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Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe publishes no standalone 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' checklist among its Construction Permit Submittal Checklists (confirmed by reviewing the full checklist page: only Residential, Commercial, Solar, and Miscellaneous categories exist). Instead, a change in occupancy type, occupant load, or use is processed under NMAC 14.5.2 as an amended building-permit submittal — typically filed using the Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition Building Permit Checklist, which requires stating the occupancy classification of building spaces and is reviewed under the state-adopted Existing Building Code — culminating in a Certificate of Occupancy.

Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Per NMAC 14.5.2: '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' (the City's Building Division, acting as the delegated Authority Having Jurisdiction)
  • Where the change of occupancy/use involves any construction or alteration, filed via the Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition Building Permit Checklist, reviewed under the state-adopted Existing Building Code (International Existing Building Code as amended by New Mexico; the checklist document itself references the 2015 edition, while this file's codesAdopted list documents the 2021 NM Existing Building Code as currently adopted — confirm the current edition in effect with a Building Plan Reviewer at (505) 955-6491)
  • Floor plans must state the occupancy classification of each building space and identify the complete exiting system, including occupant load, per the Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition checklist
  • IEBC-required accessibility (ADA) upgrades apply to the 'primary function area' affected by the change, capped at 20% of the alteration cost under the IEBC disproportionality rule; an ADA Disproportionality Worksheet is available from the City to calculate required improvements
  • A Fire Marshal's Office Certificate of Compliance (fire-safety inspection) is required as part of business licensing for qualifying occupancy types (assembly, restaurants, educational facilities, stores, and hotels/motels over 1,500 sq ft, plus home occupancies, food trucks, and temporary structures) before the new use's business registration is finalized
  • If only reissuing a Certificate of Occupancy with no accompanying new building permit, a standalone reissue fee applies instead of a full plan review

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Certificates of Occupancy Reissue (not for building permit)City of Santa Fe Planning and Land Use Schedule of Fees (effective 01/01/2021), Building Code Inspection & Enforcement Activities section
$75.00
Home OccupationFee Schedule effective 01/01/2021, Building Code Inspection & Enforcement Activities section — applies to the narrower Home Occupation Certificate of Occupancy pathway (documented separately in the City's Home Occupation Certificate of Occupancy application), not general commercial change of use
$175.00 per application
Certificate of Compliance / Fire Safety InspectionCity of Santa Fe Fire Department Certificate of Compliance page; exact figure depends on occupancy type and square footage — no single published flat fee
$25.00 to $300.00 depending on business type and size, plus $50.00 to $150.00 for specialized system reviews (sprinkler, alarm, hood suppression)
Commercial Plan ReviewFee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 — applies only if the change of use requires plan review as part of an accompanying alteration/remodel building permit
75% of the Building Permit Fee

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit permit actually take in Santa Fe?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Building Inspection

    Confirms compliance with the amended submittal documents' stated occupancy classification and exiting/occupant-load requirements before Certificate of Occupancy issuance, per the final-inspection provisions referenced at NMAC 14.5.3.9

  2. 2

    Fire Marshal Certificate of Compliance Inspection

    SFFD FMO fire-safety inspection verifying 2021 IFC compliance for the new occupancy/use, required before business registration for qualifying occupancy types, per the Certificate of Compliance process

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

Tips

  • Santa Fe does not publish a standalone 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' checklist — a change in occupancy type, occupant load, or use is filed as an amendment to an existing or new building permit application (commonly the Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition Building Permit Checklist), per NMAC 14.5.2.
  • Budget for a separate Fire Marshal's Office Certificate of Compliance inspection ($25-$300 depending on size/type) if your new use falls into a qualifying occupancy category (assembly, restaurant, school, store, hotel/motel over 1,500 sq ft) — this is a business-licensing prerequisite distinct from the building permit's own final inspection.
  • If you only need a duplicate/reissued Certificate of Occupancy and aren't changing anything requiring a new building permit, the standalone reissue fee is $75 rather than a full plan review.

Frequently asked questions

Santa Fe requires a change of use / change of occupancy permit for: Per NMAC 14.5.2: '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' (the City's Building Division, acting as the delegated Authority Having Jurisdiction); Where the change of occupancy/use involves any construction or alteration, filed via the Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition Building Permit Checklist, reviewed under the state-adopted Existing Building Code (International Existing Building Code as amended by New Mexico; the checklist document itself references the 2015 edition, while this file's codesAdopted list documents the 2021 NM Existing Building Code as currently adopted — confirm the current edition in effect with a Building Plan Reviewer at (505) 955-6491); Floor plans must state the occupancy classification of each building space and identify the complete exiting system, including occupant load, per the Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition checklist; IEBC-required accessibility (ADA) upgrades apply to the 'primary function area' affected by the change, capped at 20% of the alteration cost under the IEBC disproportionality rule; an ADA Disproportionality Worksheet is available from the City to calculate required improvements; A Fire Marshal's Office Certificate of Compliance (fire-safety inspection) is required as part of business licensing for qualifying occupancy types (assembly, restaurants, educational facilities, stores, and hotels/motels over 1,500 sq ft, plus home occupancies, food trucks, and temporary structures) before the new use's business registration is finalized; If only reissuing a Certificate of Occupancy with no accompanying new building permit, a standalone reissue fee applies instead of a full plan review. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) at (505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588 before starting work.

$75.00 per certificate when the reissue is not tied to a new building permit, per the City's Schedule of Fees (Building Code Inspection & Enforcement Activities section, effective 01/01/2021).

Santa Fe does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) at (505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588 for current turnaround.

You'll need: City of Santa Fe Building Permit Application (Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition); Fire Marshal Certificate of Compliance / Fire Safety Inspection. Depending on your project, Santa Fe may also ask for: ADA Disproportionality Worksheet; Certificate of Occupancy Reissue Request. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Santa Fe requires 2 inspection(s) for a change of use / change of occupancy permit, in order: Final Building Inspection, Fire Marshal Certificate of Compliance Inspection. Schedule each through City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) ((505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588).

Apply through City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) at Santa Fe City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., 1st Floor (southwest entrance facing Marcy Street nearest the Convention Center), Santa Fe, NM 87501; Mailing: City of Santa Fe Building Permit Division, P.O. Box 909, Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909. Phone: (505) 955-6571 (Planning, Land Use and Housing Department main line); Building Permit Division direct: (505) 955-6588, email: permitcounter@santafenm.gov. Office hours: By appointment only, 8:00 a.m.–Noon and 1:00–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. Drop-off hours for revision/amendment submittals only: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.. Official information: https://www.santafenm.gov/land-use/building-permits.

Santa Fe, New Mexico has adopted: 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (2021 IBC as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (2021 IRC as amended by the State of New Mexico), plus the City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code; 2021 New Mexico Existing Building Code (2021 International Existing Building Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 New Mexico Plumbing Code (2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended by the State of New Mexico), plus City of Santa Fe UPC amendments; 2021 New Mexico Mechanical Code (2021 Uniform Mechanical Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (2020 National Electrical Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2012 New Mexico Electrical Safety Code (2012 National Electrical Safety Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code; 2021 New Mexico Historic Earthen Buildings Code; 2021 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code (2021 International Energy Conservation Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2012 New Mexico Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code (2012 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2012 New Mexico Solar Energy Code (2012 Uniform Solar Energy Code as amended by the State of New Mexico); 2021 International Fire Code, plus City of Santa Fe IFC amendments; New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) Title 14, Chapter 5: 14.5.1 General Provisions, 14.5.2 Permits, 14.5.3 Inspections; 2017 ICC A117.1-2017 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. Local amendments apply — see the Santa Fe overview page for the full list.

No. The City's Construction Permit Submittal Checklists page publishes only Residential, Commercial, Solar, and Miscellaneous checklist categories — none titled for change of use/occupancy. Per NMAC 14.5.2, a change in occupancy type, occupant load, or kind of structure must instead be reflected in an amended set of submittal documents resubmitted for approval by the City as the Authority Having Jurisdiction, typically via the Commercial Interior/Exterior Remodel/Addition Building Permit Checklist.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.

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

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Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit in other cities

Alamogordo, New MexicoAztec, New MexicoBloomfield, New MexicoEdgewood, New MexicoGallup, New MexicoLos Alamos County, New MexicoLovington, New MexicoRio Rancho, New Mexico

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