Building Division (Permitting)

The City of Santa Fe Land Use Department is the authority having jurisdiction over building permits within the city limits of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Building permits are required for most types of construction work within the city. 

Permits are required for the following

• exterior business signs
• roofing and re-roofing
• window replacement
• all storage sheds
• solar panels
• new and replacement mechanical equipment
• re-stuccoing
• driveway construction
• and for the placement of manufactured homes. 

Permits are not required for the following:

Residential

• Interior and exterior painting of residential structures
• minor landscaping
• carpeting
• tiling
• cabinetry
• countertops
• exterior decks under 120 square feet if not attached to a structure

Commercial

• interior painting of commercial structures
• tiling and carpeting that complies with Chapter 3 of the 2009 ANSI
• minor Landscaping

Land Use is currently accepting Building Permit Applications Online or by Appointment, depending on the permit type. Please carefully review and follow the permitting options and linked instructions below to help ensure prompt permit application processing.

• Online payment is now available for permits processed online via the citizen self-service (CSS) portal.

Once a building permit application is submitted online, please check the Dashboard frequently for updated permit review status, holds providing or requiring additional information, and invoices for payment. 

If you experience a permit hold in CSS, please email permitcounter@santafenm.gov once you have addressed the issue or provided the required information.

Primary permits online

Click here for instructions on how to access and create an account for online permitting.

Click here to create a Citizen Self-Service (CSS) profile.

Click here for instructions on how to apply for the following permit types:

Residential Express

•    Re-Roof
•    Re-Stucco
•    Window/Door Replacement
•    Shed
•    Deck

Commercial Express

•    Re-Roof
•    Re-Stucco
•    Window/Door Replacement
•    Shed

Solar (Residential and Commercial)

Walls and Fences (Residential and Commercial)

Trade and Secondary Permits Online

To register with CSS and to apply for stand-alone trade permits, click here for general instructions. 

For Secondary permits, click here for instructions on how to apply under an active Primary permit after registration with CSS is complete.

Then please click here to create a Citizen Self-Service (CSS) profile and apply for the following permit types:

• Residential & Commercial
• Electrical
• Mechanical
• Plumbing/Gas
• Sewer

Secondary permits for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work may usually be submitted without accompanying construction drawings, but equipment cut sheets may be required upon request by permit intake Staff.

The Building Division is accepting appointments for in-person intake reviews and submittal of building permit applications. Click here to schedule in-person appointments, apply for permit types previously accepted by email, and schedule meetings with Building Division Staff. 

Submittal of building permit applications by email is currently not available (except for use under special circumstances and as pre-arraigned with the Building Division Manager).

All in-person appointments for other Land Use activities not under the purview of the Building Division should be scheduled directly with the appropriate Land Use Staff by email.

 Commercial Permits

• New Commercial (including pools)
• New Multi-Family
• Commercial Tenant Improvements
• Commercial Additions and Remodeling (see Online CSS instructions for Express permit types)

Residential Permits

• New Residential (including pools)
• Residential Additions and Remodeling (see Online CSS instructions for Express permit types)
• Accessory Dwelling Units
• Accessory Structures

Signage Permits Click Here

Third-Party Plan Review (TPPR)

• Currently open to New Commercial Building - See FAQ

To download a standard permit application, click here.

To download an application for a re-roofing permit, click here. 

Applications are also available on the CSS website.

For more information on the requirements for your particular building permit type, please visit the Construction Permit Submittal Checklists webpage.

If any processing errors are encountered after following the instructions in the FAQ linked above, please contact permitcounter@santafenm.gov.  

Click Here to read the CSS Help FAQs

Please click here for instructions on how to check building permit status and plan review comments in the Citizen Self-Service portal (CSS). 

For full access to view and track building permits and plan reviews in CSS, you will need to be listed as a Contact on the permit and be logged in to CSS.

To register with CSS, please click here to create a CSS profile.

You may also obtain permit status by emailing permitcounter@santafenm.gov.

Please allow five business days after the permit application submittal before requesting a status update. Please anticipate 3-5 business days to receive a response.

Revisions

Instructions for dropping off revisions:

• Please ensure all revisions are collated into sets, and each set of copies is stapled along the left-hand side. All revisions must be clouded with delta and contain a response letter.
• Please fill out the top portion of the revisions form and attach it to the submittal.
• Outside City Hall's Southwest entrance, there is a bin labeled "revisions." Please leave revisions in this bin.
• Drop Off Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 11:00 am.
• Please email pagarcia1@santafenm.gov once you have dropped it off.

The number of correction copies needed are:

• Infrastructure (Grading & Drainage, Landscape & Utilities, and Off-Site improvements)  - 3 per plan set
• ReRoof - 2
• Solar-  2
• Telecommunication - 3
• Pool - 3
• Residential - 4
• Commercial - 6

All current plan reviews must be completed prior to the intake of revision submittals.

Amendments

Instructions for dropping off amendments:

• Provide your approved perforated set of plans along with two copies of your changes.
• Please fill out the top portion of the amendment form and attach it to the submittal.
• Outside City Hall's Southwest entrance, there is a bin labeled "revisions." Please leave amendments in this bin.
• Drop Off Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 11:00 am
• Please email pagarcia1@santafenm.gov once you have dropped it off.

Inspections will not be allowed while a permit is in amendment review. 

Adoption of the 2018 IECC

The Land Use Department is now enforcing the requirements of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code as approved and amended by the State of New Mexico along with associated code cycle reference updates to the City Residential Green Building Code. With the adoption of the City code, all subsequently applicable building permits will be subject to compliance with these changes.

For a listing of all currently adopted building codes, click here.

To view the City Building and Housing Code, click here.   

To view the City Land Development Code, click here. 

Residential Green Building Code  

The Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code applies to all new single-family units, guesthouses, additions, and remodels.

Click here to view the Santa Fe Green Building Code. 

Fees for primary permits (those related to new structures, additions, and remodels) vary based on construction valuation. 

Fees for secondary permits (i.e., electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work) are fixed amounts that depend on the type of work proposed. 

Planning & Land Use Fee Schedule

Please contact permitcounter@santafenm.gov for other questions about fees. 

Work on the exterior of structures within the City's Historic Districts must be pre-approved by the Historic Preservation Division. Most simple maintenance and repair work in a Historic District will not require a construction permit.

Please note that all construction sites and associated permit holders within the City of Santa Fe must adhere to the approved best management practices (BMPs) for construction site management of stormwater runoff. Construction General Permits (CGP) and construction sites that disturb one or more acres, including smaller sites that are part of a larger plan of development, must submit a US EPA Notice of Intent. Please see the following links for guidelines:

To find out how to apply for a US EPA Notice of Intent (NOI), click here.

To view best management practices for construction sites, click here.

For US EPA Helpful Links for Construction Site Management, click here.

Building Permitting

Email permitcounter@santafenm.gov to request general information regarding building permits.

Permit Review Status Inquiries

For full access to view and track building permits and plan reviews in CSS, you will need to be listed as a Contact on the permit and be logged in to CSS.

To register with CSS, please create a CSS profile.

You may also obtain permit status by emailing permitcounter@santafenm.gov.

Please allow five business days after the permit application submittal before requesting a status update, and please anticipate 3-5 business days to receive a response.

Telecommunication Towers and Antennas

Please contact Daniel Esquibel at daesquibel@santafenm.gov regarding Telecommunications permitting.

IPRA Requests

Click here to request access to public information under the IPRA (Inspection of Public Records Act).

Building Permit Extension & Renewal Requests

Email permitcounter@santafenm.gov with a formal request (word document or PDF), which shall include the date of request, permit number, and reason for extension. The requestor’s name and preferred contact method should be listed at the bottom of the request. Permit extensions are granted a 180-day extension from the expiration date. Fee: $100.00 per extension.

Zoning/Architecture/Sign Code

Click here to contact current planning.

Inspections

Click here for general information regarding inspections or for how to schedule an inspection. 

Business Registration

Click here for Business Registration and Licensing. 

Addressing & GIS Parcel information

Please click on the map visit to view the City's interactive mapping website.

For addressing, please contact ITT/GIS Division 
Office Location - 1600 St Michaels Dr. Bldg 24 (Mouton Hall) Santa Fe, NM  87505 (Hours 8:00 am-5:00 pm)
Mailing Address - P.O. Box 909 Santa Fe, NM  87501 
gis@santafenm.gov