New Mexico building code

Codes in force in New Mexico

Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.7.3 NMAC¹

Transition period

Ended December 14, 2023¹

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.7.2 NMAC²

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.7.7 NMAC³

Transition period

Ended December 14, 2023³

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.7.6 NMAC⁴

Transition period

Ended July 30, 2024⁴

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.7.9 NMAC⁵

Transition period

Ended July 30, 2024⁵

Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.8.2 NMAC⁶

Transition period

2021 or 2024 code until January 1, 2027⁶

Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.9.2 NMAC⁷

Transition period

2021 or 2024 code until January 1, 2027⁷

State code

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.8.3 NMAC⁸

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹¹

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹¹

Amendments

14.10.4 NMAC⁹

Transition period

Ended September 28, 2023⁹

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹⁰

Amendments

10.25.5 NMAC¹⁰

How New Mexico adopts building codes

NMSA 1978, §§ 60-13-9, 60-13-44; 14.7 to 14.10 NMAC

• Statewide minimum; local governments may go further. F. All political subdivisions of the state are subject to the provisions of codes adopted and approved under the Construction Industries Licensing Act. Such codes constitute a minimum requirement for the codes of political subdivisions.¹¹
• Commission adopts codes by rule. J. The commission shall review all recommendations made under the provisions of this section and shall by rule adopt standards and codes that substantially comply with the requirements of this section that apply to the recommendations of the trade bureaus.¹¹
• Local inspection requires a certified building official and current code. D. An inspector shall be employed by a county, municipality or other political subdivision in order to inspect work under permits issued in the trade bureau for which the inspector is certified; provided that the county, municipality or other political subdivision has a certified building official in its employ and has adopted the current minimum code standards as established by the commission.¹¹
• Newest codes listed by CID. 2024 New Mexico Plumbing Code NMAC 14.8.2 EFFECTIVE DATE: August 1, 2026.¹²

Applies to

All political subdivisions of the state¹¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes¹¹

What local governments may change

NMSA 1978, §§ 60-13-44(F), 60-13-51

• State codes are the local floor. F. All political subdivisions of the state are subject to the provisions of codes adopted and approved under the Construction Industries Licensing Act. Such codes constitute a minimum requirement for the codes of political subdivisions.¹¹
• No additional municipal license bond. No municipality shall require any person or corporation licensed under the provisions of the Construction Industries Licensing Act to file or obtain as a condition of doing business as a licensed contractor within the municipality any additional license bond as proof of responsibility if the person or corporation has met the responsibility requirements of the commission.¹¹
• CID rules name local zoning and floodplain as separate. …historical authorities; and local zoning, and floodplain.¹³

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes¹¹

For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see New Mexico building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.