This is PermitBase’s published record for Town of Taos as of 2026-07-05. It has since been superseded — see the current record. A historical record reflects what PermitBase had verified at that time; it may not capture a real-world change the jurisdiction had made but PermitBase had not yet verified, and it includes any errors we later corrected. Snapshots are never edited retroactively.
Town of Taos building permits
VerifiedTown of Taos, New Mexico — as published 2026-07-05.
Verified 2026-07-05 · Source
Codes adopted
New Mexico is a statewide-minimum-code state under the Construction Industries Licensing Act (NMSA 1978 §§ 60-13-44(E), 60-13-41(D)-(F)): a municipality with its own certified building official may become its own code-enforcement authority (self-administering) rather than routing permits through a state Construction Industries Division (CID) field office. The Town of Taos IS self-administering for Building: Town of Taos Code of Ordinances § 15.04.010 states 'The town shall have the exclusive power to issue and enforce building and construction permits within the town and over an area extending three (3) miles from the exterior boundaries of the town,' subject to exceptions for construction exempted by the Construction Industries Licensing Act.New Mexico Uniform Building Code (the state-adopted minimum code, as amended from time to time by the NM Construction Industries Commission/Division) — enforced locally by the Town's own code administrator per § 15.04.010; per § 16.12.070.2(C)/§ 16.12.070.3(G), the Town's code administrator reviews submitted plans and specifications 'for compliance with all applicable fire and construction codes and for engineering design, within fifteen (15) business days of submittal of a complete application' for single-family dwellings, and the same review (timeline not separately stated) applies to commercial/industrial/large-scale-residential usesElectrical and Mechanical (including Plumbing, which is combined with Mechanical under New Mexico's CID structure): the Town does NOT self-administer these trades. Town of Taos Code of Ordinances § 16.12.070.2(D) (single-family dwellings) and § 16.12.070.3(H) (commercial/industrial/large-scale-residential) both state: 'The applicant shall obtain all required state permits for mechanical and electrical services' — i.e., Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical/HVAC permits are CID-administered (state Construction Industries Division), not Town-administered, regardless of project type2021 New Mexico Commercial & Residential Building Code (2021 IBC/IRC basis), 2021 New Mexico Plumbing and Mechanical Code, 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code (2020 NEC, 14.10.4 NMAC) and other current NM Administrative Code Title 14 construction chapters, as adopted/amended by the state Construction Industries Commission/Division — these are the codes CID applies when it reviews and permits Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical work in Taos, and are also the minimum standard the Town's own code administrator enforces for BuildingTown of Taos Code of Ordinances, Title 15 (Buildings and Construction), Chapter 15.04 (Building Code) — establishes the Town's self-administration authority (§ 15.04.010) and the High Performance Building Program (§ 15.04.040 et seq., HERS-rating and LEED requirements phased in 2009-2012 and beyond for larger residential/commercial projects)Town of Taos Code of Ordinances, Title 16 (Land Use Development), Chapter 16.12.070 (Building Permits, Certificates of Occupancy and Use) — governs submittal requirements, the 15-business-day Building plan-review timeline for dwellings, the state-permit requirement for mechanical/electrical, and the Construction Mitigation Checklist (§ 16.12.070.6, mandatory before any building permit is issued)
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (Zoning Review Application)
VerifiedThe Town of Taos calls its building-permit process a 'Zoning Review Application (for Building Permit).' The Town's own Planning, Community and Economic Development Department self-administers Building review and issuance (per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances § 15.04.010), separate from the state Construction Industries Division. Required for new single-family dwellings, additions, alterations, and retaining walls within Town limits (and within 3 miles of Town limits, absent a county ordinance covering that area).
Verified 2026-07-05 · Source
Requirements
- Zoning Review Application (for Building Permit) completed with original homeowner or contractor signatures
- Owner's Affidavit completed only when an applicant has an agent
- Completed Construction Mitigation Checklist per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances § 16.12.070.6 — no building permit shall be issued without it
- Completed E-911 Addressing Application
- Completed Floodplain Determination Form
- Legal description of property and a copy of the most recent registered warranty deed, or a Notice of Valuation obtained from the Taos County Assessor's Office
- Vicinity map and 1 complete set of plans (site plan/survey plat, foundation plan, floor plan, framing plan, roof plan, elevations, cross-section details) meeting the requirements of Town of Taos Code of Ordinances Chapter 15.04 (Building Code) and Title 16 (Land Use Development Code)
- Septic Tank and Well Permit (State of NM Environment Department + State Engineer's Office) OR an approved Town of Taos Water/Sewer Hookup Application, required before the Zoning Review for Building Permit is issued
- For new construction requiring a State of New Mexico Homeowner Building Permit Application (single-residential, homeowner self-performing without a contractor) or a State of New Mexico Multi-Purpose Building Application (commercial/multi-family, 2+ dwellings) — these are STATE forms required alongside the Town's own Zoning Review Application
- Drainage Plan prepared and sealed by a Registered Licensed NM Engineer required for any construction within 150 feet of the centerline of an established arroyo
- Electrical and plumbing work is NOT covered by this Town Zoning Review/Building Permit — separate state Construction Industries Division (CID) permits are required for those trades, obtained by the applicant directly from CID, per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances §§ 16.12.070.2(D) and 16.12.070.3(H)
- Mechanical/HVAC work is likewise routed to the state CID and, per the State Homeowner Building Permit Application's acknowledgment page, may NOT be self-performed under a homeowner's permit at all — it must be subcontracted to a licensed contractor who pulls a separate CID permit
Required documents
- RequiredZoning Review Application (for Building Permit)Town of Taos Planning, Community and Economic Development Department application; assigns a 'BP20__-__' permit number
- RequiredConstruction Mitigation ChecklistRequired per § 16.12.070.6 before any building permit is issued; covers onsite/offsite parking, fencing, construction trailers, chemical toilets, dumpsters, traffic control, and construction-activity hours
- RequiredSite Plan and Survey PlatMust depict all existing/proposed structures, setbacks, parking, and zone-specific standards per Town of Taos Land Use Development Code § 16.20.080
- OptionalState of New Mexico Homeowner Building Permit Application PacketRequired for single-residential projects where the homeowner self-performs without a contractor; a separate state (CID) form in addition to the Town's Zoning Review Application. Explicitly excludes electrical and plumbing (separate applications required) and prohibits self-performed HVAC/mechanical work
- OptionalState of New Mexico Multi-Purpose Building ApplicationRequired for commercial and multiple residential dwelling projects (2 or more dwellings)
- RequiredE-911 Addressing ApplicationRequired for new construction to obtain/confirm a physical address
- RequiredFloodplain Determination FormTown of Taos floodplain determination
- RequiredWarranty Deed or Notice of ValuationCopy of the most recent registered warranty deed with legal description, or a Notice of Valuation from the Taos County Assessor's Office
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Zoning Review Fee | $250.00 per residential dwelling (attached or semi-attached units, up to 5 dwellings) | Town of Taos Zoning Review Application Packet (For Building Permit), Planning, Community and Economic Development Department, updated 3/25/2025, page 3 of 29 |
| Commercial and Multi-Family Dwelling (6+ dwellings) Zoning Review Fee | $500.00 | Town of Taos Zoning Review Application Packet, updated 3/25/2025 |
| Commercial and Multiple Residential Plan Review Fee (Fire Marshal) | $0.035 per square foot | For commercial and multiple-residential-dwelling projects (2 or more dwellings) only. Town of Taos Zoning Review Application Packet, updated 3/25/2025 |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-05.
Fee schedules
Applications & forms
Checklists & handouts
Codes & ordinances
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 Town of Taos building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.