Bolthole Index

Curry County, New Mexico

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Clovis, New Mexico

Clovis, New Mexico requires building permits for residential construction through the city’s Building Safety Department.1 Clovis applies its own zoning inside city limits in Curry County, with lot and building rules that vary by district.2 Septic permits inside Clovis come from the New Mexico Environment Department, rather than the city building office.3

At a glance

Building permits
City Building Safety handles residential building permits; limited work is exempt.14
Zoning
Clovis Unified Development Ordinance; district-specific uses and dimensions.2
Septic permits
NMED reviews onsite liquid-waste applications.35
Accessory dwellings
Allowed or conditional in several districts; prohibited in PI.6
Minimum lot area
Conventional detached house: 7,000 sq ft in RS-7; 170,000 sq ft in RS-170.78
Homeowner building permit
City accepts residential applications from homeowners who own and occupy the single-family residence.1

Who to call

Building permits

Clovis Building Safety Department

Building permits, plan review and inspections

575-769-7829

1221 Mitchell Street

Zoning

Clovis Zoning Department

Zoning, rezoning, plats, variances and special exceptions

575-763-9639

1221 Mitchell Street

Septic permits

New Mexico Environment Department, Clovis Field Office

Local questions about onsite wastewater permitting and permit searches

575-762-3728

[email protected]

100 E Manana, Unit 3, Clovis, NM 88101

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Clovis means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Clovis, NM?

Clovis requires a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building or structure.1 Clovis has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code with state amendments, excluding the automatic-fire-sprinkler provision.9

The Clovis residential-code exemption list includes one-story detached tool or storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures with floor area no greater than 120 square feet.4 Building Safety also identifies cosmetic alterations such as paint, trim, floors and tile as work that does not require a building permit.1 Ask Building Safety to classify the proposed work before relying on an exemption.1

Who issues building permits and handles inspections in Clovis?

The Clovis Building Safety Department handles building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical project permitting, plan review and inspections.1 Contact Building Safety at 575-769-7829 or visit 1221 Mitchell Street; the city also accepts online building-permit applications.1 Ask the department for the inspection sequence and current fees for the specific project.1

Clovis allows a homeowner who owns and occupies the single-family residence to obtain the residential construction permit, or a contractor holding both state and city business licenses to apply.1 The city says electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits must be obtained by licensed contractors holding the required state and city licenses.1

Does Clovis have zoning, minimum lot sizes and setbacks?

Clovis has city zoning, and the district, building type and conventional or cluster development pattern determine the applicable lot and building regulations.2 For conventional detached houses in RS-7, the minimum lot area is 7,000 square feet and minimum width is 65 feet.7 RS-7 conventional detached-house setbacks are 20 feet from the street, 5 feet from an interior side and 15 feet from the rear.10

For conventional detached houses in RS-170, minimum lot area is 170,000 square feet and minimum width is 250 feet.8 RS-170 conventional setbacks are 100 feet from the street, 40 feet from an interior side and 25 feet from the rear.11 Ask Clovis Zoning to confirm the parcel’s classification and any required variance or special exception.12

How do septic permits work inside Clovis?

NMED reviews onsite liquid-waste permit applications for properties inside Clovis city limits.3 A Clovis septic application needs owner authorization, supporting documentation and site information; payment follows approval or conditional approval, and advanced-treatment systems or variances have additional requirements.5 Contact the NMED Clovis Field Office at 575-762-3728 for permitting questions or searches for an existing septic permit.13

After installation, request the NMED inspection at least 48 hours in advance and leave the system uncovered until inspection; an approved inspection results in a Permit to Operate.14 Before buying a Clovis property with an established onsite system, require the seller’s qualified property-transfer evaluation under New Mexico’s liquid-waste rules.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Clovis?

We could not confirm a Clovis rule allowing residential RV occupancy on a private lot or a city-specific tiny-home occupancy provision; ask Clovis Zoning about the proposed dwelling and location before buying or moving a unit onto the site.12 A small accessory dwelling has a separate zoning answer: Clovis treats ADUs as conditional in RS-170, RS-7, CBD and I, permitted in RM and CG, and prohibited in PI, subject to the applicable accessory-dwelling and building regulations.6

An ADU permission does not establish permission for RV living: the verified Clovis ADU rule concerns accessory dwelling units.6 Short-term rentals also require conditional-use review in the residential districts, CG and CBD, and are prohibited in I and PI.16

Building a home in Clovis: what should you check first?

Start with Clovis Zoning to confirm the proposed use, district dimensions and whether rezoning, a variance or a special exception is needed.212 Next, bring the project to Building Safety for the residential building-permit application, plan review and inspection requirements; the department also handles trade permits.1 For an onsite wastewater proposal, submit the septic application to NMED and arrange the required inspection before covering the installed system.514

We could not confirm a general Clovis water or sewer connection threshold, private-well requirement or complete current city fee schedule; ask Building Safety to identify the required approvals and applicable fees for the address.1 For a parcel outside the city, consult the Curry County guide and confirm jurisdiction before applying: Curry County’s lack of zoning outside city limits does not describe Clovis city zoning.172

Watch-outs

  • Clovis building-permit exemptions for small accessory structures do not establish a zoning exemption; the city’s district-specific lot and building regulations still need to be checked.42
  • Clovis says electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits must be obtained by licensed contractors; clarify the city’s trade-permit requirements before planning homeowner work.1
  • Do not cover a Clovis septic system before NMED inspection, and request inspection at least 48 hours ahead.14

Sources

  1. Clovis Building Safety Department (clovisnm.gov)
  2. Clovis UDO § 17.10.030, Lot and building regulations (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  3. New Mexico Environment Department, Apply for a Permit (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  4. Clovis Code § 15.16.020, Amendments to the International Residential Code (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  5. New Mexico Environment Department, Apply for a Permit (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  6. Clovis UDO § 17.30.010, Allowed uses (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  7. Clovis UDO § 17.10.030, Lot and building regulations (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  8. Clovis UDO § 17.10.030, Lot and building regulations (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  9. Clovis Code § 15.16.010, International Residential Code adopted (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  10. Clovis UDO § 17.10.030, Lot and building regulations (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  11. Clovis UDO § 17.10.030, Lot and building regulations (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  12. Clovis Zoning Department (clovisnm.gov)
  13. New Mexico Environment Department, Clovis Field Office (env.nm.gov)
  14. New Mexico Environment Department, Apply for a Permit (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  15. Property Transfer Evaluations (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Clovis UDO § 17.30.010, Allowed uses (Clovis), quoted and re-checked
  17. Curry County–City of Clovis Joint Comprehensive Plan 2007, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Clovis

Clovis’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Work governed by the Clovis residential building code; the code identifies limited classes of work exempt from permit.

    • The exemption list includes one-story detached accessory structures used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses only when floor area does not exceed 120 square feet; other listed exemptions and conditions apply.
    • This claim does not establish that every non-exempt project has the same permit procedure.

    maximum exempt accessory structure floor area: <= 120 sq ft (one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses)

    “One story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11.15m 2 ).”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Residential construction inside Clovis city limits.

    • Section R313 relating to automatic fire sprinkler systems is excluded.
    • State of New Mexico amendments adopted as of or after the ordinance effective date are included.
    “The city hereby adopts by reference the conditions, provisions, limitations and terms of the International Residential Code, 2021 Edition”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Clovis city limits; the city administers a Unified Development Ordinance with zoning districts and district-specific use and dimensional regulations.

    “This section establishes basic lot and building regulations for all development in R districts. The regulations vary based on the zoning classification, building type and development type (conventional vs. cluster).”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Clovis city zoning districts and associated land-use regulations.

    • The allowed-use table identifies RS-170, RS-7, RM, CG, CBD, I, and PI districts.
    • Use permissions vary by district and may be permitted, conditional, or prohibited.
    “USE CATEGORY RS- 170 RS-7 RM CG CBD I PI Definition/Add'l Regulations”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units inside Clovis city limits; the UDO table identifies district-specific permissions.

    • Accessory dwelling units are conditional in RS-170, RS-7, CBD, and I; permitted in RM and CG; prohibited in PI.
    • All ADUs must comply with § 17.30.030(C) and applicable building, lot, and accessory-structure regulations.
    “Accessory dwelling unit C C P P C C - 17.30.030.C”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside Clovis city limits.

    • The UDO allowed-use table marks short-term rental as conditional in RS-170, RS-7, RM, CG, and CBD, and prohibited in I and PI.
    • Conditional uses require review and approval under the conditional-use procedures.
    “Short-term rental C C C C C - - 17.30.020.D.8.d”

Rules another office applies inside Clovis

Clovis does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    RS-170 residential district inside Clovis city limits; conventional detached-house development.

    • Cluster development has separate regulations, including a 20,000-square-foot minimum detached-house lot area and 60 percent overall site open space.

    minimum lot area: 170000 sq ft (detached house, conventional development) · minimum lot width: 250 ft (detached house, conventional development)

    “Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) Detached house 170,000 7,000 5,000 [...] Minimum Lot Width (ft.) Detached house 250 65 50”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — RS-7 residential district inside Clovis city limits; conventional detached-house development.
      “Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) Detached house 170,000 7,000 5,000 [...] Minimum Lot Width (ft.) Detached house 250 65 50”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    RS-170 residential district inside Clovis city limits; conventional detached-house development.

    • The table also provides cluster-development setbacks of 30 feet street, 15 feet interior side, and 40 feet rear.

    street setback: 100 ft (conventional detached house) · interior side setback: 40 ft (conventional detached house) · rear setback: 25 ft (conventional detached house)

    “Minimum Building Setbacks (ft.) Street 100 20 20 Side (interior) 40 5 5[1] [2] Rear 25 15 15[3]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — RS-7 residential district inside Clovis city limits; conventional detached-house development.
      “Minimum Building Setbacks (ft.) Street 100 20 20 Side (interior) 40 5 5[1] [2] Rear 25 15 15[3]”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    On-site liquid-waste systems inside Clovis city limits; the New Mexico Environment Department handles permit review through the local NMED field office.

    • The source describes state NMED review and does not establish a separate Clovis municipal septic permitting program.
    “Submit to Local NMED Field Office for review”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, registration, or modification of an on-site liquid-waste system inside Clovis city limits.

    • Application must include owner authorization, supporting documentation, and site information.
    • Permit is paid only after NMED approval or conditional approval.
    • Advanced treatment and variance procedures have additional requirements.

    conventional system design flow: up to 1,000 gpd (NMED fee schedule identifies $225 effective 2020-07-01)

    “Application – Print and fill out an Application for Liquid Waste Permit, Section 20.7.3.401 NMAC”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-site liquid-waste systems inside Clovis city limits after installation and before covering.

    • Inspection must be requested from NMED 48 hours, or two business days, in advance.
    • The system must not be covered before inspection.
    • An approved inspection results in a Permit to Operate.

    inspection notice: >= 48 hours (two business days)

    “Request Inspection by NMED 48 hours (2 business days) in advance (DO NOT COVER BEFORE INSPECTION)”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Clovis or Curry County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Clovis city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Clovis city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Clovis city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Clovis city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Clovis city limits.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Clovis publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Curry County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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