Administrative overview · FIPS 35049
Santa Fe County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Building and Development Services Division
For a project in or near Santa Fe County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
Building and Development Services: 505-986-6225; permit desk: 505-986-6307; NM CID: 505-476-4700
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Santa Fe County Building and Development Services, 240 Grant Avenue, Second Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Operating hours
Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; the County notes the permit desk is open between noon and 1:00 p.m.
Review expectation
Santa Fe County states standard residential applications without a public hearing generally take 15 working days from start to completion; walls, fences, solar, and similar permits may be expedited in as little as five working days.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Santa Fe County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Santa Fe County Growth Management Department, Building and Development Services Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Building and Development Services: 505-986-6225; permit desk: 505-986-6307; NM CID: 505-476-4700.
How long might review take?
Santa Fe County states standard residential applications without a public hearing generally take 15 working days from start to completion; walls, fences, solar, and similar permits may be expedited in as little as five working days.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request County pre-final/final inspections by emailing inspections@santafecountynm.gov or calling 505-986-6307 with the site address, inspection type, and contact information. Foundation, framing, electrical, and plumbing inspections are conducted by NM CID at 505-476-4700.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Santa Fe County Sustainable Land Development Code (SLDC), including county residential energy-efficiency/HERS requirements, together with applicable New Mexico CID-adopted 2021 building, residential, existing-building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, fire, and 2020 electrical codes. State CID conducts foundation, framing, electrical, and plumbing inspections. County development permits are required for construction or renovation, additions, grading, floodplain development, utilities, pools, and specified walls/fences. Exceptions include content changes to existing signs that do not otherwise require a permit; residential fences/walls at or below the six-foot threshold generally do not require this development permit, while retaining walls over four feet and specified walls crossing drainage or sight-triangle areas do.