checklist_curb_cut.pdf directly (2026-07-19) and confirmed item 2 still reads 'Pay the Curb Cut Permit processing fee $____________________ Date paid__________________.' — genuinely left blank for staff.) |
Electrical Permit (City Electrical Inspector)
Lovington Municode Chapter 15.08 (Electrical Code) separately requires a permit from the City's own 'electrical inspector' before any wiring, devices, or equipment for transmission, distribution, or utilization of electrical energy are installed. This is a distinct, still-codified City ordinance; the City's newer Building Permit Application checklist separately directs electrical work through the State building permit (CID) process, and no published document reconciles the two. RE-CHASED 2026-07-23, gap still open: N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.1.7(B) grandfathers in 'a municipality, county or other political subdivision established as an AHJ prior to July 1, 2009, with authority over specified trades' to 'continue in that capacity without a full-service building department until relinquishing its authority as a building trades department' -- since Chapter 15.08's electrical-permit ordinance is pre-1992-codification text, it would qualify for this grandfather clause if validly established as such an AHJ before 2009, but no published document confirms whether the City has ever formally relinquished that authority. Separately, the City's own live Departments listing (lovington.org/departments/, checked 2026-07-23) publishes no Building Department, Building Official, or Electrical Inspector department among its 14 listed departments -- though Municipal Code 17.08.050 (a different title, governing zoning-permit enforcement) assigns a comparable 'city building inspector' function to 'the city manager or his designee,' so the absence of a standalone department listing does not by itself prove Chapter 15.08's electrical-inspector function has lapsed. The underlying enforcement-in-practice question remains genuinely unresolved by any published source.
Reviewed 2026-07-19 · Source
Requirements
- A permit from the electrical inspector is required before installing, altering, or adding to wiring, devices, or equipment for transmission, distribution, or utilization of electrical energy for light, power, or heat, or before disconnecting/reconnecting any motor, within or on any building or structure (Municode 15.08.030); in an emergency when the building department is closed, the permit must be secured as soon as possible thereafter
- Application must state information required under Municode 15.08.050
- Work must comply with the National Electrical Code, 1956 Edition, as amended (Municode 15.08.020) — in practice, the current governing electrical code is the CID-administered 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code / 2020 NEC (NMAC 14.10.4)
- Concealed installations require inspection before being covered (Municode 15.08.180)
- Noncompliant work is red-tagged and may not be covered or concealed (Municode 15.08.130); a white-tag certificate of approval is required before connection to electrical service (Municode 15.08.140)
Required documents
- RequiredElectrical Permit ApplicationApplication to the City electrical inspector per Municode 15.08.050; no standalone electrical-permit checklist PDF is published on the City's Forms and Documents page as of 2026-07-18 — plumbing/electrical work is described in the Building Permit checklist as flowing through the State CID application
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New work or addition to old work — first ten outlets | $0.20 each | City of Lovington Code of Ordinances Section 15.08.060 (Fee schedule), Prior code Section 16-1-8 — a per-item schedule carried forward from the pre-1992 codification, not updated since; likely a vestigial figure not reflective of current administrative practice, since no matching current fee table is published elsewhere. CONFIRMED CURRENT PER THE CODE (re-chased 2026-07-19): read the City's complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table (codelibrary.amlegal.com, all ordinances 218 through 612, current supplement 2026 S-21 through Ord. 612, passed 6-9-25) end to end — no ordinance has ever amended, repealed, or superseded Chapter 15.08 or Section 15.08.060 since the 1992 codification; the only Title 15 ordinance on record (Ord. 546, 2016) amended Section 15.04.010 (Uniform Building Code adoption) instead. Also confirmed no standalone City fee resolution/schedule exists anywhere (searched lovington.org, Municipal Code Title 3 Revenue and Finance, and NM Sunshine Portal/NM DFA LGBMS — none found) that could have superseded this schedule administratively. So this cents-and-low-dollar schedule is not an extraction error or an overlooked update — it is genuinely still the only electrical-fee text on the books, administratively unusual as that is, and the tension with current CID-routed electrical permitting (see description/tips) remains unresolved by any published document. |
| Motors over 1/3 horsepower | $1.00 per horsepower or fraction thereof, per motor, maximum $3.00 per motor | Lovington Code of Ordinances Section 15.08.060, Prior code Section 16-1-8 — see the supersession-check note on the first fee line item above (re-chased 2026-07-19): confirmed never amended through the current Ord. 612 (6-9-25) supplement. |
| Inspection of apparatus with no prescribed fee | $1.00 for the first hour or fraction thereof, plus $1.00 for each additional hour or fraction thereof | Lovington Code of Ordinances Section 15.08.060, Prior code Section 16-1-8 — see the supersession-check note on the first fee line item above (re-chased 2026-07-19): confirmed never amended through the current Ord. 612 (6-9-25) supplement. |
Solar PV Permit
VerifiedRequired for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in Lovington. As with Lovington's general Building Permit, the City's own Planning and Zoning Application has no dedicated Solar/Photovoltaic checkbox among its listed Type(s) — a PV installation would be filed as 'OTHER' (specified) or as an 'ADDITION,' with the City reviewing zoning/floodplain/site-plan compliance and signing a cover sheet BEFORE the applicant submits the actual electrical/structural permit application to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), which is the entity that actually issues the electrical permit governing the PV interconnection.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Filed on the same Lovington Planning and Zoning Application used for all other development permit types — the form's Type(s) checklist (Addition, Building Residential/Commercial, Carport, Curb Cut, Fence, Manufactured/Modular Home, New Home, Park, Porch, Roof/Re-Roof, Signage, Storage Unit, Sewer/Water Connection, Tower, Vacation, Variance, Zone Change, Other) has no dedicated Solar/Photovoltaic line; mark 'Other' and specify Solar/Photovoltaic, or file as an Addition if structurally tied to an existing building permit application
- Submit a completed, legible, signed and dated Planning and Zoning Application plus proof of ownership or interest in the property
- Submit a site plan showing property lines, building dimensions, lot area/dimensions, easements, building setbacks, road access points, and location of utilities/proposed array
- Submit a Property Address for the Lea County Enhanced 9-1-1 System and a Floodplain Determination Letter, consistent with the general Building Permit checklist requirements
- Submit a complete State building permit (CID) application cover sheet for the City Planner and Floodplain Manager signatures before submitting the electrical/structural permit application to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division — the actual PV electrical interconnection permit is a State CID permit, not a City-issued permit
- The separately codified City electrical permit under Lovington Municode Chapter 15.08 (issued by the City's own 'electrical inspector') may also apply to the PV interconnection scope — as with the general electrical-permit entry in this file, no published city document resolves whether this legacy City ordinance is enforced independently alongside, or has been superseded by, the State CID-routed process
- Pass the City's preliminary inspection (zoning/setback compliance) before the City Planner will sign the State CID permit cover sheet, and a final inspection after construction
Required documents
- RequiredPlanning and Zoning ApplicationBase application; mark 'Other' and specify Solar/Photovoltaic, since no dedicated checkbox exists
- RequiredState Building Permit (CID) ApplicationThe actual electrical/structural permit for the PV interconnection and racking, submitted to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division after City sign-off
- OptionalAffidavit by Property Owner(s)Required only if the applicant is not the property owner
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| City Permit Fee (processing, zoning/floodplain sign-off) | Not published as a fixed schedule for any Lovington development permit type, including solar — consistent with the general building-permit entry in this file, the dollar amount is filled in by City Planning & Zoning staff at the time of application. Checked the City's Forms and Documents page and Municipal Code Title 3 (Revenue and Finance) — no fee schedule/resolution covering solar or general development permits was found. | |
| State Building Permit (CID) Fee — structural/racking scope | $3.00 per $1,000 of valuation up to $15,000, plus $1.00 per $1,000 of valuation over $15,000, plus a 20% plan review fee on top of the building permit fee | Confirmed 2026-07-20 directly from the New Mexico Administrative Code, 14.5.5.11 NMAC (General Construction Building Permit Fees), New Mexico State Records Center and Archives (srca.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/14.005.0005.pdf) — currently in force (last amended within Part 5, effective 7-1-04, no repeal on record). This is CID's statewide fee rule and governs Lovington directly since the City's own Planning & Zoning application only handles the zoning/site-plan portion, not a separate structural building-permit fee. |
| State Electrical Permit (CID) Fee — PV interconnection scope | Residential, by service size: 100A or less $45.00; over 100-200A $72.00; over 200-320A $99.00; over 320-400A $225.00; over 400A $360.00 (live CID rate, includes the 1.8x multiplier applied to the base NMAC rate); plus $40.00/hr for plan review | Confirmed 2026-07-20 from two consistent, currently-live sources: NM RLD Construction Industries Division's own fee page (rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/forms-and-applications/fees/), and the underlying base rates codified at 14.5.5.12 NMAC ($25/$40/$55/$125/$200 by the same tiers, "multiplied by 1.8 or $48.00/hr" per the rule text) — the live CID page's figures are exactly the NMAC base rate x 1.8, confirming both sources describe the same currently-effective schedule. |
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
VerifiedLovington has no dedicated EV-charger permit form or fee line item. Installing a Level 1/Level 2 EV charging circuit is electrical work; as with the general electrical-permit and solar-pv-permit entries in this file, the actual electrical permit is a New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) permit obtained directly from the State, billed under CID's statewide amperage-based fee schedule (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.5.10, re-confirmed live 2026-07-20): $27.00 residual 'Minimum Inspection Fee for Items Not Listed' for a standalone new circuit with no service change, or the amperage-tiered Residential Electrical Service fee ($45.00-$360.00) if a service/panel upgrade is also required. It is not clear from any published city document whether the City's own legacy electrical-permit ordinance (Lovington Municode Chapter 15.08, issued by the City's 'electrical inspector') is enforced independently alongside, or has been superseded by, the State CID-routed process. Because a stand-alone EV charger circuit is not new construction, an addition, or a structural change, it is unclear whether the City's Planning and Zoning Application / cover-sheet sign-off step (required for building permits) applies at all to a bare electrical circuit addition — no published Lovington document addresses this specific scenario.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Electrical work (including an EV charger circuit) is governed by the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code / 2020 NEC (NMAC 14.10.4), administered statewide by CID
- The actual electrical permit for the circuit/panel work is a State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) Electrical Permit Application, with fees set by CID's amperage-based fee schedule published at rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/forms-and-applications/fees/ and codified at N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.5.10 ($27.00 minimum-inspection line for a standalone circuit; $45.00-$360.00 amperage-tiered service fee if a service upgrade is also needed)
- Lovington Municode Chapter 15.08.030 separately states that 'no wiring, devices or equipment for the transmission, distribution or utilization of electrical energy...shall be installed within or on any building or structure...without first securing a permit from the electrical inspector' — a City-issued electrical permit whose current relationship to the State CID process is not clarified in any published city document
- If a service panel upgrade or new circuit is treated as part of a larger project (e.g., a garage addition), the standard Lovington Building Permit checklist steps (Planning and Zoning Application, proof of ownership, site plan, Lea County E-911 addressing, Floodplain Determination Letter, State CID cover sheet signed by the City Planner) would apply; for a stand-alone charger circuit with no structural scope, no published document confirms whether this full checklist is required
Required documents
- RequiredState Building Permit (CID) Electrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted directly to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division for the EV charger circuit/panel work
- OptionalPlanning and Zoning ApplicationRequired if the charger installation is bundled with a structural project (addition, new construction); unclear whether required for a stand-alone electrical circuit
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Inspection Fee for Items Not Listed (a standalone new EV charger circuit with no service/panel change) | $27.00 | NM RLD Construction Industries Division, Forms and Applications: Fees page (rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/forms-and-applications/fees/), re-fetched live 2026-07-20 and cross-confirmed against N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.5.10 — same statewide CID electrical fee schedule used for every other CID-administered jurisdiction in this corpus (e.g. Los Alamos County); no distinct EV-charger/EVSE line item exists, so a standalone new circuit falls under this residual line item. |
| Residential Electrical Service — 100 Amp or below (if the EV charger install requires a new/upgraded service) | $45.00 | NM RLD Construction Industries Division Fees page, re-confirmed live 2026-07-20 |
| Residential Electrical Service — over 100 through 200 Amp | $72.00 | NM RLD Construction Industries Division Fees page, re-confirmed live 2026-07-20 |
| City Permit Fee (if a City Planning and Zoning Application applies) | Not published as a fixed schedule | Consistent with every other Lovington permit type in this file — the dollar amount, if applicable, is filled in by City staff at the time of application; no fee schedule/resolution covering electrical-only work was found in Municipal Code Title 3 (Revenue and Finance). |
Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit
VerifiedRE-CHASED AND CORRECTED 2026-07-23: the City of Lovington has its own local Fire Code. City of Lovington Municipal Code Chapter 15.10 (Fire Code) -- added by Ordinance 608 (2024) and current through the live 2026 S-21 supplement (confirmed against the complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table, Ords. 218-612, current through Ord. 612, 6-9-25, with no ordinance after 608 amending Chapter 15.10) -- was not visible in the prior 2026-07-22 chase, which relied on a 2021-09-25 Wayback Machine snapshot of Title 15's chapter list (predating Ord. 608 by roughly three years) after the live amlegal.com site returned an HTTP 403. Re-fetched live 2026-07-23 via the site's underlying render-section API (which is not WAF-blocked, unlike the top-level HTML shell) and confirmed Chapter 15.10 now sits between Chapter 15.08 (Electrical Code) and Chapter 15.12 (Fire Zones). Section 15.10.010 adopts the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), with Appendices B, C, and D, as the city's own fire code; Section 15.10.020 establishes a City Fire Marshal ('interchangeable with "Fire Code Official"' per 15.10.030) and directs the City Fire Department (under the Fire Chief) to enforce it. Because Lovington has therefore 'enacted an ordinance concerning fire protection' -- the exact test at N.M. Admin. Code 10.25.1.7(A) that the prior version of this entry used to conclude the State Fire Marshal (SFM) was Lovington's default fire-code AHJ -- the City itself, not the SFM, is now the applicable fire-code Authority Having Jurisdiction for fire protection systems in Lovington. Section 15.10.080 (Permits and fee schedule) requires 'a special permit from the City Fire Department...for the installation or modification of any automatic fire sprinkler system, chemical automatic fire extinguishing system, and fire alarm systems,' with a narrow exception for fire alarm systems in one- or two-family dwellings, and codifies a specific dollar fee schedule (below) -- resolving what was previously a null/unpublished CID fire-suppression-scope fee figure. SOURCE-TEXT ANOMALY, quoted rather than corrected: several clauses within the codified Section 15.10.060 amendment text and 15.10.080 (Section 101.1's title clause, Section 105.6's processing-agency clause, and subsections E and K of 15.10.080) refer to the 'City of Eunice' -- a separate, neighboring Lea County municipality -- rather than the City of Lovington; this reads as an un-corrected copy-paste/template artifact in the officially codified 2024 ordinance text, confirmed present in the live current amlegal.com rendering as of 2026-07-23. It does not appear to affect the substantive fee amounts or the general 'the city'/'City of Lovington' framing used throughout the rest of the chapter.
Verified 2026-07-23 · Source
Requirements
- A City of Lovington special permit is required from the City Fire Department for the installation or modification of any automatic fire sprinkler system, chemical automatic fire extinguishing system, or fire alarm system (Municipal Code 15.10.080(B)(1)); no special permit is required for installation/modification of a fire alarm system in a one- or two-family dwelling (15.10.080(B)(2))
- Application for a special permit is made on forms provided by the City Fire Department, accompanied by required plans and supporting information; no work requiring a special permit may begin until the Fire Department issues the permit (15.10.080(C))
- As locally amended (15.10.060, Section 105.6.1.1), hydraulic calculations must be provided for a modification to an existing automatic fire-extinguishing system when the number of heads being added exceeds 10, or exceeds 10 percent of the system's total heads; the Fire Code Official may also require hydraulic calculations for any other modification deemed necessary to evaluate system impact
- As locally amended (15.10.060, Section 105.6.1.2), hydraulic calculations must include a 10 psi safety margin on all commercial buildings requiring an automatic fire-extinguishing system, subject to reduction at the Fire Code Official's discretion
- Special permits are reviewed by the Fire Department and, if compliant with applicable codes/regulations, issued; the permit shall be conspicuously posted on the premises and not removed except by the Fire Department (15.10.080(E), (L))
- A special permit expires and becomes void if authorized work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or is suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencing; a new application and fee are required after expiration (15.10.080(I))
- The Fire Chief or Fire Marshal may suspend or revoke a special permit issued in error or on incorrect information, or order stopped work that violates the permit's terms (15.10.080(G)-(H))
- Statewide licensing requirements are layered on top of this local permit: the installing contractor/journeymen must still hold any CID-required license/journeyman certificate for fire protection system installation, and (per N.M. Admin. Code 10.25.2, not independently re-verified in this 2026-07-23 chase) a Certificate of Fitness on file with the State Fire Marshal may still apply to the installing company/individual as a separate state licensing matter, distinct from the City's own plan-review/permit-issuance authority established by Chapter 15.10
Required documents
- RequiredCity of Lovington Fire Department Special Permit ApplicationApplication form provided by the City Fire Department for installation/modification of an automatic fire sprinkler system, chemical automatic fire-extinguishing system, or fire alarm system, per Municipal Code 15.10.080(C); no work may begin until issued
- RequiredFire Protection System Plans/Drawings (City Fire Department submittal)Plans and supporting information required by the City Fire Department as part of the special permit application, per 15.10.080(C); the specific plan-content requirements (e.g., a PE seal) are not spelled out in the codified text itself and were not independently located elsewhere as of 2026-07-23
- OptionalState Building Permit (CID) ApplicationSeparate CID general construction/mechanical/electrical permit for the underlying building work, if the fire protection system is part of new construction or an addition
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General/base fee for any permit required under the Fire Code (unless a special permit fee applies instead) | $25.00 | City of Lovington Code of Ordinances, Section 15.10.080, opening paragraph (Ord. 608, 2024; current through 2026 S-21, Ord. 612, 6-9-25, with no further amendment to this section): 'A fee of $25.00 shall be paid to the city for any permit required by this chapter or as required by the City Fire Department pursuant to its administrative regulations, unless a special permit fee is applicable.' Confirmed live 2026-07-23 via codelibrary.amlegal.com. |
| Special Permit -- Automatic Fire Sprinkler System (by number of sprinklers) | 20 or fewer sprinklers: $30.00; 21-50 sprinklers: $50.00; 51-100 sprinklers: $100.00; more than 100 sprinklers: $150.00 | Section 15.10.080(D)(1). Confirmed live 2026-07-23, current through Ord. 612 (6-9-25) per the Ordinance List and Disposition Table. |
| Special Permit -- Fire Alarm System (by number of devices; not required at all for a 1- or 2-family dwelling) | 10 or fewer devices: $30.00; 11-30 devices: $50.00; more than 30 devices: $100.00 | Section 15.10.080(D)(2). Confirmed live 2026-07-23. |
| Special Permit -- Chemical Automatic Fire Extinguishing System | $30.00 | Section 15.10.080(D)(3). Confirmed live 2026-07-23. |
| Annual re-inspection fee (following the initial annual inspection) | $25.00 | Section 15.10.080(J): 'A fee of $25.00 shall be paid to the City of Lovington for any re-inspection following the initial annual inspection.' Confirmed live 2026-07-23. |
| Re-inspection fee for permitted work | $25.00 | Section 15.10.080(K), which -- per the source-text anomaly flagged in this entry's description -- reads 'A fee of $25.00 shall be paid to the City of Eunice for any re-inspection on permitted work' in the live codified text; treated here as the same $25.00 Lovington re-inspection fee described in subsection J, since Chapter 15.10 as a whole is adopted as 'the Fire Code of the City of Lovington' (15.10.010) and the 'Eunice' references appear to be an uncorrected copy-paste artifact rather than a substantively different fee. |
| State Fire Marshal (SFM) fire-protection-system plan review -- background/superseded for Lovington | $0.00 -- no fee (per the statewide default rule) | N.M. Admin. Code 10.25.5.18(A)(4) remains the statewide default rule for jurisdictions WITHOUT their own fire-code AHJ. As explained in this entry's description, Lovington's own Chapter 15.10 (Ord. 608, 2024) now makes the City itself the applicable fire-code AHJ under the same 10.25.1.7(A) test, so this SFM default is retained here only as background context, not as Lovington's operative process, pending any further city/state confirmation. |
| CID general construction/mechanical/electrical permit fee (if a separate CID permit also applies to the same underlying building project) | RE-CHECKED 2026-07-23: read the complete current CID fee rule (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.5, srca.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/14.005.0005.pdf, in force since 7-1-04, no repeal on record) section by section -- General Building (14.5.5.11), Electrical (14.5.5.12), Mechanical/Plumbing (14.5.5.13), and Miscellaneous Fees (14.5.5.14) -- and confirmed no line item anywhere in this rule references 'sprinkler,' 'fire alarm,' or 'fire protection'; this is a genuine, exhaustively-checked verified-negative absence, not an extraction gap. The previously-flagged 'NMAC 14.5.3.9(G)' reinspection-fee citation does not exist in the current rule (mis-citation from search results); the correct, currently-in-force general CID reinspection fee is instead codified at 14.5.5.14(G): $80.00 for the first re-inspection, $120.00 for the second or subsequent re-inspection (a separate $37.50 reinspection administrative fee also appears at 14.5.5.13(M), specific to the Mechanical/Plumbing fee table) -- but neither is fire-sprinkler/alarm-specific, and neither applies to Lovington's own City-issued fire-sprinkler/alarm permit documented above. A CID fee for the underlying general building/mechanical/electrical scope of the same project (separate from the City fire permit) remains genuinely unpublished as a fixed figure; contact a CID field office for a project-specific quote, consistent with every other CID valuation-based fee in this file. |
Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy
VerifiedLovington has no dedicated 'change of use' or 'certificate of occupancy' permit application, checklist, or fee schedule published on lovington.org (confirmed against the City's full City Forms and Documents listing as of 2026-07-22, which lists Planning & Zoning, Utilities, Parks & Recreation, Lodgers Tax, and general business forms but nothing for occupancy/change of use). As with Lovington's Building Permit, Solar PV Permit, and EV Charger entries in this file, the substantive legal process is a New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) matter, since Lovington has not established its own certified Building Official / full-service building department (the statewide 'AHJ' definition at N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.1.7 requires 'a full-time certified building official' with 'permitting, inspection and enforcement authority,' which Lovington's own Planning and Zoning Department does not hold). 'Change of occupancy' is defined at N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.1.7 as 'a change in the use of the building or portion of a building including a change of the occupancy classification or any change in use within a classification group to another occupancy in the group,' and is governed substantively by the 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code (NMEBC, N.M. Admin. Code 14.7.7, adopting the 2021 International Existing Building Code, Chapter 10 'Change of Occupancy'). Per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.11(B), 'changes in the work, occupancy type, occupant load or kind of structure authorized by a permit must be reflected in an amended set of submittal documents, which must be resubmitted for approval by the AHJ' -- i.e., CID for Lovington. A Certificate of Occupancy (C/O) for the changed use is then issued per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13, which states 'no building...shall be occupied' under the new use until the C/O or an approved final inspection is issued, and 'no C/O shall be issued by the CBO or the inspector until all of the required inspections have been performed.' RE-CHASED 2026-07-23: separately from this State CID track, City of Lovington Municipal Code Section 17.08.160 ('Certificate of occupancy required') codifies the City's OWN, longstanding local certificate-of-occupancy requirement -- 'no change in the use or character of occupancy of land, nor any change of use or character of occupancy in an existing building, other than for single-family dwelling purposes, shall be made...until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building inspector' (Prior code Section 11-3-10(n-o)), with 17.08.050 assigning the 'city building inspector' role to 'the city manager or his designee.' No published city document reconciles this local Title 17 C/O ordinance with the CID-issued C/O process described above -- this is the same kind of dual-track tension already documented in this file's electrical-permit entry (City Chapter 15.08 electrical permit vs. State CID electrical permit), now also present for change-of-use/occupancy. If the new use requires a different zoning classification (rather than only a different building-code occupancy classification within the same use), Lovington's own Zone Change (Municipal Code 17.08.170, 'Amendments to title') or Variance Request (17.08.030(B), heard as an appeal to the City's Board of Appeals per 17.08.040) processes would apply through the City's Planning and Zoning Department.
Verified 2026-07-23 · Source
Requirements
- No change in the use or occupancy classification of a building may occur, and the building may not be occupied under the new use, until a Certificate of Occupancy (or approved final inspection) has been issued (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13(A))
- Submit an amended set of submittal documents (plans/specifications reflecting the new occupancy type, occupant load, or kind of structure) to CID for review and approval -- the same AHJ that reviews Lovington's original building permits, per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.11(B)
- Compliance with the 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code (NMAC 14.7.7, adopting the 2021 IEBC), Chapter 10 Change of Occupancy, and any applicable requirements of the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (NMCBC)
- All required inspections applicable to the new occupancy/use must be performed and approved before a C/O will be issued (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13(B))
- SEPARATELY (found 2026-07-23): City of Lovington Municipal Code 17.08.160 also requires a City-issued certificate of occupancy from the 'building inspector' (the city manager or designee, per 17.08.050) before any change in the use or character of occupancy of land or of an existing building, other than for single-family dwelling purposes -- how this local requirement is coordinated in practice with the State CID C/O process above is not addressed in any published city document
- If the new use requires a different zoning classification (not just a different building-occupancy classification), separately pursue Lovington's own Zone Change (Municipal Code 17.08.170) or Variance Request (17.08.030(B)/17.08.040, an appeal to the City's Board of Appeals) process through the Planning and Zoning Department -- confirm with the Planning & Zoning Coordinator which track(s) apply to a specific project
- A temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued by the inspector for a 30-day period (or longer, if approved by the TBC/CBO) if the AHJ determines a temporary C/O is appropriate and life, safety, or health will not be adversely affected (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13(D))
Required documents
- RequiredAmended State Building Permit (CID) Submittal DocumentsPlans/specifications reflecting the new occupancy type, occupant load, or kind of structure, resubmitted to CID for approval per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.11(B); no standalone 'change of use' form is published -- this is an amendment to the existing/original CID permit submittal
- RequiredCertificate of Occupancy (CID-issued)Written approval certifying the building has passed all required inspections and is safe for occupancy under the new use, issued per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13
- RequiredCertificate of Occupancy (City-issued, Municipal Code 17.08.160)Separate local certificate-of-occupancy requirement issued by the City's 'building inspector' (city manager or designee, per 17.08.050) for a change in use/character of occupancy other than single-family dwelling purposes; no standalone application form was located as of 2026-07-23 -- relationship to the CID-issued C/O above is not clarified by any published city document
- OptionalPlanning and Zoning Application (Zone Change, Municipal Code 17.08.170, or Variance Request / Notice of Appeal, 17.08.030(B) and 17.08.040)Required only if the new use requires a different zoning classification than the property's current zoning district
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CID plan review/permit fee for amended (change-of-occupancy) submittal | RE-CHECKED 2026-07-23: read the complete current CID fee rule (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.5, srca.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/14.005.0005.pdf, in force since 7-1-04, no repeal on record) in full, section by section (14.5.5.11 General Building, 14.5.5.12 Electrical, 14.5.5.13 Mechanical/Plumbing, 14.5.5.14 Miscellaneous Fees) -- confirmed no line item anywhere in the rule references 'amended permit,' 'change of occupancy,' or 'certificate of occupancy' as a distinct fee category (the rule's only 'amended permit' language, at 14.5.5.4(A), just restates that no permit or amended permit is valid until fees otherwise due under the rule are paid -- it does not create a separate amendment fee). This is a genuine, exhaustively-checked verified-negative absence, not an extraction gap; valuation-based general construction fees remain quoted directly by a CID field office. | |
| City Variance Request / Notice of Appeal fee (Board of Appeals, Municipal Code 17.08.030(B) and 17.08.040) -- applies if a variance from zoning requirements is sought | $15.00 | FOUND 2026-07-23: City of Lovington Code of Ordinances, Section 17.08.040(F) (Prior code Section 11-3-8(c)): 'A fee of fifteen dollars shall be paid to the building inspector at the time the notice of appeal is filed, which the building inspector shall forthwith pay over to the city clerk to the credit of the general revenue fund of the city.' In Lovington's Municipal Code, a variance is obtained by appealing to the Board of Appeals under its hardship/variance power at 17.08.030(B); the $15.00 fee is filed with that notice of appeal. Confirmed via the site's render-section API (live 2026-07-23) and cross-checked against the complete Ordinance List and Disposition Table (Ords. 218-612, current through Ord. 612, 6-9-25) -- no ordinance has ever amended Section 17.08.040 or this fee since the 1992 codification (the only ordinance touching Chapter 17.08 at all, Ord. 262, amended prior code Section 11-3-14(a), zoning enforcement, which maps to 17.08.180 Enforcement, a different section). |
| City Zone Change fee (Municipal Code 17.08.170, 'Amendments to title' -- rezoning by City Commission motion or petition, distinct from a Board of Appeals variance) | Not published as a fixed schedule | RE-CHECKED 2026-07-23: read Section 17.08.170 in full (live via the site's render-section API) -- it describes the rezoning/amendment procedure (petition, planning and zoning commission referral, protest-percentage supermajority-vote thresholds) but states no filing fee. No fee schedule/resolution for a Zone Change/text-amendment application was found in Municipal Code Title 3 (Revenue and Finance), Title 17 Chapter 17.08 (Administration, fully read section-by-section 2026-07-23), or elsewhere on lovington.org. Genuinely unpublished, distinct from the $15.00 Variance/Notice-of-Appeal fee documented separately above, which does have a codified figure. |
Sources & verification
Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-19.
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 Lovington building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.