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New Mexico: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

New Mexico has 957,000 housing units. 42.7% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1985. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

New Mexico housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

New Mexico housing units by year built 42.7% of New Mexico housing units were built before 1980 and 57.3% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 1.4%; 2010–2019: 8.4%; 2000–2009: 15.5%; 1990–1999: 15.8%; 1980–1989: 16.2%; 1970–1979: 16.9%; 1960–1969: 9.0%; 1950–1959: 8.9%; 1940–1949: 3.5%; 1939 or earlier: 4.4%. Before 1980 42.7% 1980 or later 57.3% 2020 or later 1.4% 2010–2019 8.4% 2000–2009 15.5% 1990–1999 15.8% 1980–1989 16.2% 1970–1979 16.9% 1960–1969 9.0% 1950–1959 8.9% 1940–1949 3.5% 1939 or earlier 4.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in New Mexico.

How homes are heated

How homes in New Mexico are heated

Main heating fuel, share of about 837,000 occupied homes

  • Utility gas 61.7%
  • Electricity 23.3%
  • Propane or other tank gas 6.8%
  • Wood 5.7%
  • Other fuel 1.1%
  • Solar energy 0.7%
  • No fuel used 0.5%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how New Mexico's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
4B44.1%13
5B30.9%12
3B25%8

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. New Mexico spans 3: North-Central (42.8% of residents), Northern (32.1% of residents), South-Central (25% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 130 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 64 days in the mildest county to 225 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

1.4% of residential structures in New Mexico carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 11,342 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 2 of 33 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding.

Fire ants and termites

No county in New Mexico is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in New Mexico

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. New Mexico Department of Agriculture nmdeptag.nmsu.edu nmdeptag.nmsu.edu
  11. New Mexico Department of Agriculture nmdeptag.nmsu.edu nmdeptag.nmsu.edu
  12. New Mexico Department of Agriculture nmdeptag.nmsu.edu nmdeptag.nmsu.edu
  13. New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division rld.nm.gov rld.nm.gov
  14. New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division rld.nm.gov rld.nm.gov
  15. nmhealth.org nmhealth.org nmhealth.org
  16. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov