Solar/Wind Construction Permitting Standards

August 16, 2023

Summary

The following standards apply to solar PV systems of any size and wind systems 10 kilowatts or less:

Licensing Requirements

Any person bidding or contracting for the installation of a solar PV system or a wind system 10 kW or less must possess a valid license issued by the construction industries division (CID) in the EE-98 or ER-1 license classification.

Any person performing the installation of a solar PV system or a wind system 10 kW or less must possess a valid journeyman certificate issued by CID in the EE-98J or ER-1J classification, or be an apprentice working under the direct supervision of such a certified journeyman.

Uniform Permitting Standards

A structural analysis must be performed by a structural engineer licensed in the state of New Mexico in order to determine if the roof structure is capable of supporting the added loads of a wind turbine 10 kW or less. A structural analysis is only required for a solar PV system if one of the following criteria is met:

Total added dead load of the array is greater than five lbs. per sq. ft. on roof construction
Total added point load of the array is greater than 45 lbs. on roof construction
Total added dead load exceeds 200 lbs. on any one truss, rafter, or roof joist
Mounting of the system is of a unique roof-mounted design
Roof structure contains over-spanned trusses, rafters, or roof joists.

A general solar PV electric system construction building permit for the mounting of the system on the roof will be required only if structural reinforcement is required by a structural engineer licensed in the state of New Mexico. For both solar PV and wind systems, if structural modifications are not required, one electrical permit shall be issued to a properly licensed contractor for solar collector installation.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	New Mexico
Incentive Type:	Solar/Wind Permitting Standards
Web Site:	http://www.rld.state.nm.us/construction/
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar Thermal Electric Solar Photovoltaics Wind (All)

Authorities

Name:	N.M. Stat. § 60-13-10.2
Date Enacted:	04/01/2013
Effective Date:	06/14/2013

Name:	NMAC 14.5.2.8
Date Enacted:	11/01/2013

Contact

Name:	Construction Industries Division – Santa Fe
Organization:	New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Departmen
Address:	2550 Cerrillos Road, 3rd Floor Santa Fe NM 87505
Phone:	(505) 476-4700

Name:	Construction Industries Division – Albuquerque
Address:	Albuquerque NM
Phone:	(505) 222-9801

Name:	Construction Industries Division – Las Cruces
Address:	Las Cruces NM
Phone:	(575) 524-6320

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.