Building Safety Division
Contact Info

Chief Building Official Michael ArellanoMichael Arellano - Chief Building Official

Vision Statement:

The Building Safety Division strives to provide high quality, responsive customer service through administration, education, and assistance to the public with compliance of the adopted codes and ordinances of the County of Los Alamos.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Building Safety Division is to create successful partnerships with citizens and contractors throughout the construction process while focusing on Health, Safety, and Welfare. Establishing lasting relationships with our customers by exceeding their expectations and gaining their trust through exceptional customer service and working with citizens of Los Alamos County towards the safety and beautification of our community. 


General Information for the Building Safety Division:

The purpose of the Building Safety Division is to administer the building codes and the nuisance codes within the County and enforce quality development improvements and property maintenance standards within the community. The Building Safety Division provides consultation, permits, and inspections to builders, homeowners, and business owners to ensure compliance with applicable building codes. The Building Safety Division works in cooperation with County Fire, Police, Public Works, Planning and Public Utilities regarding the enforcement of the building and nuisance codes.

Interactive Permit Information

For the interactive house click here for small and DIY residential projects.

FEES:

Fees for permits are listed in the FEE SCHEDULE - The fee for a permit is based on Chapter 10 - Article III of the Municipal Code.

Building permits can now be processed online with our Citizen Self Service Portal.

For all utility locates in Los Alamos County, dial 811 for New Mexico One Call or 1-800-321-ALERT(2537).

In accordance with the Los Alamos County Code, no building or structure regulated by this Code shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished unless a separate permit for each building or structure has been obtained first from the CDD Building Safety Division. Most building permit applications will require a recent survey of the lot or site showing the location of all the utilities. All building permit plans must meet the 2015 International Building Code and the Incorporated County of Los Alamos Code.

For more building permit information visit, call (505) 662-8120, or email permit.techs@lacnm.us


LOS ALAMOS COUNTY BUILDING AND SAFETY DIVISION
HAS BEEN ACCREDITED BY IAS

IAS Accredited Building Dept

Building Code Information

All submitted plans must conform to:

1. State of NM Building Code:
2015 New Mexico Building Codes 

Uniform Plumbing Code 2015

Uniform Mechanical Code 2015

National Electrical Code 2017



2. Los Alamos County Building Codes
2015 International Building Code or

2015 International Residential Code as amended by the State of New Mexico) and,

International Energy Conservation Code 2009

 

3. Los Alamos County Fire Code;
The Fire Marshal's Office for the 2015 NFPA 1 and 2015 NFPA 101 and,

3. The Los Alamos County Building Design Loads

The design criteria required by the Chief Building Official in Los Alamos County as listed below. This section has information on climatic and geographic design criteria which designers should meet in designing a building in Los Alamos County. The Climate Zone for The Energy Conservation Code for Los Alamos County is 5B.

Ground Snow Load

30 Lbs

Wind Speed (mph)

90 with 3-second gusts

Seismic Design Category

C

Subject to Damage From
  1. Weathering-Moderate
  2. Frost Line Depth- 3' LA, 2' WR
  3. Termite- Moderate to Heavy

Winter Design Temp

10

Ice Barrier Underlayment Required on shingled roofs

Yes

Flood Hazards

September 1987

Air Freezing Index

650

Mean Annual Temp

48.5
 

Water line frost depth is 48 depth in Los Alamos Town Site and 36 in White Rock

 
 

Sewer 12” foot below the surface of the ground

  
 

Gas 12” steel and 18” for the Polly Ethelene

 
 

Electrical yard lien 24” below the surface of the ground

  

and,

4. Los Alamos County Municipal Code of Ordinances: 
Building Regulations in the Los Alamos County Code of Ordinances


ICC logoThe International Code Council provides public access to its published codes including building codes adopted in the state of New Mexico in the public access portion of its I-Codes website at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/collections/I-Codes.Confirm which code is applicable to your project with Building Safety Division as not every code and not every portion of code may have been adopted or apply to your project.

Commercial Building Information

New Construction: All commercial site plans must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission before a permit can be submitted. (see Planning) Planning can be reached by calling (505) 662-8120. 

A building permit is required for all new commercial structures, additions, and any footprint changes. Submit two (2) sets of plans, site plans, and other documentation.

Do not begin work before obtaining your permit card and please post the permit card so it is visible from the street. If work is done without a permit, double fees and delays may occur. You may be required to remove some of your work for inspection purposes if found working without a permit.

Upon submittal of the building permit, a plan review fee or 65% of the estimated building permit fee must be paid. The plan review fee is in addition to the building permit fee. Fees are calculated based on the valuation of the project.

New Commercial installations OR existing commercial installations requiring an electrical permit for the service entrance shall require an exterior disconnecting means in accordance with DPU-ED requirements. Exterior disconnecting means shall be a load break fused disconnect, or the main breaker at an MDP (main distribution panel or MSB (main switchboard).

When the plan review is complete, we notify you. Most commercial building permits take five (5) business days for the Building Safety Division to review, other departments may take longer.

The State of New Mexico's Construction Industries Division(CID) permits electrical and plumbing/mechanical work in Los Alamos County. Those permits need to be obtained separately from the application to the County. CID can be reached by phone at (505) 476-4700.

COMMERCIAL PERMIT CHECKLISTS

Building Permit Application
Commercial Additions Checklists
Commercial Large Accessory Structure
Commercial Remodel Checklists
Commercial Sign Checklist
New Commercial Building Checklists

Drone Consent Form

Permit Fee Schedule

The list of all required inspections is provided below.

Residential Building Information

  • Two (2) sets of the building plans and the site plans must be provided for plan review.
  • You will be notified when your permit is ready. Most residential permits take three (3) business days to process.
  • Please don't start construction before obtaining your permit or you will incur double fees and risk delays by having to remove some of your work for inspection purposes.

RESIDENTIAL PERMIT CHECKLISTS

Building Permit Application
Decks, Deck Covers, Porches, and Carports Checklists
Demolition
Fences, Yard Walls Checklist
Ground Mounted Photovoltaic
Large Accessory Structure (over 200 sqft)
New Dwelling Unit Checklists
New Roof Structure Checklist
Re-Roof Checklist
Residential Addition Checklists
Residential Patio Enclosures and Sunrooms Checklists
Residential Remodel Checklist
Retaining Wall Checklist
Roof Mounted Photovoltaic
Siding, Stucco Checklist
Small Accessory Structure Checklist
Window, Door Checklist
Wood or Gas Stove Checklist

Drone Consent Form

 Permit Fee Schedule

Additional Resources and Application Forms

Construction Standards for Public Works Infrastructure

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Public Works Design and Construction Standards
Revised September 2008, This standard presents criteria for use in the design and construction of municipal Public Works Infrastructure in the County of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Material presented is intended for the use of qualified design professionals familiar with municipal infrastructure. The County has adopted NMDOT Design Standards and Serials for the constructions of roads and bridges.

Criteria for building construction and design are provided in the Los Alamos County Code - Title 10. Criteria for fire protection and Life Safety are provided in the Los Alamos County Code - Title 22.

Clarifications of this document shall be made by the County Engineer of Los Alamos County. Any subject/situation not addressed in this document or other County Standards shall be revised and approved by the County Engineer.

Outdoor Lighting 16-276: All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed to comply with the performance standards relative to the glare of the zoning district in which such area is located. The standards can also be found in the Los Alamos Municipal Code.

Please consult the Public Works Design and Construction Standards for more information.

Inspections

Los Alamos County inspects construction on a regular basis. The inspector must have access to the work area for inspection. If the work area is in an occupied house, then the contractor/owner or their representative must be present. The building permit card must be displayed so that it is visible from the street and all permit paperwork that was issued with the permit must be on site and accessible by inspector to sign off, for all inspections.

Depending on the type of project, you may need one or more of the following inspections from the County. You may also need additional inspections specific to the project.

All work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. It shall be the duty of the permit holder or their agent to notify the Building Safety Division when work is ready for an inspection call (505) 662-8120. Work shall not be done beyond the point of required inspection until the work is approved in writing by the Building Safety Division.

 Permit Type  Inspection
   
 (*Building Official may require additional inspections)
 Residential/Commercial Curb Cuts
  1. Initial
  2. Final
 Residential/Commercial Grading & Excavation
  1. Final
 Residential Fireplace
  1. Framing (if applicable)
  2. Foundation (if applicable)
  3. Final
 Residential Carports
  1. Footing (if applicable)
  2. Foundation (if applicable)
  3. Framing (if applicable)
  4. Final
 Residential Interior Remodel
  1. Footing (if applicable)
  2. Under-slab (if applicable)
  3. Framing (if applicable)
  4. Insulation
  5. Wallboard
  6. Final
 Residential/Commercial Fences over 6 feet in height and Walls over 36 inches in height
  1. Footing & Foundation
  2. Final
 Residential Large Accessory Structures over 120 sq. ft. and Residential Detached Garages
  1.  Footing & Foundation
  2. Framing
  3. Stucco/Siding
  4. Final
 Residential New Roof Structure
  1. Framing
  2. Attachment of new roof to house before decking is installed
  3. Insulation
  4. Ice Shield (if applicable)
  5. Final
Residential/Commercial Re-roof
  1. Structural-Commercial Only (to be called for after old roof tear-off)
  2. Ice Shield (if applicable)
  3. Final
 Residential/Commercial Stucco/Siding/Eaves
  1. Air Barrier
  2. Lath/Flashing/Weep Screed
  3. Final
 Residential Uncovered Decks and Porches
  1. Footing
  2. Foundation
  3. Framing (if applicable)
  4. Final
 Residential Window Replacement
  1. Framing (applicable if changing opening size)
  2. Flashing/Final
   
Full Building Permits 
(*Building Official may require additional inspections)
 Residential New Dwelling Unit and Additions
  1. Footing
  2. Foundation
  3. Concrete Slab or Under-floor
  4. Rough Electrical (CID inspection)
  5. Rough Plumbing/Mechanical (CID inspection)
  6. Frame/Structural/Nailing (for SIPS)
  7. Sheathing
  8. Bond Beam
  9. Air Barrier 
  10. Firewalls
  11. Lath/Flashing/Stucco/Weep Screed
  12. Insulation
  13. Drywall/Wallboard 
  14. Initial Curb Cut (Engineering inspection)
  15. Final Curb Cut (Engineering inspection)
  16. Final Drainage (Engineering inspection)
  17. Final Electrical (CID inspection)
  18. Final Plumbing/Mechanical (CID inspection)
  19. Pre-Final Building Inspection (optional, at the request of the applicant)
  20. Final Building Inspection
 Commercial New Structures and Additions
  1. Footing
  2. Foundation
  3. Concrete Slab or Under-floor
  4. Rough Electrical (CID inspection)
  5. Rough Plumbing/Mechanical (CID inspection)
  6. Frame/Structural/Nailing (for SIPS)
  7. Sheathing
  8. Bond Beam
  9. Air Barrier
  10. Firewalls/Fire Resistant Penetrations
  11. Drop Ceilings/Seismic Tie Off
  12. Lath/Flashing/Stucco/Weep Screed
  13. Insulation
  14. Drywall/Wallboard
  15. Initial Curb Cut (Engineering inspection)
  16. Final Curb Cut (Engineering inspection)
  17. Final Drainage (Engineering inspection)
  18. Final Electrical (CID inspection)
  19. Final Plumbing/Mechanical (CID inspection)
  20. Pre-Final Inspection (optional, at the request of the applicant)
  21. Final Planning
  22. Final Fire
  23. Final Engineering
  24. Final Utilities
  25. Final Building Inspection

The State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID) completes all electrical and plumbing/mechanical inspections. A separate permit will be required. The telephone number for their nearest office is (505) 476-4700.

For County of Los Alamos inspections, an inspection request must be called in by 5:00 p.m. to (505) 662-8120 the day before the planned inspection.

Contractors may request a two-hour time frame for a scheduled inspection via email to: BuildingInspectionRequests@lacnm.us  before 8:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled inspection. No two-hour time frame requests may be made by telephone. If a request for a two-hour time frame is received before 8:00 a. m.on the day of the inspection, an inspector will contact you with the two-hour timeframe which the Building Official has assigned​ for that inspection.

All construction must obtain final for that inspection inspections for a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy. The final inspection should not be called in until the final State of New Mexico electrical and mechanical inspections have been completed. Allow a minimum of one week for all commercial final inspections.

For more information call (505) 662-8120.

Contact Info

(505) 662-8120

(505) 662-8363

building@lacnm.us

1000 Central Ave, Suite 150

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Mon - Fri