State guide
New Mexico
New Mexico runs onsite wastewater through the New Mexico Environment Department’s Onsite Wastewater Bureau, not county health departments, except that Bernalillo County has its own onsite wastewater ordinance for unincorporated county areas. Permit applications are submitted to the local NMED field office, and NMED publishes a statewide fee table and field-office contact list.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- The New Mexico Environment Department’s Environmental Health Bureau regulates onsite wastewater statewide, except that Bernalillo County has its own ordinance for unincorporated county areas.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- NMED says licensed MM-1, MM-98, MS-1, or MS-3 companies may install, modify, or evaluate liquid waste systems; NMED also qualifies third-party evaluators and installer specialists for certain evaluation work.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- State fee
- $225.00 for a conventional system permit/register/construct/modify up to 1,000 gpd; NMED publishes additional statewide onsite wastewater fees on the permit page.
Official resources in New Mexico
State program home page for onsite wastewater permitting, forms, regulations, products, contacts, and permit search.
Official permit instructions, required submittals, timelines, inspection steps, and the statewide fee table.
Explains who may install or evaluate systems, homeowner qualification, and links to qualified-professional lists.
Lists the field offices and tells residents to contact their local NMED district field office for permitting and permit searches.
Official page linking the Installer Specialist list, third-party evaluator application, and other contractor/evaluator forms.
Key facts for New Mexico
- NMED says permit applications must be submitted to the local NMED field office for review.
- Bernalillo County is the only New Mexico county with its own onsite wastewater ordinance.
- Licensed MM-1, MM-98, MS-1, or MS-3 companies may install, modify, or evaluate liquid waste systems.
- Homeowners may install a conventional system at their own residence only after passing NMED’s homeowner qualification exam.
- Third-party evaluator qualification has a published statewide fee of $50.00.
- A conventional-system permit up to 1,000 gpd has a published statewide fee of $225.00.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in New Mexico
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMED Rio Rancho Field Office | Rio Rancho | 505-771-5980 | District 1 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
| NMED Los Lunas Field Office | Los Lunas | 505-841-5280 | District 1 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
| NMED Santa Fe Field Office | Santa Fe | 505-827-1840 | District 2 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
| NMED Taos Field Office | Taos | 575-758-8808 | District 2 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
| NMED Farmington Field Office | Farmington | 505-566-9741 | District 2 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
| NMED Las Cruces Field Office | Las Cruces | 575-288-2050 | District 3 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
| NMED Roswell Field Office | Roswell | 575-624-6046 | District 3 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
| NMED Ruidoso Field Office | Ruidoso | 575-258-3272 | District 3 field office for permitting and permit searches. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Use the NMED field-office contacts first; that is where New Mexico tells residents to ask about permits and permit searches.
- If you want to self-install at your own residence, apply for homeowner qualification before submitting the septic permit package.
- If your property is in unincorporated Bernalillo County, check Bernalillo County’s wastewater rules instead of assuming NMED is the permitting office.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from New Mexico's population center, for comparison only):
- San Miguel County Public Health Department - On-Site Wastewater Treatment (Septic) Systems, Colorado · about 261 miles
- Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment - Onsite Wastewater Treatment System, Colorado · about 272 miles
- Cochise County Septic Scheduling Line, Arizona · about 273 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.NMED Onsite Wastewater Program
Website →Phone: (505) 827-2855 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the New Mexico page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.