Unlicensed Violations

Contracting without a license in New Mexico is against the law. If a contractor is working without a license, the Division may stop the construction project and file a criminal charge of unlicensed contracting in Metropolitan or Magistrate Court. Violators will be eligible for licensure 1 year from date of conviction.

Criminal charges of unlicensed contracting can be filed in Magistrate or Metro Court. Penalties for unlicensed contracting are set out by law (Section 60-13-52.A of the CILA). If the dollar value of the contracting work is $5,000 or less, the contractor may be sentenced to the county jail for 90 days or to the payment of a fine of $300 to $500, or both. If the dollar value of the contracting work is over $5,000, the contractor may be sentenced to the county jail for 6 months or to the payment of a fine of 10% of the dollar value of the contracting work, or both.