Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Hobbs, New Mexico

Hobbs’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential construction inside Hobbs city limits

  • Exemptions listed in the guide (e.g. one-story detached accessory buildings up to 120 sq ft, retaining walls up to 4 ft, decks up to 200 sq ft not attached and under 30 in.).
  • Separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are required unless exempted.
  • Planning approval (setbacks, addressing, floodplain) is needed before applying.

  “no building or structure regulated by this code shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a permit has first been obtained from the building official.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowner permits for building or altering a home inside Hobbs city limits

  • Homeowner must sign the application and read, sign and notarize the homeowner's responsibilities form.
  • Homeowner may not perform electrical, plumbing or mechanical work unless they apply for and pass the required state CID exam.
  • Not usable where a licensed GB-2 or GB-98 contractor acts as general contractor.

  “a homeowner's permit may not be used to permit a project where a gb-2 or gb-98 contractor is acting as a general contractor on the project.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted residential construction inside Hobbs city limits

  • Inspections listed: foundation, slab/under-floor, frame, weather-resistive barrier, energy, gypsum board, final and others.
  • Final electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspections precede final general construction inspection.
  • Request by email hobbs.permits@hobbsnm.org or 575-391-8158.

  “required inspections to request an inspection e-mail us at hobbs.permits@hobbsnm.org our call 575-391-8158”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and structures inside Hobbs city limits

  • Issued by the building official after final general construction inspection, which follows final electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspections.

  “no building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the building official has issued a certification of occupancy as provided.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  All land inside Hobbs city limits, Lea County, NM

  • City still has a major thoroughfare plan (with building setbacks), subdivision regulations, flood zone, fire zone, landscaping regulations, building code, business registration and other development regulations that must be followed.
  • Letter is a 2025 planning department zoning certification; no effective date stated.

  “the city of hobbs has not adopted a zoning ordinance to regulate land uses and locations of different types of development or specific business uses throughout the city.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Land inside Hobbs city limits

  • No zoning districts exist; land use is a use by right.

  “the city of hobbs has no current regulations which govern zoning districts and/or land uses, use of buildings, or use of vacant land.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Dwellings inside Hobbs city limits (no zoning minimum)

  • Building code requirements still apply.

  “the city of hobbs has no current regulations which govern zoning districts and/or land uses, use of buildings, or use of vacant land.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  New construction inside Hobbs city limits; set by the Major Thoroughfare Plan, not by zoning districts

  • Table 1 applies to lots in new subdivisions; Table 2 applies to building on existing unplatted lots, measured from street centerline or section line.
  • Setbacks vary by street type (arterial, collector, minor residential, etc.).
  • Numeric values were not legible in the extracted text; variance procedures exist; subdivision covenants may also apply.

  “table 1 on page 6 provides linear dimensions for minimum front yard and side yard requirements for new construction and new development”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lots inside Hobbs city limits (no zoning lot coverage limit)

  “the city of hobbs has no current regulations which govern zoning districts and/or land uses, use of buildings, or use of vacant land.”

• Building heightNone

  Buildings inside Hobbs city limits (no zoning height limit)

  • Building and fire code height and story limits still apply.

  “the city of hobbs has no current regulations which govern zoning districts and/or land uses, use of buildings, or use of vacant land.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny homes inside Hobbs city limits (no zoning rule restricts the use)

  • Building permit, building code and certificate of occupancy requirements still apply to construction.

  “the city of hobbs has no current regulations which govern zoning districts and/or land uses, use of buildings, or use of vacant land.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings inside Hobbs city limits (no zoning rule restricts the use)

  • Building permit and setback requirements of the major thoroughfare plan still apply.

  “the city of hobbs has no current regulations which govern zoning districts and/or land uses, use of buildings, or use of vacant land.”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

  Small accessory structures inside Hobbs city limits

  • Floor area must not exceed 120 sq ft, one story, detached.
  • Separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits still required unless otherwise exempted.
  • Setback rules still apply.

  maximum floor area for permit-exempt shed: <= 120 square feet (one-story detached tool/storage sheds, playhouses and similar)

  “one story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision inside Hobbs city limits

  • Subdivision regulations are in Title 16 of the Hobbs Municipal Code (not opened); the Major Thoroughfare Plan sets street standards for subdivisions.

  “the city does have a major thoroughfare plan, subdivision regulations, flood zone, fire zone, landscaping regulations, building code, business registration, liquor license, cannabis license and other development regulations that must be followed”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways inside Hobbs city limits under the Major Thoroughfare Plan

  • Access to arterials is restricted; access policy varies by street type.
  • Driveway width minimum 20 ft or two 10 ft by 20 ft improved parking areas.

  minimum driveway length from sidewalk: >= 25 feet

  “minimum off-street or on-site parking requirements include a minimum driveway length of 25' measuring from the sidewalk perpendicular to the garage or house, and a minimum driveway width of 20' or 2-10' x 20' minimum improved parking areas”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Hobbs city limits

  • Fee schedule is in Municipal Code chapter 15.28 (not opened); refunds are 80 percent of total permit fees paid per the guide.

  “permit fees are based on the total valuation including, materials, labor, electrical, mechanical and plumbing.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permits inside Hobbs city limits

  • Two sets of plans or PDF by email to hobbs.permits@hobbsnm.org; planning approval first; professional seals required for some methods (steel over 400 sq ft, prefabricated structures, retaining walls over 4 ft, second-story additions).

  “to obtain a building permit, the applicant shall fill out an application for city of hobbs building permit form.”

Rules another office applies inside Hobbs

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

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Individual liquid waste (septic) systems inside Hobbs city limits; the city's own guide sends applicants to the New Mexico Environment Department

  • Only the city guide was opened; the NMED rule itself was not opened.

  “septic tank permit obtain a permit to modify or install an individual liquid waste system form from your local new mexico environment department office.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing or modifying an individual liquid waste system on land inside Hobbs city limits

  • City guide instructs applicants to obtain the permit from NMED; underlying state rule not opened.
  • Whether public sewer must be used instead was not established.

  “septic tank permit obtain a permit to modify or install an individual liquid waste system form from your local new mexico environment department office.”

Still unanswered

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

• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection inside Hobbs city limits
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Hobbs city limits
• Well permit — Private wells inside Hobbs city limits
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Hobbs city limits
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural buildings inside Hobbs city limits

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.