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Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Remodels) in Aztec, New Mexico

Required for new commercial construction, commercial additions, alterations, and remodels within Aztec city limits. Plan review, permit issuance, and inspections are performed by the San Juan County Building Department under its interlocal agreement covering the City of Aztec — the same arrangement documented under the Residential Building Permit — applying the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (2021 IBC as amended, 14.7.2 NMAC) and the County's other adopted commercial-applicable codes. Commercial applicants use the County's dedicated Commercial Building Permit Application and New Commercial construction-permit checklist, distinct from the New Residential Building Checklist, and must use a New Mexico-licensed contractor — New Mexico's homeowner permit exemption does not extend to commercial work (NMAC 14.6.6). The County bills commercial construction on the same valuation-based formula used for residential work (Building Permit Fee 0.5% of valuation, plus a 0.12% Plan Review Fee where an Architect's or Engineer's seal is required); San Juan County does not charge commercial construction a separate or higher rate. New Mexico's Construction Industries Division (CID) adopts and amends the statewide codes the County applies, but CID is not the issuing agency for an Aztec project — the County operates a full-service local building program whose published scope expressly covers the City of Aztec. The City of Aztec's own contribution to a commercial project is its separate Land Use Permit ($100 new-commercial tier plus a $10 administrative fee), collected in parallel by the City's Community Development Department; nonresidential construction is exempt from the City's residential park impact fee.

Verified 2026-08-26 · Source

When you need this permit

  • New commercial construction, commercial additions, alterations, or remodels within Aztec city limits, reviewed and permitted by the San Juan County Building Department under its interlocal agreement covering the City of Aztec
  • Must comply with the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (2021 IBC as amended) — 14.7.2 NMAC — and the County's other adopted commercial-applicable codes (2021 NM Energy Conservation Code, commercial track, 14.7.9 NMAC; 2021 NM Plumbing and Mechanical Code; 2020 NM Electrical Code; 2021 International Fire Code)
  • A New Mexico-licensed contractor is required to perform all commercial work; New Mexico's homeowner permit exemption applies only to an owner's own principal residence, never to commercial construction — San Juan County Building Department, Commercial Construction section, citing NMAC 14.6.6 Contractor
  • Submitted commercial plans must include, at minimum, a dimensioned site plan with utilities, structural plans (footing/foundation/slab, imposed loads, load-bearing walls and floors, metal-building manufacturer plans), an architectural plan (code study, accessibility and energy-code details), an electrical plan (riser diagram, load calculations, panel schedules), a plumbing plan (gas/water piping, building drain, grease traps), and a mechanical plan (HVAC duct sizing, damper locations, kitchen hoods, equipment schedule), per the County's published Commercial Plans requirements and New Commercial checklist
  • Building Plan Review Fee (0.12% of valuation) applies in addition to the Building Permit Fee for buildings/structures requiring an Architect's or Engineer's seal under NMAC 14.5.2.9, 14.5.2.10, and the Architectural Act, Section 61-15-9 NMSA 1978 — the same threshold that applies to residential work
  • E9-1-1 physical address verification required before a building permit can be issued (San Juan County Rural Addressing, (505) 334-4314)
  • A separate City of Aztec Land Use Permit is also required for new commercial development, in addition to this County-administered building permit

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee
San Juan County Building Department, Plan Review Requirements section (sjcounty.net/government/community-development/building-department, archived snapshot captured 2026-04-10) — the same… Show full citationSan Juan County Building Department, Plan Review Requirements section (sjcounty.net/government/community-development/building-department, archived snapshot captured 2026-04-10) — the same valuation-based formula the County applies to residential construction. Valuation is set using the latest ICC Building Valuation Data (BVD) for new construction/additions, or contract price for alterations/repairs not changing occupancy classification.
Project valuation × 0.005 (0.5%)
Building Plan Review Fee
San Juan County Building Department, Plan Review Requirements section — applies to any building or structure requiring an Architect's or Engineer's seal under NMAC 14.5.2.9, 14.5.2.10, and Section… Show full citationSan Juan County Building Department, Plan Review Requirements section — applies to any building or structure requiring an Architect's or Engineer's seal under NMAC 14.5.2.9, 14.5.2.10, and Section 61-15-9 NMSA 1978 (Architectural Act); the rate is the same for residential and commercial work.
Project valuation × 0.0012 (0.12%), in addition to the Building Permit Fee
City of Aztec Land Use Permit (companion permit, new commercial development)Aztec City Code Chapter 16, Sec. 16-293 (Ord. 2018-481, eff. 2018-Sept-12) and Sec. 16-292, Chapter 16 Fee Schedule PDF, page 16-51, dated 2026 July 29.
$100.00 permit fee + $10.00 administrative fee

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Remodels) permit actually take in Aztec?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing

    Forms and rebar in place prior to placement of concrete.

  2. 2

    Foundation Wall

    Concrete block, ICF block, or concrete forms in place with reinforcement/rebar prior to placement of concrete.

  3. 3

    Monolithic Slab

    Forms, exterior insulation, and rebar in place prior to placement of concrete.

  4. 4

    Electrical Under Slab

    Raceway runs prior to covering trench.

  5. 5

    Plumbing Under Slab

    Drain-Waste-Vent (DWV) with test prior to covering trench; in-floor heat with air test.

  6. 6

    Slab on Grade

    After electrical and plumbing under-slab inspections, prior to placement of concrete.

  7. 7

    Rough Electrical

    Electric service, feeders, and branch circuit raceway complete to termination.

  8. 8

    Rough Plumbing

    DWV top-out through roof with test; gas piping with test; water piping with test.

  9. 9

    Rough Heating and Ventilation

    Appliance vents through the roof, trunk line and taps installed, combustion air provided, exhaust ducts complete.

  10. 10

    Framing

    After rough-in electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are completed and approved; windows in place; foundation and roof vents installed; air barrier requirements completed.

  11. 11

    Insulation

    Exterior walls complete, ceiling complete if batted; blown-in attic and crawl-space insulation may be verified at building final.

  12. 12

    Fire Department

    Applicable to commercial construction only, per the County's published Required Inspections list.

  13. 13

    Building Final

    Last inspection prior to occupancy approval.

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

Tips

  • San Juan County bills commercial construction on the same valuation-based Building Permit Fee (0.5%) and Plan Review Fee (0.12%, where a seal is required) used for residential work — the County does not charge commercial projects a separate or higher rate, unlike the escalated commercial rates published by some other jurisdictions.
  • A New Mexico-licensed contractor is required for all commercial work in Aztec; New Mexico's homeowner permit exemption applies only to an owner's own principal residence and never extends to commercial construction. Contractor
  • The County's published Required Inspections list adds a Fire Department inspection flagged 'Applicable to Commercial Construction Only' on top of the standard footing-through-final sequence — budget for it before the Building Final inspection.
  • Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical trade permits each carry their own separate fee schedule, calculated independently of the Building Permit Fee; specific dollar figures for those trade schedules were not found published online — contact the Building Division at (505) 334-4313 for current trade-permit fees.
  • A separate City of Aztec Land Use Permit ($100 new-commercial tier plus a $10 administrative fee) is required from the City in addition to the County-issued commercial building permit; nonresidential construction is exempt from the City's $500-per-unit residential park impact fee.

Frequently asked questions

Aztec requires a commercial building permit (new construction, additions & remodels) for: New commercial construction, commercial additions, alterations, or remodels within Aztec city limits, reviewed and permitted by the San Juan County Building Department under its interlocal agreement covering the City of Aztec; Must comply with the 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (2021 IBC as amended) — 14.7.2 NMAC — and the County's other adopted commercial-applicable codes (2021 NM Energy Conservation Code, commercial track, 14.7.9 NMAC; 2021 NM Plumbing and Mechanical Code; 2020 NM Electrical Code; 2021 International Fire Code); A New Mexico-licensed contractor is required to perform all commercial work; New Mexico's homeowner permit exemption applies only to an owner's own principal residence, never to commercial construction — San Juan County Building Department, Commercial Construction section, citing NMAC 14.6.6; Submitted commercial plans must include, at minimum, a dimensioned site plan with utilities, structural plans (footing/foundation/slab, imposed loads, load-bearing walls and floors, metal-building manufacturer plans), an architectural plan (code study, accessibility and energy-code details), an electrical plan (riser diagram, load calculations, panel schedules), a plumbing plan (gas/water piping, building drain, grease traps), and a mechanical plan (HVAC duct sizing, damper locations, kitchen hoods, equipment schedule), per the County's published Commercial Plans requirements and New Commercial checklist; Building Plan Review Fee (0.12% of valuation) applies in addition to the Building Permit Fee for buildings/structures requiring an Architect's or Engineer's seal under NMAC 14.5.2.9, 14.5.2.10, and the Architectural Act, Section 61-15-9 NMSA 1978 — the same threshold that applies to residential work; E9-1-1 physical address verification required before a building permit can be issued (San Juan County Rural Addressing, (505) 334-4314); A separate City of Aztec Land Use Permit is also required for new commercial development, in addition to this County-administered building permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with San Juan County Building Department (administers building permits, plan review, and inspections for the City of Aztec under an interlocal service agreement; the City of Aztec Community Development Department separately issues its own required Land Use Permit) at (505) 334-4313 (Building Division, permit/inspection scheduling); (505) 334-4550 (San Juan County Community Development main line); (505) 334-7605 (City of Aztec Community Development / Planning & Zoning, for the City's own Land Use Permit) before starting work.

No. San Juan County applies the same valuation-based formula to both — a Building Permit Fee of 0.5% of valuation, plus a 0.12% Plan Review Fee when an Architect's or Engineer's seal is required. What differs for commercial work is the requirement for a licensed contractor (no owner-builder exemption), a dedicated Commercial Building Permit Application and plan checklist, and an added Fire Department inspection.

Aztec does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact San Juan County Building Department (administers building permits, plan review, and inspections for the City of Aztec under an interlocal service agreement; the City of Aztec Community Development Department separately issues its own required Land Use Permit) at (505) 334-4313 (Building Division, permit/inspection scheduling); (505) 334-4550 (San Juan County Community Development main line); (505) 334-7605 (City of Aztec Community Development / Planning & Zoning, for the City's own Land Use Permit) for current turnaround.

You'll need: Commercial Building Permit Application; Building Division Design Criteria (Commercial); Commercial Plan Set (Site, Structural, Architectural, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Aztec requires 13 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit (new construction, additions & remodels), in order: Footing, Foundation Wall, Monolithic Slab, Electrical Under Slab, Plumbing Under Slab, Slab on Grade, Rough Electrical, Rough Plumbing, Rough Heating and Ventilation, Framing, Insulation, Fire Department, Building Final. Schedule each through San Juan County Building Department (administers building permits, plan review, and inspections for the City of Aztec under an interlocal service agreement; the City of Aztec Community Development Department separately issues its own required Land Use Permit) ((505) 334-4313 (Building Division, permit/inspection scheduling); (505) 334-4550 (San Juan County Community Development main line); (505) 334-7605 (City of Aztec Community Development / Planning & Zoning, for the City's own Land Use Permit)).

Apply through San Juan County Building Department (administers building permits, plan review, and inspections for the City of Aztec under an interlocal service agreement; the City of Aztec Community Development Department separately issues its own required Land Use Permit) at 209 South Oliver Drive, Aztec, NM 87410. Phone: (505) 334-4313 (Building Division, permit/inspection scheduling); (505) 334-4550 (San Juan County Community Development main line); (505) 334-7605 (City of Aztec Community Development / Planning & Zoning, for the City's own Land Use Permit). Office hours: San Juan County Community Development: Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM, closed Friday. City of Aztec Community Development: Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Some permit types are available online via the County's SmartGov Community portal at https://permitting.sjcounty.net/ (redirects to co-sanjuan-nm.smartgovcommunity.com); others remain paper applications submitted to the Building Division at 209 South Oliver Drive.. Official information: https://www.sjcounty.net/government/community-development/building-department.

Aztec, New Mexico has adopted: 2021 New Mexico Commercial & Residential Building Code; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — 14.7.3 NMAC; 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — 14.7.2 NMAC; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — 14.7.7 NMAC; 2021 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code — 14.7.6 NMAC (residential) / 14.7.9 NMAC (commercial); ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; 2021 New Mexico Plumbing and Mechanical Code — 14.8.2 NMAC (plumbing) / 14.9.2 NMAC (mechanical); 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC); 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC); 2021 International Fire Code (IFC); 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC); 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code — 14.10.4 NMAC; 2012 Uniform Solar Energy Code — 14.9.6 NMAC; 2012 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code — 14.8.3 NMAC; 2017 NFPA 58 (LP-Gas Code); 2018 NFPA 54 (National Fuel Gas Code); All codes are adopted and amended by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) and apply statewide, per the San Juan County Building Department's own published Construction Codes list, which explicitly states its scope covers the City of Aztec.. Local amendments apply — see the Aztec overview page for the full list.

San Juan County's Building Department issues and inspects commercial building permits within Aztec city limits under an interlocal agreement — the City of Aztec does not operate its own building-inspection staff. New Mexico's Construction Industries Division (CID) adopts and amends the statewide construction codes the County applies, but CID is not the issuing agency for an Aztec project: the County's own Building Department page states its scope covers the City of Aztec directly, and the City's own Development Handbook confirms the City of Aztec 'contracts with the San Juan County Building Inspector to review all plans for residential and commercial construction.'

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-26.

Fee schedules

Checklists & handouts

Department & other records

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

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