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Santa Fe, NM Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required for
construction, erection or demolition
Residential permit life
1 year from issuance
Commercial permit life
2 years from issuance
Base administrative fee
$40.00 per permit
No-permit penalty
double the original fee
Extension fee
$100.00 per six months

Summary

No structure in Santa Fe can be built, erected or demolished without a building permit under Section 7-1.5(A) SFCC 1987, and the work must comply with every adopted code listed in Section 7-1.1(A). Residential permits expire one year after issuance and commercial permits after two, per Section 7-1.6, and building without a permit doubles the fee owed.

A.Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no building permit shall be issued for the construction, erection or demolition of any structure of any kind within the planning and platting jurisdiction of the city unless the construction, erection or demolition of such structure complies with the terms and provisions of the codes as set forth in Section 7-1.1A. SFCC 1987 and all applicable ordinances adopted by the city.B.Additional provisions regarding building permits are set forth in Section 14-3.10 SFCC 1987.

View official code

Full Breakdown

1A. SFCC 1987 and all applicable ordinances adopted by the city. 10 SFCC 1987, the Land Development Code's permitting article. 6 sets residential construction permits to expire one year from issuance and commercial construction permits to expire two years from issuance, with grading, drainage, landscape and utility infrastructure permits also running two years regardless of whether the underlying project is residential or commercial. The governing body may temporarily suspend that expiration clock by resolution during a broad economic downturn, but the section bars using that suspension power for an individual project or owner's situation. 00 administrative fee on every permit.

Violations & Fines

Building, erecting or demolishing a structure without the required permit is enforceable under Sections 1-3 and 14-11 SFCC 1987 through Section 7-1.1(B), and Table 7-1.11-1 doubles the original permit fee for anyone who builds without first obtaining one. Letting a residential permit run past its one-year expiration, or a commercial permit past two years, requires a new extension application and the $100.00 six-month extension fee listed in the same fee table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build or demolish a structure in Santa Fe?
Yes. Section 7-1.5(A) SFCC 1987 bars issuing a building permit, and by extension the work itself, unless it complies with the adopted codes in Section 7-1.1(A) and all other applicable city ordinances, covering construction, erection and demolition of any structure of any kind.
How long is a Santa Fe building permit valid?
Section 7-1.6 sets residential permits to expire one year after issuance and commercial permits two years after issuance, with grading, drainage, and landscape and utility infrastructure permits also running two years. A six-month extension costs $100.00 under Table 7-1.11-1.
What is the penalty for building without a permit in Santa Fe?
Table 7-1.11-1 doubles the original permit fee for work done without a permit, and the city can enforce the underlying violation under Sections 1-3 and 14-11 SFCC 1987 as referenced in Section 7-1.1(B).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Santa Fe

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All Santa Fe rules

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