Doña Ana County Community Development Department, Building Services

Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical)

Code §142-1 states that the chapter and the codes it adopts "shall be controlling in the construction, alteration, and repair of all buildings and structures, including electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, within the unincorporated areas of Doña Ana County, New Mexico." Chapter 142 adopts the 2021 International Building, Residential and Existing Building Codes, the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, the 2021 Uniform Mechanical and Plumbing Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code. The fees are in Code chapter 179, Article VI ("Adopted as last amended 6-24-2008 by Res. No. 2008-60"), and the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule, linked from the Building Services Fees and Payment Methods page, lists the same valuation scale. Code §179-16D provides that for permits requiring construction drawing or site plan review, 25% of the permit fees is paid when the application is submitted and the remaining 75% before the permit is issued; the Fees and Payment Methods page states: "Payment of 25% is required at time of application and is non-refundable." Code §179-18C states: "No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made, until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy", with a penalty of up to three times the original permit for failing to comply. Under §179-18D a temporary certificate of occupancy costs 10% of the building permit fee or $100, whichever is greater. Under §179-19, work begun without a permit draws a $45-per-hour investigation fee (one-hour minimum) and a tripled permit fee, a reinspection costs $45, and no refund or credit is issued after 30 days from issuance of the permit. Contact the Doña Ana County Community Development Department, 845 N. Motel Blvd., Las Cruces, NM 88007, (575) 647-7350.