Building Division

Responsibilities


The Building Inspection Division is charged with ensuring that all building construction over which the City has jurisdiction conforms to the standards set forth by the Governing Body and the State of New Mexico. This includes the issuance of building permits, the monitoring of construction, the inspection of all appropriate building structures, follow-up on all citizen and Construction Industry Division (C.I.D.) complaints and providing all customers with general construction information.


Contractors performing work within the City's limits are required to have a license with the State of New Mexico and an active business license with the City of Rio Rancho.


READ THIS BEFORE BEGINNING ANY TYPE OF WORK
Notice to Permittees and Contractors 


Permits are required whenever a building or structure is “erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished, and no electrical wiring, plumbing or mechanical work as defined and described in the applicable New Mexico construction codes for those trades, may be installed, repaired or maintained in or on such building or structure, unless the applicable permit has first been obtained from the division (City)”. --NMAC Section 14.5.2.8, PERMITS REQUIRED, Subsection A

Additionally all re-roofs require a building permit prior to starting the re-roofing (a faxed application is not a permit) and inspections.


Our Goal is Quality Customer Service


Request Inspections Via Email .

 

Residential Inspections


If you are in needing an inspection of your residential construction, please view our Residential Inspection Process section.



Notice of Additional Fees:
 Fees associated with application and issuance of a building permit may not include other applications and fees that are required as part of new construction. Such fees include utility application, deposit, and connection fees.

 If you have questions, please ask Building Division Permit Technicians for additional information regarding possible additional fees that may be related to your permit application.
 
Codes Utilized by the City
  • 2015 International Building Code
    • Version of the ASCE used as reference: 2010
    • Wind Speed: 115 Ultimate/93 Nominal
    • Seismic Design Category: D, per USGS website
    • Rain Load: 2” per hour
    • Ground Snow Load: 20 lb or provide Case Study
    • Minimum Flat Roof Snow load: 20 lb or provide Case Study
  • 2015 International Residential Code
    • Wind Speed: 115 Ultimate
    • Seismic Design Category: C
    • Ground Snow Load: 20 lb
    • Frost Line Depth: 18 inches
    • Winter Design Temp: 16 degrees
  • 2018 International Energy Conservation Code
  • 2017 National Electric Code 
  • 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code
  • 2015 Uniform Mechanical Code


Notice To All Solar Contractors


Effective March 20, 2017 before a solar permit is applied for a copy of the PNM Notice of Complete and Notice of Technical Screening Review will be required as part of the submittal showing the type and size of the system to be installed.