Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Santa Fe, New Mexico
VerifiedRequired for new single-family dwellings, attached/detached units, and guesthouses in Santa Fe. Reviewed against the 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (2021 IRC as amended by the state) and the City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code, which mandates HERS and WERS energy/water performance ratings for all new residential construction.
Verified 2026-07-02 · Source
When you need this permit
- Application and plans submitted via the Citizen Self-Service (CSS) portal or in person at the Building Permit Division (by appointment)
- Must comply with the 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (2021 IRC as amended by the State of New Mexico)
- City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code applies: requires a Home Energy Rating Certificate (HERC) showing a HERS Index of 60 or less, a 2018 IECC Building UA Compliance Report showing 'as designed' performance better than 2018 IECC levels, an Air Leakage Report demonstrating ASHRAE 62.2-2010 ventilation compliance, and a WERS Preliminary Rating Report showing a score of 70 or less — all attached to the plan set and emailed to the City's Green Code submittal address
- Professional heating/cooling sizing calculations required (ACCA Manual S and J long-form, or equivalent such as Energy-10 for passive solar homes; Manual D required if ductwork is present) — emailed to the City but not necessarily attached to the plan set
- Pre-requisite approvals required if applicable: Historic Preservation District approval (if in one of the City's five historic districts) and/or Escarpment Overlay District approval (if in the foothills overlay)
- At project completion and before Certificate of Occupancy, the HERS rater must submit final (not preliminary) documents plus a Source Energy and Emissions Report, and the WERS rater must submit the final WERS rating, both by email to the City
Required documents
- Required
City of Santa Fe Building Permit Application
The City's single unified Building Permit Application form (COSFBP_APP), used for new construction, additions, alterations, and other scopes; check the applicable proposed-work box (e.g., 'New Construction')
- Required
Home Energy Rating Certificate (HERC) and Green Code Energy Reports
HERS Index ≤60 certificate, 2018 IECC Building UA Compliance Report, and Air Leakage/ASHRAE 62.2-2010 ventilation report from a City-approved HERS rater
- Required
WERS Preliminary Rating Report
Two-page 'Not Final' Water Efficiency Rating Score report showing a score of 70 or less, from a City-approved WERS rater
- Required
Construction Drawings and Site Plan
Full plan set showing site layout, structural, and architectural details compliant with the 2021 NM Residential Building Code
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Fee | $40.00 | City of Santa Fe Planning and Land Use Schedule of Fees (effective 01/01/2021), Building Permit Activities — Primary Building Permit Administrative Fees section, charged 'Each' in addition to the valuation-based permit fee |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $1 to $500 | $25.00 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $501 to $2,000 | $25.35 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, up to and including $2,000 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $2,001 to $25,000 | $69.25 for the first $2,001 plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, up to and including $25,000 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $25,001 to $50,000 | $391.75 for the first $25,001 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, up to and including $50,000 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $50,001 to $100,000 | $643.75 for the first $50,001 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, up to and including $100,000 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $100,001 to $275,000 | $993.75 for the first $100,001 plus $5.93 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, up to and including $275,000 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $275,001 to $500,000 | $1,830.00 for the first $275,001 plus $7.30 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, up to and including $500,000 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,518.37 for the first $500,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, up to and including $1,000,000 | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Permit Fee — construction valuation $1,000,001 and up | $5,893.37 for the first $1,000,001 plus $4.40 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Residential Plan Review Fee | 50% of the Building Permit Fee | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Green Building Code — Early Consultation | $100.00 per permit | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021, Building Permit Activities section |
| Green Building Code — Building Permit Review (Residential) | $60.00 per hour | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
| Building Without a Permit | Double the original permit fee | Fee Schedule effective 01/01/2021 |
Review timeline
~10–15 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Santa Fe building department
Inspection process
- 1
Footing and Foundation
Per IRC Section 109.1.1, as referenced by NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(1) — before concrete placement
- 2
Concrete Slab or Under-Floor
Per IRC Section 109, as referenced by NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(2)
- 3
Frame and Masonry
Per IRC Section 109.1.4, as referenced by NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(3)
- 4
Weather-Resistive Barrier
After installation of the weather-resistive barrier, before it is covered, per NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(6)
- 5
Energy Efficiency
Per NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(7); coordinates with Green Building Code compliance documentation
- 6
Lath and Gypsum Board
Per IRC Section 109.1.5, as referenced by NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(8)
- 7
Final Inspection
Per IRC Section 109.1.6, as referenced by NMAC 14.5.3.9.B(11); required before Certificate of Occupancy, along with final HERS/WERS reports
Tips
- Budget time for HERS and WERS ratings before applying — both are required at preliminary stage with the application and again in final form before Certificate of Occupancy, and must be performed by City-approved raters.
- Historic Preservation District or Escarpment Overlay District approvals, where applicable, are pre-requisites to building permit submittal, not parallel processes — obtain them first.
- All permit applications and inspection scheduling go through the City's CSS (Citizen Self-Service) portal; register for a CSS account and ensure you are listed as a Contact on the permit to track status online.
Frequently asked questions
- What building code applies to new home construction in Santa Fe?
- The 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (2021 IRC as amended statewide by New Mexico), plus the City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code, which requires HERS and WERS energy/water performance ratings for all new single-family construction, including guesthouses.
- Does Santa Fe write its own building code from scratch?
- No. New Mexico's Construction Industries Division adopts uniform statewide construction codes under the Construction Industries Licensing Act (NMSA 1978, Chapter 60, Article 13). Santa Fe operates as a delegated Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) that enforces these state codes through its own Building Division, with only narrow local amendments (plumbing, fire code) plus its own Green Building and Earthen Building codes layered on top.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-02.
- City of Santa Fe Planning, Land Use and Housing Department — Building Division (Permitting) — official building department
- City of Santa Fe — Building Division (Permitting)
- City of Santa Fe — Adopted Construction Codes
- City of Santa Fe — Green Building Code
- City of Santa Fe Planning and Land Use Schedule of Fees (PDF, effective 01/01/2021)
- NMAC 14.5.3 — Construction Industries General Provisions, Inspections
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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