Española building permits

Requirements

• Obtain a Site & Land Use Development Permit from the City of Española Planning & Land Use Department ($75 fee) confirming zoning compliance before submitting to CID
• Review the N.M.C.I.D. Building Permit Guide for Residential Construction and complete the Multi Purpose State Building Application (state form, submitted to CID)
• Submit the state application and City zoning approval to a CID office for the actual building permit, plan review, and CID fee calculation; the CID Santa Fe office (2550 Cerrillos Road, 3rd Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87505) serves Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties
• Two complete sets of plans at 1/4 inch = 1'-0 minimum with dimensions are required for CID submittal, including site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, framing plans, wall/foundation details, total square footage, and Model Energy Code compliance documentation
• Complete the Homeowner's Responsibility Form if applying as a homeowner (required by CID per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.18)

Required documents

• RequiredSite & Land Use Development Permit ApplicationCity of Española Planning & Land Use Department form confirming zoning compliance; must be approved before CID will accept the state building application
• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building ApplicationState of New Mexico CID application form; identifies application type (Commercial/Residential/Public School), scope of work, contractor/owner/design professional contact info, construction type, occupancy group, and required plan-review bureaus
• OptionalN.M.C.I.D. Guide for Residential ConstructionCID's residential permit guide, outlining plan submission requirements, required inspections, and when professional seals are required
• OptionalHomeowner's Responsibility FormRequired by CID (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.18) when a homeowner applies for their own building, plumbing, or electrical permit for their primary residence; must be signed and notarized

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Obtain a Site & Land Use Development Permit from the City of Española Planning & Land Use Department ($75 fee) for additions, accessory structures, or fences, confirming zoning compliance before CID submittal
• For additions: floor plan must show the addition and all existing rooms, doors, and windows that will adjoin the addition, plus distances on all sides of the addition to property lines and existing structures
• For alteration/repair without structural changes: two sets of lists outlining work to be performed and materials to be used are accepted in lieu of full plan submittal requirements (per CID's Building Permit Guide for Residential Construction)
• Submit the state Multi-Purpose State Building Application to CID (Santa Fe office) after City zoning sign-off

Required documents

• RequiredSite & Land Use Development Permit ApplicationCity of Española Planning & Land Use Department form; required for additions and accessory structures
• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building ApplicationState of New Mexico CID application form
• OptionalScope-of-Work Lists (alteration/repair without structural changes)Two sets of lists outlining work to be performed and materials to be used, accepted in lieu of full architectural plan submittal for non-structural alteration/repair work

Fee schedule

Requirements

• All electrical work must comply with the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (2020 NEC), NMAC 14.10.4
• Permit issued by CID, not the City of Española; City zoning sign-off (Site & Land Use Development Permit) is still required as a prerequisite for new-construction electrical tied to a building permit
• A homeowner may apply for a homeowner's electrical permit for their own primary residence by submitting plans/drawings showing the electrical equipment on the floor plan and panel schedule, then passing CID's homeowner electrical exam with a minimum score of 75% (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.18(N)); electrical work under the homeowner permit may only be performed by the permittee personally
• All other electrical work must be performed by a New Mexico CID-licensed electrical contractor

Required documents

• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building Application / Electrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted to CID (Santa Fe office serves Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• All plumbing work must comply with the 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code, NMAC 14.8.2
• Permit issued by CID; a homeowner may apply for a homeowner's plumbing permit for their own primary residence by demonstrating sufficient knowledge to the CID inspector reviewing the plans, potentially including a written exam with a minimum passing score of 75% (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.18(M)) — plumbing work under the homeowner permit may only be performed by the permittee
• All other plumbing work must be performed by a New Mexico CID-licensed plumbing contractor
• Water heater replacement/installation requires a plumbing permit (billed as 'Each Water Heater' on CID's per-fixture fee schedule)

Required documents

• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building Application / Plumbing Permit ApplicationSubmitted to CID (Santa Fe office serves Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• All mechanical work must comply with the 2021 New Mexico Mechanical Code, NMAC 14.9.2
• A homeowner's permit shall NOT be issued for HVAC, natural gas, or LP gas installations — per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.18(O), all such work requires a properly licensed CID contractor (LP gas work is permitted and inspected under the separate LP Gas Bureau)
• Ductwork, refrigeration systems, and gas piping/appliances are each billed individually on CID's Mechanical/Plumbing fee schedule

Required documents

• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building Application / Mechanical Permit ApplicationSubmitted to CID (Santa Fe office serves Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties) by a licensed mechanical contractor

Fee schedule

Requirements

• All new roof installations and re-roofs require a building permit and inspections — no minimum square-footage or percentage-of-roof threshold applies; per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(E)(1)
• All applications of roof coating systems also require a building permit and inspections — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(E)(2)
• Inspections must include, at minimum, a decking inspection upon removal of the existing roof and a final inspection upon completion of the roofing project — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(E)(3)
• Roofing work in New Mexico requires a GS-21 Roofing contractor license
• A homeowner's permit for roofing is NOT available if the work will be subcontracted rather than performed by the homeowner personally (or by the homeowner's W-2 employees) — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.18(L), which specifically names roofing as an example of a single-scope project ineligible for homeowner subcontracting

Required documents

• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building ApplicationSubmitted to CID; the form includes a 'Roofing' scope-of-work checkbox

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Installers must hold a valid CID license with the EE-98, EL-1, or ER-1 classification, as applicable; the GB-98 classification is authorized only in limited cases per 14.6.6.8 NMAC — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(F)(1)
• If structural roof modifications are required, a GB-02 license classification is allowed for residential construction (otherwise GB-98 is mandated)
• Submittal documents must include: site plan indicating electrical equipment location, PV solar panel layout, one-line diagram identifying all system components and listings, one-line diagram identifying conductor sizes, documentation of solar mounting system listing, utility interconnection details (if applicable), and grounding system documentation — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(F)(2)
• Installers must hold a valid CID journeyman certificate (EE-98J, EL-1J, or ER-1J) or work as an apprentice under a certified journeyman's direct supervision — 14.5.2.8(F)(3)
• A structural analysis by a New Mexico-licensed professional engineer is required if the added dead load exceeds 5 lbs/sq ft, the point load exceeds 45 lbs, the added dead load exceeds 200 lbs on any single truss/rafter/joist, the mounting design is unique, or the roof has over-spanned structural members — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(F)(5)
• If structural reinforcement is required, or the PV system will sit on a new structure not already listed/approved for that load, a separate general-construction building permit (in addition to the electrical permit) is required — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(F)(6)-(7)

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit Application (Solar PV submittal package)Submitted to CID's electrical bureau; must include the full documentation set required by N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8(F)(2) — site plan, panel layout, one-line diagrams, mounting-system listing, and grounding details
• OptionalStructural Analysis (if triggered by load thresholds)Sealed by a New Mexico-licensed professional engineer if any of the load thresholds in 14.5.2.8(F)(5) are met

Fee schedule

Requirements

• All electrical work, including EV charger circuits, must comply with the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (2020 NEC), NMAC 14.10.4, including Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)
• Permit issued by CID, not the City of Española
• A homeowner may apply for a homeowner's electrical permit covering an EV charger for their own primary residence only after submitting plans/drawings and passing CID's homeowner electrical exam with a minimum score of 75% (N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.18(N)); otherwise the work must be performed by a New Mexico CID-licensed electrical contractor
• Multi Purpose State Building Application / Electrical Permit Application submitted to CID (Santa Fe office serves Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties)

Required documents

• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building Application / Electrical Permit ApplicationSame statewide form used for other electrical work, submitted to CID; no separate EV-charger-specific form is published

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Obtain a City of Española demolition permit ($75 flat fee) from the Planning & Land Use Department, per City of Española Municipal Code Chapter 171 (Permits and Fees)
• Coordinate with utility companies to disconnect service before demolition begins
• Contact CID regarding any additional state building-permit requirements for the demolition scope of work

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Española Demolition Permit ApplicationSubmitted to the Planning & Land Use Department; $75 flat fee per Chapter 171 of the City's Municipal Code

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Required for new structures, additions, utility installations, fences, mobile home placement, and accessory structures within Española city limits
• Reviewed by the City's Planning & Land Use Department for zoning-district compliance against the City's Zoning Map and Chapter 350 (Zoning and Development) of the Municipal Code
• Must be obtained and approved before CID will accept the corresponding state Multi Purpose State Building Application for the actual construction permit
• Submitted in person or by appointment at 409 N. Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM 87532
• No separate commercial fee tier exists for this permit itself: the codified Chapter 171 § 171-12 fee schedule lists a single line — 'Development permit: $75, includes fences, accessory structures, construction/CID' — with no residential/commercial distinction (re-verified 2026-08-01 against both the live Permits/Fees page and eCode360). Commercial projects may, however, additionally require a separate Commercial Site Plan review before the Planning Commission ($500 plus $100 per 1,000 square feet) — per the City's FAQ on business registration, 'some properties may require a Commercial Site Plan Review' — and § 171-15(A) adds a fee of 3% of total project infrastructure cost (on-site and off-site improvements) for engineering review and inspection where a project involves infrastructure improvements

Required documents

• RequiredSite & Land Use Development Permit ApplicationCity of Española Planning & Land Use Department form; $75 fee

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Secure a sign permit from the Planning Director before construction, placement, erection, or modification of any sign requiring one — § 917(A)
• No sign permit may be issued unless the sign is consistent with all requirements of Chapter 350, Article IX, including provisions protecting existing signs — § 917(B)
• Application (submitted on forms from the Planning & Land Use Department) must be accompanied by plans showing: the site by ownership/location/use; the sign's location on the lot relative to property lines, buildings, zoning district boundaries, right-of-way lines, and existing signs; size, character, complete structural specifications, and anchoring/support methods; and confirmation of Building Inspector approval if such approval is required by the chapter — § 917(C)
• Certain sign types are exempt from a permit entirely: official court/public-body/public-safety notices; government directional/warning/informational signs; memorial plaques and building-identification signs cut/carved into masonry or made of noncombustible material integral to the building; government/institutional flags; religious symbols and seasonal decorations within the holiday season; noncommercial works of art; and holiday lights/decorations with no commercial message — § 905
• Maximum total sign area is governed by sign district (Appendix C, § 922): e.g. 8 sq ft (RSF residential), 100 sq ft (RMF/RMH/HIS/ROI), 200 sq ft (NBD), or 300 sq ft / 3 sq ft per linear foot of street frontage (COM commercial district)
• Temporary signs (political, promotional flags, A-frames, banners, portable signs, real estate signs, special sale/grand opening signs, searchlights, streamers) each have their own size and duration limits under § 914; portable signs specifically require a permit before placement — § 914(E)(5)
• Development complexes must comply with a master sign plan approved by the Zoning Official, allowing one freestanding sign per public street frontage plus a bonus allotment per business, capped at 150 sq ft total — § 915
• Whenever the use of land or a structure changes, signs unrelated to the new use must be removed or altered; the property owner is responsible for removing/altering signs left over 90 days after the associated use is discontinued — § 916(A)
• Violations are subject to $500 per violation per day and/or up to 90 days in jail — § 908(B)

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit ApplicationCity of Española Planning & Land Use Department form; must be accompanied by site/location plans and structural specifications per § 917(C)
• RequiredSign Plans/Structural SpecificationsShow sign location relative to property lines, buildings, zoning district boundaries, right-of-way lines, and existing signs; size, character, complete structural specifications, and methods of anchoring/support
• OptionalMaster Sign Plan (development complexes only)Required for signs within a multi-business development complex; approved by the Zoning Official and must include all proposed sign locations, materials, structures, and installation details

Fee schedule

Requirements

• The installing/servicing company must hold a valid Certificate of Fitness from the SFMO (N.M. Admin. Code 10.25.2); a copy must be present at the job site during any installation, inspection, or maintenance, with the original at the company's main office
• Full plan sets (or, for minor modifications of 10 or fewer devices/appliances or 19 or fewer sprinkler heads, a simplified company-letterhead Scope of Work Letter reviewed by a State Fire Inspector, Deputy Fire Marshal, or the State Fire Marshal) must be submitted per the SFMO Fire Code Enforcement Bureau's published Plan Submittal Requirements
• Electronic plan submittals go to sfmo.plans@dhsem.nm.gov, one electronic copy per email, following SFMO's specified subject-line and file-naming conventions (project name, county, city, system type, revision number, date)
• Plans are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and stamped APPROVED, APPROVED WITH EXCEPTIONS, or REJECTED; installation, modification, or alteration of the fire protection system may not begin until the plans have been stamped and approved by the SFMO
• The SFMO does not charge a fee for standard plan review — N.M. Admin. Code 10.25.5.18(A)(4): 'The SFM does not require any fees for review of fire protection systems.' If the Fire Marshal determines specialized third-party review is needed, the contractor is notified in writing with a cost estimate and pays that cost directly to the third party, not to SFMO — 10.25.5.18(B)
• Once installed, the contractor must conduct a full pre-test in accordance with applicable NFPA standards before scheduling a Final Acceptance Test; the completed Final Acceptance Checklist is emailed to sfmo.inspections@dhsem.nm.gov to schedule the test
• A State Fire Inspector is dispatched to conduct the Final Acceptance Test; approved/stamped plans, manufacturer specification sheets, testing documentation, and a representative from each system being tested must be present on-site
• For a project also requiring a CID building permit, the fire suppression system must still be identified on the Multi Purpose State Building Application's cover-sheet design-criteria list, alongside (not instead of) the separate SFMO submittal

Required documents

• RequiredSFMO Certificate of Fitness (installing company)Issued by the NM State Fire Marshal's Office under N.M. Admin. Code 10.25.2; required on-site whenever installation, inspection, or maintenance of a fire protection system is being conducted
• RequiredFire Protection System Plan Set or Scope of Work LetterFull engineered plan set for new installs/major alterations, or a simplified company-letterhead Scope of Work Letter for minor modifications (10 or fewer devices, or 19 or fewer sprinkler heads); must include occupancy classification, occupant load, square footage, installer contact info, and NICET-certified reviewer information
• RequiredManufacturer Specification SheetsRequired as part of the plan submittal package for the specific fire alarm or fire sprinkler equipment being installed
• RequiredFinal Acceptance ChecklistCompleted and emailed to sfmo.inspections@dhsem.nm.gov to schedule the State Fire Inspector's Final Acceptance Test once pre-testing has passed

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Any change in the existing occupancy classification, occupant load, or kind of structure authorized by a CID permit must be reflected in amended submittal documents, resubmitted to CID for AHJ approval — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.11(B)
• No building, or portion of a building, may be used or occupied, and no change in existing occupancy classification may be made, until the CID building official/inspector has issued a Certificate of Occupancy — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13(A)-(B)
• For a new or relocating business establishing a new commercial use within City limits, a City Business Registration is required (Chapter 158), and some properties may require a Commercial Site Plan Review before the Planning Commission prior to issuance of that Business Registration — per City of Española FAQ, 'How do I obtain a business registration?'
• A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued for 30 or more days when circumstances warrant and life/safety will not be adversely affected, with extensions up to a 12-month maximum on written request and good cause shown — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13(D)
• Issuance of a C/O is not an approval of any unrecognized code violation, and does not certify compliance with other regulatory agencies' requirements — including fire code standards enforced separately by the State Fire Marshal — N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.3.13(E)

Required documents

• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building Application (amended, change-of-occupancy scope)Same statewide CID form used for other building-permit scopes; must reflect the new occupancy type, occupant load, or kind of structure per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.11(B)
• OptionalCity Business Registration / Commercial Site Plan Review approvalRequired from the City of Española for new or relocating commercial uses within City limits before the corresponding CID application will be processed; some properties additionally require Planning Commission review of a Commercial Site Plan

Fee schedule

Requirements

• City prerequisite first: obtain the City of Española Site & Land Use Development Permit ($75) from the Planning & Land Use Department at 409 N. Paseo de Oñate; the codified Chapter 171 fee line for this permit explicitly covers 'construction/CID' zoning sign-off. Per CID's commercial guide: 'You must obtain zoning approval and a signature on the APPLICATION for STATE BUILDING PERMIT before applying to this office for the building permit'
• Some commercial properties/uses additionally require a Commercial Site Plan review before the Planning Commission ($500 plus $100 per 1,000 square feet) — per the City's business-registration FAQ, 'some properties may require a Commercial Site Plan Review'; confirm applicability with Planning & Land Use, (505) 747-6103
• The applicant must be validly licensed with the appropriate CID license classification covering the work (e.g., GB-98 General Building); homeowner's permits do not apply to commercial work
• CID requires submission of the signed contract between the project owner and contractor — project valuation (and therefore the permit fee) is based on that signed contract under New Mexico Construction Laws
• Plan submittal to CID: Electronic Plan Review (EPR) per CID website directions, or two complete hard-copy sets at minimum 1/4" = 1'-0" scale on paper at least 11"x17", sufficiently clear to show the project in its entirety
• Required drawing set per CID's commercial checklist: cover sheet with full design-criteria list (construction type, square footage per floor and total, occupancy group including mixed occupancies, occupant load, allowable area calculations, exiting requirements, plumbing fixture counts per IBC Chapter 29, fire suppression systems, height/stories, land use zone, location of property, seismic location), site plan (including parking, accessible parking, drainage/grading), foundation plan with geotechnical report including soil-bearing capacity, floor plan with door/window schedules and fire assemblies, framing/roof framing plans, commercial energy conservation code compliance documentation, exterior elevations, building/wall sections, complete mechanical, plumbing, and electrical system drawings, structural calculations where required, and specifications
• Professional seals: a single New Mexico-registered architect OR engineer seal suffices for projects up to $600,000 construction valuation AND up to 50 occupant load; BOTH an architect's and engineer's seals are required above $600,000 valuation OR above 50 occupants; nonresidential buildings/additions with occupant load of 10 or fewer and no more than 2 stories (excluding E-3, H, and I occupancies) need no seal unless CID determines one is necessary
• Electrical engineer's stamp required for any installation with calculated service capacity over 100 kVA single-phase or over 225 kVA three-phase, or project value over $600,000; mechanical engineer's stamp may be required on mechanical permits of $200,000+ in value and/or commercial buildings 3 stories and higher
• All fire suppression system submittals are reviewed and approved by the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO), not CID — see this jurisdiction's fire-sprinkler-alarm-permit entry
• For commercial demolition or renovation: provide two sets of site plans identifying structures to be demolished, and call the Air Pollution Control Bureau at least 10 days in advance regarding asbestos-containing materials (1-800-224-7009)

Required documents

• RequiredSite & Land Use Development Permit ApplicationCity of Española Planning & Land Use Department zoning-compliance form ($75); must be approved — with zoning sign-off on the state application — before CID will accept the building-permit application
• RequiredMulti Purpose State Building ApplicationState of New Mexico CID application form; identifies application type (Commercial), scope of work, contractor/owner/design professional contact info, construction type, occupancy group, and required plan-review bureaus; the qualifying party requesting the permit must sign it
• RequiredCommercial Plan Set (2 hard-copy sets or Electronic Plan Review submission)Minimum 1/4" = 1'-0" scale on paper at least 11"x17" for hard-copy submission, covering the full CID commercial checklist from cover-sheet design criteria through specifications
• RequiredSigned Owner-Contractor ContractCID requires the signed contract between project owner and contractor to establish project valuation, which determines the permit fee
• RequiredGeotechnical ReportIncluding soil-bearing capacity for the proposed structure at the site, submitted with the foundation plan per CID's commercial plan checklist
• OptionalStructural CalculationsWhere required, for the entire structural system including wind, roof, and floor design loads
• OptionalCommercial Site Plan (Planning Commission review, when required)Required by the City for some commercial properties/uses before the Planning Commission; $500 plus $100 per 1,000 square feet

Fee schedule