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This is PermitBase’s published record for Town of Taos as of 2026-07-20. It has since been superseded — see the current record.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

Verified

Town of Taos, New Mexico — as published 2026-07-20.

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)

Verified

The 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 typeAmountNotes
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$500.00Town of Taos Zoning Review Application Packet, updated 3/25/2025
Commercial and Multiple Residential Plan Review Fee (Fire Marshal)$0.035 per square footFor commercial and multiple-residential-dwelling projects (2 or more dwellings) only. Town of Taos Zoning Review Application Packet, updated 3/25/2025

Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit

Verified

Required for installation of a rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system within the Town of Taos. Following the same trade split documented for this file's Residential Building Permit entry, a solar PV installation splits across two authorities: the racking/mounting structural scope is self-administered by the Town (Zoning Review Application for Building Permit, $250.00 residential fee, per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances § 15.04.010), while the electrical interconnection scope is NOT covered by the Town's permit and instead requires a separate state Construction Industries Division (CID) Electrical Permit, per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances §§ 16.12.070.2(D) and 16.12.070.3(H). No Town of Taos-specific solar application, checklist, or fee line distinct from these two general mechanisms was found published as of 2026-07-20.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

Requirements

  • Zoning Review Application (for Building Permit) required for the racking/mounting structural scope, using the same $250.00 (residential, up to 5 dwellings) or $500.00 (commercial/6+ dwellings) fee documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry
  • Electrical interconnection is NOT covered by the Town's Zoning Review/Building Permit — a separate State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) Electrical Permit is required, per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances §§ 16.12.070.2(D) and 16.12.070.3(H), the same trade split documented for all other electrical work in this file
  • Construction Mitigation Checklist required per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances § 16.12.070.6 before any building permit (including one covering solar racking) may be issued
  • A homeowner self-performing the racking/mounting work under the State of New Mexico Homeowner Building Permit Application may not self-perform the electrical interconnection — 'a separate application is required for these trades,' per the same exclusion documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry
  • If the parcel is within 150 feet of the centerline of an established arroyo, a Drainage Plan sealed by a Registered Licensed NM Engineer is required for ground-mounted array foundations
  • New Mexico's Construction Industries Division publishes solar-specific plan-review guidance (e.g., a Solar Array Plan Review document) for the state-administered electrical/interconnection permitting track; the specific fee figures within that document were not independently extractable from the source PDF during this research pass and are not asserted here

Required documents

  • RequiredZoning Review Application (for Building Permit) — Solar scopeTown of Taos Planning, Community and Economic Development Department application, for the racking/mounting structural scope; same form documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry
  • RequiredState of New Mexico CID Electrical Permit ApplicationFiled with the state Construction Industries Division for the interconnection/wiring scope, since the Town does not self-administer Electrical
  • RequiredConstruction Mitigation ChecklistRequired per § 16.12.070.6 before any building permit is issued, covering onsite/offsite parking, fencing, and construction-activity hours

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
Residential Zoning Review Fee (racking/mounting structural scope)$250.00 per residential dwelling (attached or semi-attached units, up to 5 dwellings)Town of Taos Zoning Review Application Packet (For Building Permit), updated 3/25/2025 — same fee documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry; no distinct solar line item is published separately from this general fee.
Commercial and Multi-Family Dwelling (6+ dwellings) Zoning Review Fee$500.00Town of Taos Zoning Review Application Packet, updated 3/25/2025.
State CID Electrical Permit Fee (interconnection scope) — residential, by service/panel amperage100 amp service or less: $25.00; over 100 amp through 200 amp: $40.00; over 200 amp through 320 amp: $55.00; over 320 amp through 400 amp: $125.00; over 400 amp: $200.00; plus a plan review fee of $40.00/hour or fraction thereof where plan review is required
14.5.5.12 NMAC (Section A, Residential Electrical Permit Fees), New Mexico Construction Industries Division — official text confirmed via the New Mexico State Records Center & Archives… Show full citation

14.5.5.12 NMAC (Section A, Residential Electrical Permit Fees), New Mexico Construction Industries Division — official text confirmed via the New Mexico State Records Center & Archives (srca.nm.gov/parts/title14/14.005.0005.html) on 2026-07-20. No solar-PV-specific electrical fee line exists within 14.5.5.12 NMAC; a grid-tied PV interconnection is billed under this general residential electrical permit fee schedule based on the service/panel amperage involved (a service/panel upgrade tied to the installation, if any, plus any required plan review). The 2020 CID 'Solar Array Plan Review' guidance document (rld.nm.gov) could not be text-extracted in this research pass to confirm whether it layers any additional solar-specific charge on top of this general schedule.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger / Charging Station Permit

Verified

The Town of Taos does not publish a distinct EV charger/EVSE permit application, checklist, or fee line. Following the same trade split documented for this file's Residential Building Permit and Solar PV Permit entries, installation of a Level 2 (or greater) EV charging station is electrical work, which the Town does NOT self-administer — it is routed to the separate state Construction Industries Division (CID) Electrical Permit, per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances §§ 16.12.070.2(D) and 16.12.070.3(H). No Town of Taos-specific EV charger application or fee distinct from this general state electrical permitting mechanism was found published as of 2026-07-20.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

Requirements

  • A State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) Electrical Permit is required for the EV charger circuit/wiring, obtained by a licensed electrician (or, where allowed, a homeowner) directly from CID — the Town of Taos does not issue its own electrical permit for this or any other electrical work, per Town of Taos Code of Ordinances §§ 16.12.070.2(D) and 16.12.070.3(H)
  • If the installation also involves a new accessory structure, carport, or exterior mounting requiring a building/zoning permit, a Town of Taos Zoning Review Application (for Building Permit) would additionally be required for that structural scope, per this file's Residential Building Permit entry
  • No Town of Taos-specific EV charger checklist, application, or fee line distinct from the general state CID Electrical Permit mechanism was found published as of 2026-07-20 — this is a genuine documentation gap rather than an inferred figure

Required documents

  • RequiredState of New Mexico CID Electrical Permit ApplicationFiled with the state Construction Industries Division for the EV charger circuit/wiring scope, since the Town does not self-administer Electrical

Fee schedule

Fee typeAmountNotes
State CID Electrical Permit Fee (residential, by service/panel amperage)$45.00 (100 Amp and below) to $360.00 (over 400 Amp); a $27.00 Minimum Inspection Fee applies to electrical work not otherwise listed on CID's fee schedule (e.g., a dedicated EV charger circuit not requiring a service/panel change)
NM Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division, published Fees schedule — no EV-charger-specific line item exists; Show full citation

NM Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division, published Fees schedule — no EV-charger-specific line item exists; a standalone EVSE circuit most plausibly falls under CID's $27.00 'Minimum Inspection Fee for Items not Listed' category, while a panel upgrade to support the charger would instead fall under the amperage-based bracket. Set by the State CID, not the Town of Taos.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-05.

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.

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Permalink: /new-mexico/taos-county/taos/as-of/2026-07-20/

Snapshot date: 2026-07-20

Commit: 340111c

Reproducible from PermitBase’s version-controlled dataset, commit 340111c.