Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in Gallup, New Mexico

Gallup requires a residential solar photovoltaic (pv) permit for: Contractor bidding/installing the solar PV electric system must hold a valid CID EE-98, EL-1, or ER-1 license classification (14.6.6 NMAC, Electrical Classifications, PV-specific scope); Installer performing the physical PV electrical work must hold a valid CID journeyman certificate (EE-98J, EL-1J, or ER-1J) or be a certified apprentice working under direct journeyman supervision; If the installation requires structural modifications to the roof or mounting structure, that work must be performed under a GB-2 (residential) or GB-98 (general) building license classification — filed as a CID General Construction Building Permit, since Gallup's own certified building official retired and the City no longer issues general-construction building permits as of July 6, 2026; City of Gallup Site Development Permit (zoning compliance, infrastructure review) may be required first if the PV installation is part of new construction or a structural addition, per the City's July 2026 CID Transition notice; Governed by the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (NMAC 14.10.4) / 2020 NEC as statewide-adopted. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Gallup Planning & Development Department (site development / zoning / fence / sign permits and mandatory zoning-compliance prerequisite review); New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) — building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit issuance, plan review, and inspections at City of Gallup Planning & Development: (505) 863-1240 (fax (505) 722-5131 / 5134); CID Albuquerque: (505) 222-9800/9801; CID Santa Fe: (505) 476-4700; CID inspection scheduling: (505) 222-9813 or (877) 243-0979 before starting work.

CID does not publish a solar/PV-specific fee line. The PV system's electrical scope is billed under the Electrical Bureau's general fee schedule — the applicable service-amperage tier if a new/upgraded electrical service is involved, or the $27 minimum inspection fee for items not otherwise listed. If structural roof/mounting modification is required, a separate valuation-based CID General Construction Building Permit fee also applies, and a City of Gallup Site Development Permit (governed by Resolution No. R2004-40's valuation-based fee schedule) may be required first.

Gallup's published plan-review target for a residential solar photovoltaic (pv) permit is 3–4 business days.

You'll need: Multi Purpose State Building Application / Electrical Permit Application (CID). Depending on your project, Gallup may also ask for: City of Gallup Site Development Permit Application (if applicable). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Gallup requires 2 inspection(s) for a residential solar photovoltaic (pv) permit, in order: Electrical Inspection (CID Electrical Bureau), Frame/Final Inspection (if structural building permit required). Schedule each through City of Gallup Planning & Development Department (site development / zoning / fence / sign permits and mandatory zoning-compliance prerequisite review); New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) — building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit issuance, plan review, and inspections (City of Gallup Planning & Development: (505) 863-1240 (fax (505) 722-5131 / 5134); CID Albuquerque: (505) 222-9800/9801; CID Santa Fe: (505) 476-4700; CID inspection scheduling: (505) 222-9813 or (877) 243-0979).

Apply through City of Gallup Planning & Development Department (site development / zoning / fence / sign permits and mandatory zoning-compliance prerequisite review); New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) — building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit issuance, plan review, and inspections at City of Gallup Planning & Development: 110 W. Aztec Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301 (mailing: PO Box 1270, Gallup, NM 87305). Nearest CID office: Albuquerque, 5500 San Antonio Dr. Suite F, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Phone: City of Gallup Planning & Development: (505) 863-1240 (fax (505) 722-5131 / 5134); CID Albuquerque: (505) 222-9800/9801; CID Santa Fe: (505) 476-4700; CID inspection scheduling: (505) 222-9813 or (877) 243-0979, email: City of Gallup Planning & Development fee questions: narchie@gallupnm.gov; CID permit help: CID.PERMITHELP@rld.nm.gov; CID inspections: CID.Inspection@state.nm.us. Office hours: City of Gallup Planning & Development Department: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (MST). Official information: https://gallupnm.gov/779/Building-Permits.

Gallup, New Mexico has adopted: AUTHORITY TRANSITION (effective July 6, 2026): Per the City of Gallup Planning & Development Department's June 4, 2026 'Immediate Release: Letter to Contractors - CID Transition,' the City's sole Certified Building Official/Building Inspector (John Margis) retired effective July 2, 2026, and after an unsuccessful multi-state recruitment effort the City 'will no longer be able to issue building permits for general construction.' Effective July 6, 2026, the City of Gallup no longer accepts building permit applications for general construction; 'all building permits for anything related to the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Existing Buildings Code and ADA will go through the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID) for permitting and inspection.' The City transitions to issuing a 'site development permit' covering zoning compliance, fire, water, wastewater, electric services, solid waste, drainage, and pedestrian/vehicular safety infrastructure review, and continues to issue permits for fencing, retaining walls, and signs directly. Source: City of Gallup News Flash, 'Immediate Release: Letter to Contractors - CID Transition,' posted June 8, 2026 (gallupnm.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/1309), signed by Clyde (C.B.) Strain, Planning & Development Director; Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) permits in Gallup were ALREADY issued directly by the CID prior to this transition and are unaffected in routing by the July 2026 change — 'The State of New Mexico provides their own permits and inspections for plumbing, mechanical and electrical' (City of Gallup Homeowner's Building Permit Application, PLANNING-HBP APP REV. 03/2020, page 1) — the July 2026 change specifically adds general construction/building (IBC/IRC/IEBC/ADA) permitting to CID's existing MEP role in Gallup; Statutory basis for CID's role as the default statewide Authority Having Jurisdiction where a municipality cannot maintain a certified local building department: N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8 (Permits Required) and the Construction Industries Licensing Act; CID's general building permit fee structure is set by N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.5.11 (General Construction Building Permit Fees), electrical fees by 14.5.5.12, and mechanical/plumbing fees by 14.5.5.13; 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (based on 2021 IBC) — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page; enforced by CID for general-construction permits post-transition; 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (based on 2021 IRC) — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page; 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page; 2021 New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page (reflects the region's traditional adobe/earthen construction); 2021 New Mexico Historic Earthen Buildings code — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page; 2018 New Mexico Residential Energy Conservation Code — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page; 2018 New Mexico Commercial Energy Conservation Code — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page; ICC A117.1-2017 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities — per City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page; 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (based on 2020 NEC), NMAC 14.10.4 — statewide CID-enforced code for electrical permits (consistent with CID's statewide electrical code cited in the Alamogordo, NM jurisdiction record; no Gallup-specific electrical code deviation was found); 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code, NMAC 14.8.2, and 2021 New Mexico Mechanical Code, NMAC 14.9.2 — statewide CID-enforced codes for plumbing and mechanical permits; New Mexico Administrative Code, Title 14, Housing and Construction, Chapters 5 through 10 and 12, cited by the City of Gallup as the governing regulatory framework for building permits, land use, and zoning within the jurisdiction (City of Gallup Building Permits - Governing Codes & Laws page). Local amendments apply — see the Gallup overview page for the full list.

The State (CID) issues both the electrical permit for the PV system and, as of July 6, 2026, the general-construction building permit for any structural racking/mounting work, since Gallup's own certified building official position was not filled. The City of Gallup retains only the zoning-compliance Site Development Permit as a possible prerequisite.