Inspections

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Los Alamos County inspects construction regularly. 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 the 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 and Inspections required

 

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 30 inches in height

  1. Footing & Foundation
  2. Final

Residential Large Accessory Structures over 200 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

When it comes to protecting your home, your roof’s fire rating makes a big difference. Roofs are graded as Class A, B, or C—like a report card for fire safety. Class A roofs provide the strongest defense because they are the best at resisting flames and embers. This fire-resistiveness limits a fire’s ability to spread to neighboring properties and surrounding areas.

These ratings aren’t just about the materials you can see; they measure how the entire roof assembly performs during a fire. A roof assembly is like a sandwich made up of roofing, underlayment, and decking materials. This “sandwich” is designed to stand up to fire and wind-blown embers, and the specific combination of materials is tested by rating and certification agencies like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in real world situations. 

When applying to Los Alamos County, customers are required to submit manufacturer specification sheets verifying Class A ratings for ALL roofing materials. 

Why do I need a Class A roof assembly?  

After facing multiple wildfires over the years, the county adopted an ordinance in 2025 requiring Class A roof assemblies (the highest fire-resistance rating) and tempered glass skylights (Ordinance No. 02-368). These rules aren’t just red tape—they’re designed to give homes a fighting chance in a wildfire. Since Los Alamos is officially classified as an area where neighborhoods meet fire-prone landscapes (Wildland-Urban Interface, or WUI), these protections help reduce risk and keep the community safer.

Understanding the Rating:

Class A is the highest fire-resistant rating given by testing and certification agencies like UL. This indicates the roof assembly can resist serious fire exposure without igniting, cracking, or warping. It meets the requirements for resisting flame spread and preventing fire penetration into the structure. 

For Pitched Roofs:

Shingle and metal roof assemblies and the underlayment material(s) are required to be tested in accordance with ASTM E108/UL790 to achieve a Class A fire resistance rating. The Los Alamos County Building Division requires manufacturer specifications sheets showing materials have been tested to meet a Class A rating be submitted as part of the application.

For Low Slope (Flat) Roofs: 

Minimum of quarter in. per foot slope required for Los Alamos County Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) or modified bitumen membranes are required to be tested in accordance with ASTM E108/UL790 and achieve a Class A fire resistance rating. These assemblies are designed by the manufacturer(s) and tested by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and bear a UL certification stating Class A. Los Alamos County Building Division requires manufacturer specifications sheets showing materials have been tested to meet a Class A rating be submitted as part of the application.

Questions? Need examples of assemblies or cut sheets? Contact us.

building@lacnm.us

505-662-8120

Residential/Commercial Re-roof

  1. Structural-Commercial Only (to be called for after old roof tear-off)
  2. Ice Shield (if applicable)
  3. Final

When it comes to protecting your home, your roof’s fire rating makes a big difference. Roofs are graded as Class A, B, or C—like a report card for fire safety. Class A roofs provide the strongest defense because they are the best at resisting flames and embers. This fire-resistiveness limits a fire’s ability to spread to neighboring properties and surrounding areas.

These ratings aren’t just about the materials you can see; they measure how the entire roof assembly performs during a fire. A roof assembly is like a sandwich made up of roofing, underlayment, and decking materials. This “sandwich” is designed to stand up to fire and wind-blown embers, and the specific combination of materials is tested by rating and certification agencies like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in real world situations. 

When applying to Los Alamos County, customers are required to submit manufacturer specification sheets verifying Class A ratings for ALL roofing materials. 

Why do I need a Class A roof assembly?  

After facing multiple wildfires over the years, the county adopted an ordinance in 2025 requiring Class A roof assemblies (the highest fire-resistance rating) and tempered glass skylights (Ordinance No. 02-368). These rules aren’t just red tape—they’re designed to give homes a fighting chance in a wildfire. Since Los Alamos is officially classified as an area where neighborhoods meet fire-prone landscapes (Wildland-Urban Interface, or WUI), these protections help reduce risk and keep the community safer.

Understanding the Rating:

Class A is the highest fire-resistant rating given by testing and certification agencies like UL. This indicates the roof assembly can resist serious fire exposure without igniting, cracking, or warping. It meets the requirements for resisting flame spread and preventing fire penetration into the structure. 

For Pitched Roofs:

Shingle and metal roof assemblies and the underlayment material(s) are required to be tested in accordance with ASTM E108/UL790 to achieve a Class A fire resistance rating. The Los Alamos County Building Division requires manufacturer specifications sheets showing materials have been tested to meet a Class A rating be submitted as part of the application.

For Low Slope (Flat) Roofs: 

Minimum of quarter in. per foot slope required for Los Alamos County Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) or modified bitumen membranes are required to be tested in accordance with ASTM E108/UL790 and achieve a Class A fire resistance rating. These assemblies are designed by the manufacturer(s) and tested by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and bear a UL certification stating Class A. Los Alamos County Building Division requires manufacturer specifications sheets showing materials have been tested to meet a Class A rating be submitted as part of the application.

Questions? Need examples of assemblies or cut sheets? Contact us.

building@lacnm.us

505-662-8120

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

(*Building Official may require additional inspections)


Full Building Permits

(*Building Official may require additional inspections)

For electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections in New Mexico, you will need to contact The State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division (CID)  They can be reached at their Santa Fe office using the telephone number (505) 476-4700. Please note the state permits each these types of projects and the County does not.

In the County of Los Alamos, call (505) 662-8120 to request an inspection before 4:00 p.m. on the day before the planned inspection. Contractors can 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. Please note that no two-hour time frame requests can be made by telephone. If a request is received before 8:00 a.m. on the day of the inspection, an inspector will contact you with the two-hour timeframe that the Building Official has assigned for that inspection.

Finally, please be aware that all construction must obtain a final inspection for either a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Occupancy. However, please do not call in for a final inspection until the final State of New Mexico electrical and mechanical inspections have been completed. Please allow a minimum of one week for all commercial final inspections.

For more information call (505) 662-8120.

Inspections for Residential New Dwelling Units 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

Inspections for 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

Final Report of Required Special Inspections