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Permit bond

New Mexico Permit Bond

New Mexico has no statewide building permit bond separate from the contractor license bond. NMSA § 60-13-49 and 14.6.3 NMAC require all licensed contractors to carry a $10,000 surety bond covering certified code violations within two years of final inspection; this bond is tied to licensure, not to individual permits. Under NMSA § 60-13-45, trade bureaus may separately require an inspection-fee bond of $500 to $1,500. Cities and counties may require additional permit-specific bonds, but state law prohibits municipalities from requiring licensed contractors to obtain a second license bond.

Bond at a glance
New Mexico Permit BondPermit bond
Set by cities and counties
LawNMSA 1978, § 60-13-49 and 14.6.3 NMAC (contractor license/code-compliance bond); NMSA 1978, § 60-13-45 (trade bureau inspection-fee bond)
Amount$10,000 (contractor license bond); $500–$1,500 (trade bureau inspection-fee bond)
Required byState Construction Industries Division (license bond required statewide); trade bureaus may add inspection-fee bond; cities and counties may require permit-specific bonds
How it works

Three steps to your bond.

  1. 01Apply onceTell us about your business and what the bond is for. One application covers most contractor bonds.
  2. 02The surety reviews itPropeller Bonds, our surety partner, reviews your application and sets the terms. We show you the terms before you commit.
  3. 03Sign and fileSign the bond and file it with whoever requires it: the project owner, agency or court. We help with the filing.
About this bond

What a permit bond is

Some cities and counties require a bond before they issue a building or work permit. It guarantees you'll follow local codes and the permit conditions, and pays the agency if you don't, for example if public property is damaged.

In New Mexico

New Mexico has no statewide building permit bond separate from the contractor license bond. NMSA § 60-13-49 and 14.6.3 NMAC require all licensed contractors to carry a $10,000 surety bond covering certified code violations within two years of final inspection; this bond is tied to licensure, not to individual permits. Under NMSA § 60-13-45, trade bureaus may separately require an inspection-fee bond of $500 to $1,500. Cities and counties may require additional permit-specific bonds, but state law prohibits municipalities from requiring licensed contractors to obtain a second license bond.

  • Municipalities cannot require a contractor holding the state license bond to post an additional license bond as a condition of doing business within the municipality (NMSA § 60-13-1 et seq.).

You need this bond if you're

  • A contractor pulling permits where the city or county requires a bond
  • Demolition and house-moving contractors
  • Sign, sewer and grading contractors
  • Owner-builders in some jurisdictions

What the surety looks at

Basic business details and credit.

FAQs

Common questions.

Does New Mexico require permit bonds?

Permit bonds are set by each city or county, not usually by state law. The permit office tells you the amount and the bond form.

What does it cost?

You pay a premium, not the bond amount. The surety sets the premium after it reviews your application, usually as a percentage of the bond amount. We show you the terms before you commit.

How do I get one through BLDAssure?

Apply once with us. We collect the details the surety needs, Propeller Bonds (our surety partner) reviews the application and issues the bond, and we help you file it with whoever requires it.

Related bonds

Other New Mexico bonds.

See all 22 New Mexico bonds with prices →

Permit bond

New Mexico Right-of-Way Bond

Work in a public street, sidewalk or highway usually needs an encroachment or right-of-way permit, and many agencies require a bond with it.

License bond

New Mexico Contractor License Bond

Some states, and many cities and counties, make contractors post a bond to get or renew a license.

Development bond

New Mexico Subdivision Bond

Cities and counties often require a developer to bond the public improvements in a new subdivision or site plan, like streets, sidewalks, storm drains, sewer and water lines, before they approve the final map or permits.

Sources

  1. NMSA 1978, § 60-13-45 – Trade bureaus; permits (bond $500–$1,500)
  2. 14.6.3 NMAC – Contractor licensing; $10,000 bond requirement (§ 14.6.3.8)
  3. NMHBA – What the Law Says About Contractors License Bonds (NMSA § 60-13-49)

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm the current requirement with the agency or owner that asks for the bond. Facts checked Oct 23, 2026.

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