Roosevelt County does not issue building permits. The City of Clovis Department of Building Safety permits and inspects building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work inside Portales and its 3-mile extra-territorial area, and the state Construction Industries Division (CID) does so everywhere else in the county. Before either, the County’s Planning/Rural Addressing office in Portales takes a development application and assigns the rural address that utilities and state agencies ask for.
What needs a permit in Roosevelt County?
Which rules apply depends on where the parcel sits. In the Portales area, Clovis Building Safety requires a permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any commercial or residential building or structure, and it names accessory buildings, curb cuts, signs and pools among the work covered. Cosmetic alterations such as paint, trim, floors and tile need no permit there. Elsewhere in the county the state’s permit rules apply through CID.
The County’s own requirements, under its Rural Addressing ordinance (Ordinance 2024-02, adopted July 2, 2024), sit in front of the building permit:
- A development application from anyone who wants to develop property in the county.
- A rural address for the structure.
- A driveway permit from the County Road Department where the driveway meets a county-maintained road, or an NMDOT permit on a state or US highway.
- A right-of-way permit to put facilities in a public right-of-way.
- Floodplain review, and a flood zone permit and elevation certificate where the parcel is in a floodplain.
- Subdivision review or a claim of exemption where land is being divided.
Who issues permits in Roosevelt County?
Every incorporated place in the county falls under one of two building authorities:
- Portales (population 11,734) and land within 3 miles of it: the City of Clovis Department of Building Safety. Portales tells residents that all building inspections and permitting are available through the City of Clovis, and asks them to see its own Planning Department first because some initial paperwork is done in Portales (575-356-8449, option 4).
- Elida (154), Dora (117), Floyd (84) and Causey (66): none of the four publishes a building office or a permit of its own, which leaves building and trade permits with CID. The County assigns addresses inside all four. Village offices: Dora, 220 Avenue A, 575-477-2411; Floyd, 575-478-2585; Causey, 575-273-4249 (open Monday and Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.).
- Unincorporated county beyond the Portales 3-mile area: CID.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| County office | Planning/Rural Addressing, 1111 W. Fir Street, Portales, NM 88130 |
| County phone | 575-359-2869 (fax 575-226-3401) |
| County Road Department | 1500 N. Boston, Portales, 575-356-5942 |
| Portales-area building permits | City of Clovis Building Safety, 1221 Mitchell Street, Clovis, 575-769-7829 |
| Portales Planning Department | 575-356-8449, option 4; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. |
The County development application and other forms
The development application is Appendix F of Ordinance 2024-02. It asks for the applicant and owner, the property’s section, township and range or lot and block, a description of the project and the type of development: home build, manufactured home, mobile home, modular home, shop or barn, or vacant lot. Staff then tick the further forms the project needs, and the list on the form shows how the pieces fit: building permit (CID) or building permit (Clovis), County or NMDOT driveway permit, mobile home move, flood zone permit, elevation certificate, certified survey, site plan, floor plans, claim of exemption or a subdivision form.
Other County forms:
- Address application (Appendix A) and the Address Verification Form (Appendix B) that the County issues once the address is calculated.
- Right of Way Permit application, from the Road Department.
- Claim of Exemption Form (revised 2015) and the Easement Application.
Clovis Building Safety takes Portales-area applications online through its permitting portal, or complete applications and drawings can be emailed to the department.
Permit fees
For Portales-area permits the City of Clovis publishes a Permit Fees Calculation sheet based on project value. Type I applies to residential permits pulled by a licensed contractor; Type II applies to homeowner permits, sign permits and commercial construction.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project value | Type I | Type II |
|---|---|---|
| $2,000 to $25,000 | $28 + $5.60 per $1,000 | $37 + $9.80 per $1,000 |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $157 + $4.04 per $1,000 | $262 + $7.07 per $1,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $258 + $2.80 per $1,000 | $444 + $4.90 per $1,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $398 + $2.24 per $1,000 | $691 + $3.92 per $1,000 |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $1,294 + $1.90 per $1,000 | $2,261 + $3.325 per $1,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $2,244 + $1.46 per $1,000 | $3,923 + $2.55 per $1,000 |
Outside the Clovis-served area, CID sets the building permit fee from the type of construction, square footage and construction cost and quotes it on request.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits
In Portales and its 3-mile area, Clovis Building Safety is a full building department: it permits, reviews and inspects electrical, plumbing and mechanical work as well as building work, under the 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code. Trade permits there can be obtained only by licensed contractors, who must hold both a New Mexico state licence and a City of Clovis business licence. A residential building permit can go to a licensed contractor or to a homeowner who owns and occupies the single-family home.
In the rest of the county, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are state permits applied for through CID’s online portal.
Documents the County asks for
The addressing ordinance sets out what the Planning office needs before it will issue an address, and so before utilities can be connected:
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →- The completed development application
- The address application, with the reason an address is needed
- A recorded deed or real estate contract showing ownership, and documentation of an approved subdivision where one applies
- The name of the approved subdivision with the lot and block number of the parcel
- Structure floor plans
- Information on legal access
- The driveway location, marked on the ground with 2 flags, and 1 flag at the approximate location of the structure
- The driveway permit number from the County Road Department, or from NMDOT where the driveway joins a state or US highway
If the parcel does not conflict with the subdivision requirements or a floodplain zone, the address is issued without further review. If it needs some form of subdivision or lies in a floodplain, addressing staff refer the applicant to the Planning Officer and the Floodplain Officer first.
How to apply: 6 steps in Roosevelt County
Inside Portales or within 3 miles of it, the building permit comes from Clovis Building Safety; otherwise it comes from CID.
Take it to Planning/Rural Addressing at 1111 W. Fir Street so staff can check subdivision and floodplain status. Inside Portales city limits, start with the City’s Planning Department instead.
The Road Superintendent inspects the driveway location on a county road and issues the permit; on a state highway the permit is NMDOT’s, through its Roswell office.
Addressing staff visit the site, take a GPS reading and issue the Address Verification Form.
Use the Clovis online permitting portal for the Portales area, or CID’s portal for the rest of the county.
On a Clovis permit (Portales and its 3-mile area), phone Clovis Building Safety on 575-769-7829. On a state permit anywhere else in the county, phone CID’s support center on 877-243-0979.
Rather not deal with the Roosevelt County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections
Inspections follow the permit. Clovis Building Safety inspects the building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work it permits in the Portales area; its Building Inspections Division is on 575-769-7829 at 1221 Mitchell Street in Clovis. For CID permits elsewhere in the county, inspection requests go to the state’s support center on 877-243-0979.
The County does not inspect construction. Its field visits are for addressing: after the address is assigned and the structure is in place, addressing staff install a post at the driveway, or a sign on the home, with white-on-red reflective house numbers, and the owner is responsible for keeping the numbers visible.
Local details in Roosevelt County
Addresses come first: the County tells applicants that state agencies and utility companies will ask for a copy of the Address Verification Form before approving any service, so the address step controls the schedule for power and for a state permit.
Floodplain: the County has a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (2024-01), and its Planning page lists separate FEMA flood map communities for Portales, Elida, Floyd and the unincorporated county. Portales runs its own floodplain program through its Planning Department.
Septic systems: liquid waste permits are issued by the New Mexico Environment Department; its Clovis field office is at 100 E. Manana, Unit 3 (575-762-3728).
County roads: the Road Department maintains over 1,210 miles of road and issues the right-of-way permit for utilities or other facilities placed in a county right-of-way; inside a municipality that permission comes from the town.
Dividing land: the County’s Subdivision Ordinance (2017-06) and its claim of exemption form apply before a new parcel can be addressed.
New Mexico building code
New Mexico adopts its building codes statewide; a city or county with its own certified building official issues its own permits, and elsewhere the state Construction Industries Division does. New Mexico rules
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official resources for Roosevelt County
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- 14.6.5.9 NMAC building officials and AHJ authority
- New Mexico CID permits, codes and inspections
- Roosevelt County Ordinance 2024-02, Rural Addressing
- Roosevelt County Planning/Rural Addressing
- Roosevelt County ordinances
- Roosevelt County Road Department
- City of Clovis Building Safety (permits Portales and its 3-mile area)
- City of Clovis Permit Fees Calculation
- City of Clovis online permitting portal
- City of Portales Community Services and Planning
- CID apply for a permit
- NM Environment Department liquid waste field offices
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Roosevelt County permit FAQs
Does Roosevelt County issue building permits?
No. The County takes a development application and assigns rural addresses. Building permits come from the City of Clovis Department of Building Safety in Portales and its 3-mile area, and from the state Construction Industries Division elsewhere.
Who issues building permits in Portales?
The City of Clovis Department of Building Safety, 1221 Mitchell Street, Clovis, 575-769-7829. Portales asks you to check with its own Planning Department first on 575-356-8449, option 4.
How much is a building permit in Portales?
Clovis charges by project value. For a residential permit pulled by a licensed contractor, a job valued between $50,001 and $100,000 is $258 plus $2.80 per $1,000; homeowner, sign and commercial permits use the higher Type II scale.
Where is the County planning office?
Planning/Rural Addressing is at 1111 W. Fir Street, Portales, phone 575-359-2869.
Do I need a driveway permit?
Yes, before the County will issue an address. The County Road Department issues it for a county-maintained road and NMDOT for a state or US highway.
Can a homeowner pull a permit in the Portales area?
A residential building permit can be taken out by a homeowner who owns and occupies the single-family home. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits go only to licensed contractors.
Simplify Roosevelt County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in New Mexico. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Roosevelt County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Roosevelt County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More New Mexico permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Roosevelt County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.