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Plumbing Permit in Española, New Mexico

Required for plumbing installation, alteration, and repair work in Española, including water heater replacement. Issued directly by CID under the 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code (NMAC 14.8.2). A per-fixture fee schedule applies statewide.

Verified 2026-07-03 · Source

When you need this permit

  • 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 Owner-builder
  • 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

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Fee schedule

Administrative Fee for Any InspectionNM RLD CID Fees page (Mechanical/Plumbing fee table)
$37.50
Each Plumbing Fixture Waste Discharging DeviceNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Water Distribution SystemNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Building SewerNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Water HeaterNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Water ConditionerNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Vacuum Breaker or Back Flow DeviceNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Water Service LineNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Sewage Ejector/GrinderNM RLD CID Fees page
$4.00
Each Swimming PoolNM RLD CID Fees page
$50.00
Each Final Certificate of ApprovalNM RLD CID Fees page
$7.50
Each Re-InspectionNM RLD CID Fees page
$80.00
2nd Re-InspectionNM RLD CID Fees page
$120.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewEspañola’s published plan-review target
3–3 business days

How long did your Plumbing Permit permit actually take in Española?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Underground / Slab Plumbing

    Before concrete pour — verify pipe slope, materials, cleanouts

  2. 2

    Rough-In

    After pipes installed, before walls closed

  3. 3

    Final

    All fixtures connected, no leaks, proper venting verified

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

Tips

  • CID bills most plumbing fixtures individually at $4.00 each plus a $37.50 administrative inspection fee — a typical water heater replacement is a low-cost permit under this per-fixture schedule.
  • A homeowner's plumbing permit requires demonstrating competency to CID (potentially a written exam, 75% minimum) — it is not an automatic entitlement.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Water heater replacement requires a CID plumbing permit. CID's statewide fee schedule bills $4.00 for 'Each Water Heater' plus a $37.50 administrative inspection fee. Source: NM RLD Construction Industries Division Fees page.

In Española, the published Administrative Fee for Any Inspection is: $37.50. Additional published fees: Each Plumbing Fixture Waste Discharging Device — $4.00; Each Water Distribution System — $4.00; Each Building Sewer — $4.00; Each Water Heater — $4.00; Each Water Conditioner — $4.00; Each Vacuum Breaker or Back Flow Device — $4.00; Each Water Service Line — $4.00; Each Sewage Ejector/Grinder — $4.00; Each Swimming Pool — $50.00; Each Final Certificate of Approval — $7.50; Each Re-Inspection — $80.00; 2nd Re-Inspection — $120.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Española's published plan-review target for a plumbing permit is 3–3 business days.

You'll need: Multi Purpose State Building Application / Plumbing Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Española requires 3 inspection(s) for a plumbing permit, in order: Underground / Slab Plumbing, Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through City of Española Planning & Land Use Department — zoning compliance review only (no city building department); New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Santa Fe Office — building permit issuance, plan review, and inspections (City of Española Planning & Land Use: (505) 747-6103; CID Santa Fe: (505) 476-4700).

Apply through City of Española Planning & Land Use Department — zoning compliance review only (no city building department); New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID), Santa Fe Office — building permit issuance, plan review, and inspections at City of Española Planning & Land Use: 409 N. Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM 87532. CID Santa Fe Office: 2550 Cerrillos Road, 3rd Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Phone: City of Española Planning & Land Use: (505) 747-6103; CID Santa Fe: (505) 476-4700, email: Ernest Martinez, Planning Director: emartinez@espanolanm.gov. Office hours: City of Española Planning & Land Use: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, except holidays (appointments available via online scheduling form). Official information: https://www.espanolanmusa.org/168/Planning-Land-Use.

Española, New Mexico has adopted: The City of Española does not operate its own Local Enforcement Agency / building inspection department. Per the City's own FAQ ('How do I get a building permit?'): applicants must first obtain zoning approval from the City's Planning & Land Use Department, then 'contact the NM Construction Industries Division to obtain a Building Permit.' All building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits for Española are issued directly by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department's Construction Industries Division (CID), the statewide Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for jurisdictions without a certified local building department, per N.M. Admin. Code 14.5.2.8 (Permits Required). Source: City of Española FAQ, espanolanmusa.org/Faq.aspx?QID=96; The City's Planning & Land Use Department (Planning, GIS, and Code Enforcement divisions) performs the mandatory prerequisite zoning-compliance review — a Site & Land Use Development Permit is required before new structures, additions, accessory structures, fences, mobile home placement, or utility installations — before CID will accept the state application for building-permit review and issuance. Source: City of Española Planning & Land Use page (espanolanmusa.org/168/Planning-Land-Use) and Chapter 171 (Permits and Fees), City of Española Municipal Code; Rio Arriba County (which contains the majority of Española, including City Hall) is likewise CID-administered: per the Rio Arriba County Planning and Zoning Department, 'The Planning and Zoning Department does not issue building permits' — permits and inspections for structures over 120 sq. ft. or fences/walls over 6 ft. are handled directly by the NM Construction Industries Division. Source: Rio Arriba County Planning and Zoning Department, Permit Requirements List; 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (based on the 2021 IBC) — NMAC 14.7.2; 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (based on the 2021 IRC) — NMAC 14.7.3; 2021 New Mexico Residential Energy Conservation Code — NMAC 14.7.6 (effective 7/30/2024); 2021 New Mexico Commercial Energy Code — NMAC 14.7.9 (effective 7/30/2024); 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code — NMAC 14.7.7; 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code — NMAC 14.8.2; 2012 New Mexico Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code — NMAC 14.8.3; 2021 New Mexico Mechanical Code — NMAC 14.9.2; 2012 New Mexico Solar Energy Code — NMAC 14.9.6; 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (based on the 2020 NEC) — NMAC 14.10.4; 2012 New Mexico Electrical Safety Code — NMAC 14.10.5; 2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 (accessibility) — per CID's currently enforced codes list (Building Permit Guide for Residential Construction, rev. 10/2024); 2015 International Property Maintenance Code — adopted locally by the City of Española for Code Enforcement purposes (nuisance/property maintenance violations), separate from CID's building-permit code set. Source: City of Española Code Enforcement page. Local amendments apply — see the Española overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.

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