New Mexico decals modular via CID; casitas are local, with Albuquerque the most open (citywide in R-1).
Building approval
NM Construction Industries Division (CID)
Program
CID compliance decal (Title 14 NMAC) — Third-party label, state-reviewed
ADU law
Local (Albuquerque R-1 citywide 2023)
ADU summary
No statewide law; Albuquerque opened casitas citywide in R-1.
Site / structural drivers
High-desert heat (south); mountain snow (north); WUI
Verdict
Permittable — casitas are local
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General information, current as of 2026 — not legal advice. Confirm specifics with your local jurisdiction.
The Construction Industries Division (CID) of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, under Title 14 of the New Mexico Administrative Code. Modular structures are built to the same codes as site-built homes, carry a compliance decal, and have a data plate on the rear exterior identifying the codes met. In-state manufacturers must be licensed (GB-02 for residential, GB-98 for residential and commercial) and bonded. CID/local authorities handle installation approval.
Yes. Albuquerque changed its zoning in 2023 to allow casitas (ADUs) citywide in R-1 and other residential districts. Key rules: up to 750 sq ft, one casita per lot in R-A and R-1 zones, minimum 5-foot side/rear setbacks, no taller than the main house, and the casita can't occupy more than 25% of the combined side and rear yards. The city's 'Creating a Casita' program offers free guidance.
No. Casitas/ADUs are governed locally. Albuquerque is among the most permissive after its 2023 reform; Santa Fe and Santa Fe County have their own ADU standards. There's no statewide mandate forcing cities to allow ADUs, so confirm your specific jurisdiction.
It varies by elevation. Southern and central New Mexico (Las Cruces, Albuquerque) is a high-desert heat-and-sun envelope; northern New Mexico (Santa Fe, Taos) brings real snow load at altitude. Forested areas need wildfire-resistant (WUI) cladding, and parts of the state carry moderate seismic risk. PSL Modular sets the envelope from your site.
Yes — the casita is a deep part of northern New Mexico's housing tradition, and modular delivers one quickly. The unit clears via CID while you handle the local casita ordinance, septic/water, and (in the forests) wildfire spec. Glamping in the high desert and mountains is a growing market governed at the county level.
PSL Modular units are permittable in all 50 states. Pick yours for the building-approval path, the ADU law, and the structural spec your site needs.