Who requires it
Construction Industries Division — Regulation and Licensing Department
License & permit · New Mexico
New Mexico Contractors Bond
New Mexico Construction Industries Division contractor licenses require a ten-thousand-dollar surety bond as proof of responsibility. NMSA 1978 § 60-13-49 and 14.6.3 NMAC apply that single amount on initial licensure and renewal. Contractor classifications—general building, general engineering, electrical, mechanical, and others—authorize different scopes of work, but they do not create different statewide bond amounts. Bond proceeds cure division-certified code violations the licensee caused and failed to correct.
Common bond amount
$10,000
Flat face for all CID contractor classifications (NMSA 1978 § 60-13-49; 14.6.3 NMAC).
How you file
File the $10,000 proof-of-responsibility bond with CID
Renewal
Maintain for the full license term; 30-day cancellation notice to CID
Who requires it
Business entities applying for or renewing a CID contractor license under the Construction Industries Licensing Act that must furnish proof of responsibility. The license must be supported by a qualifying party certified for the classification of contracting the entity will perform.
How much is required
Section 60-13-49 and 14.6.3.8 NMAC fix ten thousand dollars for every applicant. The amount does not vary by GB-98, GB-2, GA-98, EE-98, MM-98, or other CID classification.
How to get and file it
Complete the CID license path for your classification, including qualifying-party certification and examinations. Have a New Mexico-authorized surety issue a $10,000 contractor proof-of-responsibility bond covering the full license term, then file it with CID before the license issues or renews. Keep the bond in force for the entire license period. The surety must give CID and the licensee thirty days’ written notice before canceling. If the bond lapses, CID notifies the licensee that a replacement is required; failure to provide a new bond leads to license cancellation under the statute and rule.
Cost note
Ten thousand dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $10,000
- Classifications
- One bond amount for GB, GA, electrical, mechanical, and other CID contractor licenses
- Claim purpose
- Cure CID-certified code violations caused and not corrected by the licensee
- Claim window
- Within two years after final inspection or certificate of occupancy, whichever is earlier
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Is there a different New Mexico bond for electrical or mechanical contractors?
No. Electrical (EE), mechanical (MM), general building, and other CID classifications share the same $10,000 proof-of-responsibility bond. Your qualifying-party certificate and license classification control the work you may perform, not a separate bond schedule.
What triggers a claim on the CID contractor bond?
Bond payments are limited to curing code violations certified by the division that the licensee caused and did not correct. Claims must be made within two years following final inspection or issuance of a certificate of occupancy, whichever is earlier.
Related New Mexico bond guides
Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
$12,500 / $50,000
New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division dealer, wholesaler, distributor, auto recycler, and title-service licenses require a fifty-thousand-dollar surety bond before issuance. Motorcycle-only dealers file twelve thousand five hundred dollars instead. NMSA 1978 § 66-4-7 conditions the bond on protecting purchasers against title failures, fraudulent misrepresentations, and warranty breaches as to liens. Form MVD-10175 is the ordinary filing form, and the bond must track the dealer license year that ends each March 31.
Mortgage Lender Bond
$50,000 / $100,000 / $150,000
New Mexico mortgage loan companies must post and maintain a surety bond with the Financial Institutions Division under NMSA 1978 § 58-21-7. New licenses start at fifty thousand dollars. On renewal, the amount steps to fifty thousand, one hundred thousand, or one hundred fifty thousand dollars based on annual New Mexico mortgage origination volume. Mortgage loan originators follow the same volume schedule under § 58-21B-17, but employees or exclusive agents of a licensed company may use the company’s bond instead of posting separately.
Public Adjuster Bond
$10,000
New Mexico public adjusters must file a surety bond of at least ten thousand dollars with the Office of Superintendent of Insurance. NMSA 1978 § 59A-13-5 conditions the bond to pay actual damages resulting to the state or the public from the licensee’s violations while acting as an adjuster. After the 2023 statutory amendment, the bond requirement applies to public adjusters; OSI directs electronic filing through NIPR.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Apply for the Contractors Bond
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Last verified 2026-08-11. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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