Torrance County, New Mexico Building Permit Guide

In Torrance County no building may be constructed and no mobile home installed without a Development Permit from the County Planning & Zoning office at 205 9th Street in Estancia, at an administrative fee of $200 per unit. That is a land use approval, not the building permit: once the County has signed for zoning and floodplain, the structure permit is obtained from the state Construction Industries Division (CID) at 5500 San Antonio Drive NE in Albuquerque.

What needs a permit in Torrance County?

Section 19 of the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2024-04) requires a Development Review Permit before any building or accessory structure that is large enough to need a state building permit, or any mobile home, is placed, constructed or installed, and before electric service is connected to it. The County’s form adds that the permit must be in place before a building or mobile home is occupied or used.

Who issues permits in Torrance County?

County Planning & Zoning covers land within the County’s zoning jurisdiction, and CID issues the building permit there. The County’s own sheet sends applicants to CID’s Albuquerque office for the structure permit after the County’s zoning and floodplain signatures are complete. The five municipalities publish the following:

• Moriarty (population 2,074): new construction or changes to an existing structure need approval from the City Zoning Office first; the Zoning Administrator is on 505-886-3020 and asks for a drawing of the proposed change with heights, lengths, widths and distances from lot lines. The City’s Development Application lists a $25 residential development review and a $50 commercial one.
• Estancia (population 1,321): the Town’s Planning & Zoning office advises on new and existing homes and structures inside the town limits and issues permits under the Town codes. That office is closed until further notice, and zoning questions go to Town Hall on 505-384-2708, ext. 1. For land outside the town limits the Town refers callers to County Planning and Zoning.
• Mountainair (population 932): under Section 16 of the Town’s zoning ordinance no building may be erected and no mobile home installed until the Zoning Officer has reviewed it on the Town’s Development Review form, which carries a $10 administrative fee and must be completed before the structure is occupied or used. Code enforcement line: 505-705-0099.
• Willard (population 217) and Encino (population 56): neither village publishes a permit process; ask the village hall which local approval it wants before the state application.

None of the five publishes a building department of its own, so the building permit in each comes from CID once the local zoning step is done.

County forms

Planning & Zoning posts its forms as downloads on the department page:

• Development Permit – Structure and Development Permit – Mobile Home, each with an information form about the home or structure.
• Example Site Plan, showing what the County expects on the drawing.
• Land Use Permit Resources, a one-page list of the outside agencies and County offices an applicant has to visit.
• Multi Purpose State Building Application (2024) and CID’s homeowner permit instructions, posted for convenience; they are filed with the state, not the County.

The County form has signature lines for the County Assessor, the County Treasurer and Rural Addressing as well as the zoning approval, and the rural address is issued as part of the permitting process.

Torrance County fees

The Development Permit for a structure or a mobile home carries an administrative fee of $200 per unit, the figure on the County’s form and resources sheet since January 1, 2015. It can be paid by check, money order or cash and must be paid before the permit is issued. Under the Zoning Ordinance the Board of County Commissioners sets all zoning fees by resolution, including those for conditional use permits, variances, zone changes and special use permits.

The state structure permit is a separate charge from CID, based on the project. Operating without the County permit is a zoning violation, which the ordinance punishes with a fine of up to $300, up to 90 days in jail, or both.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

The County issues no trade permits; electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are CID’s.

The zoning ordinance ties power to the County permit: electric service may not be connected to a building, accessory structure or mobile home that has not had service before unless a Development Review Permit has been issued for it.

Documents for the County Development Permit

The County’s structure form lists what must accompany the application:

• 2 copies of the warranty deed or real estate contract (the County Clerk can supply a copy on 505-544-4350)
• 2 copies of proof of a water system or a state well permit
• The State Building Permit Application
• 2 copies of a pay stub from the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority, showing trash service has been arranged
• 2 copies of the state liquid waste permit
• 4 sets of building plans and a site plan

The Treasurer’s office (505-544-4800) and the Assessor’s office (505-544-4300) must sign the application before it can be approved. If the building pad is inside the 100-year floodplain, a Floodplain Development Permit application and an Elevation Certificate are needed before the County will issue the permit, under its Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance 92-4.

How to apply: 6 steps in Torrance County

Inspections

Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspections are made by CID under the state permits. The County’s inspections are zoning inspections: the Zoning Director, and the code enforcement officers who work under that office, inspect buildings, structures and land uses for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and act on complaints. The Road Department (505-544-4666) answers questions about road building requirements and culverts for driveways.

Local details in Torrance County

Zone districts: the Zoning Ordinance divides the county into Conservation, Agricultural, Agricultural Preservation (AP-5, AP-10 and AP-40), Preplatted Lands, Rural Residential, Minor Development, Major Development, Village and Rural Community Preservation and Special Use districts. The 2024 amendments added rules on full-time living in RVs, fences and walls, commercial greenhouses and kennels.

Septic permits: liquid waste permits come from the New Mexico Environment Department. The Albuquerque office named on the County’s resources sheet is permanently closed, and the Department sends in-person business to its Rio Rancho field office at 4359 Jager Drive NE, Suite B (505-771-5980).

Trash service: proof of an account with the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority (505-384-4270) is part of the County application.

Mobile homes: the placement and setup permit comes from the state Manufactured Housing office, at the same Albuquerque address as CID, in addition to the County Development Permit.

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

Official resources for Torrance 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
• Torrance County Development Permit, Structure
• Torrance County Planning & Zoning
• Torrance County Land Use Permit Resources sheet
• Torrance County Zoning Ordinance No. 2024-04
• City of Moriarty Planning & Zoning
• Town of Estancia Planning & Zoning
• Town of Mountainair Planning & Zoning
• CID frequently asked questions
• NM Environment Department liquid waste field offices

Torrance County permit FAQs

Does Torrance County issue building permits?

It issues a Development Permit, which is a zoning and land use approval. The structure permit is obtained from the state Construction Industries Division in Albuquerque after the County has signed for zoning and floodplain.

How much is the Torrance County Development Permit?

$200 per unit for a structure or a mobile home, payable by check, money order or cash.

Where do I apply?

Torrance County Planning & Zoning, 205 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016, phone 505-544-4390. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

How long is the County permit valid?

1 year. If construction has not started by then, you need to reapply.

What do I need for a mobile home in Torrance County?

The County Development Permit for a mobile home ($200), the state placement and setup permit, a liquid waste permit, proof of water and trash service, and the Assessor’s and Treasurer’s sign-offs.

Do I need approval to build in Moriarty?

Yes. The City requires Zoning Office approval before new construction or a modification of an existing structure; call the Zoning Administrator on 505-886-3020.

Who issues septic permits?

The New Mexico Environment Department. Its Albuquerque office has closed, and in-person service is at the Rio Rancho field office, 505-771-5980.

Simplify Torrance 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Torrance County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.