ROOFING x NEW MEXICO

Roofing contractor requirements in New Mexico.

CID's GS-21 Roofing classification covers installing, altering, and repairing roof systems on new or existing decks — asphalt, tar, shakes, shingles, tile, slate, urethane, and other approved materials — including deck preparation and incidental sheet metal such as flashing, skylights (without structural framing changes), gutters, and downspouts. The qualifying party needs two years of foreman-level practical or related trade experience and must pass the trade and Business & Law exams.

CID requires a permit for every re-roof, with the manufacturer's specifications. Where a roof already has two or more layers, existing coverings must be removed first, and pumice or other granular fill must be removed before replacement. Roofing is not handyman work above $7,200 a year in casual, minor jobs.

STATE LICENSE
RequiredNew Mexico Regulation & Licensing Departm…
STATUTE
NMSA 1978 §§ 60-13-3, 60-13-12; 14.6.6.9(D)(12) NMAC
RENEWAL
Up to 2 years per term (NMSA § 60-13-18)None for general building contractors (per CID)
VERIFIED
October 2026Official sources
FILE · ROOFING x NEW MEXICO
Compliance Dossier
Public
File
October 2026
STATE AUTHORITYNew Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID)
STATUTE / CODENMSA 1978 §§ 60-13-3, 60-13-12; 14.6.6.9(D)(12) NMAC
SCOPEStatewide · New Mexico
RENEWALUp to 2 years per term (NMSA § 60-13-18)
CONTINUING ED.None for general building contractors (per CID)
LOCAL OFFICES3 counties on file
FILE ROOFINGSCOPE STATEWIDE · NEW MEXICOTYPE VERIFIED RULE FILE
VERIFIED October 2026STATUS PUBLIC REFERENCE
What this file settlesThe New Mexico rules for roofing contractors, verified against official sources.
LICENSE TRUTH
Roofing in New Mexico requires a CID GS-21 Roofing license (or GB-2/GB-98, which include GS work), with a qualifying party who has two years of foreman-level roofing experience, plus a re-roof permit on every job.
STATE ↔ LOCAL
CID licenses contractors statewide under the Construction Industries Licensing Act; the license is the trade credential everywhere in New Mexico. Permits and inspections are issued by CID or, where a city or county runs its own building department, by that jurisdiction under codes adopted pursuant to NMSA § 60-13-44. A municipality may not require a licensed contractor to post an additional license bond (§ 60-13-51).
EVERY CLAIM SOURCED
Each requirement below carries its citation and official source. Facts we could not confirm are listed as pending — never asserted.
§ 01 · Permit Stack

How roofing work is governed in New Mexico.

The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.

STATE — THE LICENSE
CID (NMSA 60-13; 14.6 NMAC)
GS-21 ROOFINGQUALIFYING PARTY + EXAMS
STATE — RESPONSIBILITY
CID (NMSA 60-13-49; 14.6.3 NMAC)
$10,000 LICENSE BONDWORKERS' COMPQUALIFYING PARTY
STATE / LOCAL — PERMITS
CID or the local building department
RE-ROOF PERMITINSPECTIONS

Read it bottom-up.

CID licenses contractors statewide under the Construction Industries Licensing Act; the license is the trade credential everywhere in New Mexico. Permits and inspections are issued by CID or, where a city or county runs its own building department, by that jurisdiction under codes adopted pursuant to NMSA § 60-13-44. A municipality may not require a licensed contractor to post an additional license bond (§ 60-13-51).

The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every New Mexico county on file.

Source · New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID)Last verified · October 2026
§ 02 · Specs Ledger

Every requirement, with a number on it.

Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.

RequirementIssued byCostTimeCitationStatus
GS-21 Roofing Contractor LicenseIssued to the business entity, qualified by a certified qualifying party
CID (processed by PSI)
$36 application + $100 license fee per 2-year term
Up to 2-year term
NMSA 1978 § 60-13-12; 14.6.6.9(D)(12) NMAC
REQUIRED
Qualifying Party CertificateTwo years foreman-level experience, within the last 10 years; trade exam plus Business & Law exam (or approved course)
CID / PSI
$36 QP application + PSI exam fees
Before licensing
NMSA 1978 § 60-13-16; 14.6.3.8(G) NMAC
REQUIRED
$10,000 License BondCorporate surety; pays only to cure code violations the licensee leaves uncorrected
Surety
Premium on a $10,000 bond
Entire license term
NMSA 1978 § 60-13-49; 14.6.3.8(C) NMAC
REQUIRED
Workers' Compensation CoverageCID requires coverage for all licensed entities
Carrier
By payroll
Before licensing
NMSA 1978 § 60-13-23; 14.6.3.8 NMAC
REQUIRED
Handyman ExemptionCasual, minor work up to $7,200 compensation a year, one project at a time, no advertising, annual CID declaration — never electrical, plumbing, or gas fitting
Statute
Annual declaration filed with CID
Annual
NMSA 1978 § 60-13-3(D)(14); 14.6.2.8 NMAC
OPTIONAL
Building PermitFrom CID, or from the city or county where it runs its own building department
CID / local building department
Valuation-based
Per project
14.5.2 NMAC; 14.5.5 NMAC
CONDITIONAL
§ 03 · Year-One Cost

What it costs to start roofing in New Mexico.

Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.

Year-one ledger
New Mexico · Roofing
Qualifying party applicationPaid to PSI with notarized experience affidavits$36
License applicationPaid to PSI with the license application$36
GS-21 license feePer classification, two-year term (14.5.5.8 NMAC)$100
Trade + Business & Law examsPaid to PSI; an approved B&L course may replace the B&L examPSI rate
$10,000 license bondCorporate suretyBond premium
Year-one floor$172 in PSI/CID fees + exams and bond premium
Excludes tools, vehicle purchase, payroll, and marketing.
NOTE
Every re-roof needs a permit

CID's FAQ says a re-roof permit is required and the manufacturer's specifications must be included.

NOTE
Two layers is the limit

If the existing roof already has two or more coverings, they must be removed before new roofing goes on; pumice and granular fill must also come out (CID FAQ).

NOTE
Storm-claim scrutiny

CID tells homeowners to verify a roofer's license through PSI's search, and notes insurance may be denied without permit and inspection records.

§ 04 · Path to First Job

From day zero to first inspection.

A practical sequence for a new roofing contractor in New Mexico. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.

1
STEP 1
Document experience in notarized affidavits
Qualifying party → PSI ($36)
2
STEP 2
Pass trade + Business & Law exams
PSI exam centers
3
STEP 3
Register with Taxation & Revenue; bind $10,000 bond + workers' comp
TRD / surety / carrier
4
STEP 4
Apply for GS-21
CID via PSI
5
STEP 5
Pull permits and call inspections
CID or local building department
§ 05 · Compliance Checklist

Check them off.

Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.

01
License before you bid
No bid may be submitted without a license covering the work — hold GS-21 or a classification whose scope includes it.
STATEESSENTIALNMSA 1978 § 60-13-12(A)–(B)
CIDIssuing authority
02
Put your license number on bids and permits
Omitting it from a written bid or permit application draws a $150 penalty fee.
STATEPAPERWORKNMSA 1978 § 60-13-19(A)–(B)
YouIssuing authority
03
Give the residential disclosure
Before residential work starts, a contract is signed, or money changes hands, disclose in writing on CID's form that the license and bond do not protect the consumer if you default.
STATECONSUMERNMSA 1978 § 60-13-19(C)
YouIssuing authority
04
Keep the $10,000 bond in force
A lapsed bond must be replaced within 40 days or the license is subject to revocation.
STATERESPONSIBILITYNMSA 1978 § 60-13-49(B)(5)
SuretyIssuing authority
05
Pull a re-roof permit
Every re-roof needs a permit with the manufacturer's specifications attached.
PERMITESSENTIAL14.5.2 NMAC; CID FAQ
CID / local building departmentIssuing authority
§ 06 · Enforcement

What the law does about unlicensed roofing work.

Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.

§
NMSA 1978 § 60-13-52(A), (C)Statute

Unlicensed contracting

Acting as a contractor without the license the CILA requires is a misdemeanor prosecuted in magistrate or metropolitan court; a second conviction doubles the penalty, and CID says a violator becomes eligible for licensure one year after conviction.

ConsequenceWork ≤$5,000: up to 90 days jail and/or $300–$500 fine · work >$5,000: up to 6 months jail and/or fine of 10% of the work's value
§
NMSA 1978 § 60-13-30Statute

No suit, no lien

A contractor may not sue to collect compensation for licensed work without alleging and proving it was licensed when the claim arose, and an unlicensed contractor has no right to file a mechanic's lien.

ConsequenceLoss of the right to sue for payment and to lien
§ 08 · New Mexico FAQ

Questions roofing contractors ask about New Mexico.

Q01Do I need a roofing license in New Mexico?+
Yes. Roofing for others requires a CID GS-21 Roofing license, or a GB-2 or GB-98 general building license, unless the work fits the $7,200 handyman exemption (NMSA § 60-13-12; 14.6.6.9 NMAC).
Q02Is there a roofing exam?+
Yes. New Mexico qualifying parties pass a trade exam and the Business & Law exam (or an approved course) after documenting two years of foreman-level experience within the last 10 years.
Q03Do I need a permit to re-roof?+
Yes. CID requires a re-roof permit with manufacturer specifications, and existing coverings must be torn off where there are already two or more layers.
§ 09 · Sources

Primary authorities, not secondary summaries.

Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.

Pending verification: License application fee: CID's licensing page lists a $36 application fee paid to PSI, while 14.5.5.8 NMAC as posted by the State Records Center still lists $30; license-fee amounts here ($100 or $200 per two-year term) come from 14.5.5.8 NMAC and may have been changed by a later rule not retrieved · PSI trade and Business & Law exam fees (published only in PSI Candidate Information Bulletins, not on an official state page) · Whether CID requires general liability insurance for this classification — no such requirement was found in the CILA or 14.6.3 NMAC, which name the $10,000 bond and workers' compensation as the financial requirements · The renewal term and expiration date CID currently assigns (NMSA § 60-13-18(B) allows up to two years with staggered expirations; the current CID/PSI schedule was not retrieved) · Current form name and any fee for the annual handyman declaration CID requires under § 60-13-3(D)(14)(c)

General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.

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