Regulations / State
New Mexico asbestos regulations.
Who licenses asbestos work in New Mexico, who takes the notification, and how long before the job you have to file. Plus how the federal rules layer on top.
State licensing & accreditation
Asbestos abatement work in New Mexico is licensed/accredited through the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Dept., Construction Industries Division (CID) licenses the contractor; NMED Air Quality Bureau handles NESHAP under NMSA 1978, Ch. 60, Art. 13 (Construction Industries Licensing Act); contractor classifications at 14.6.6 NMAC.
Credentials the state issues:
- GB-98 General Building contractor license (NMED requires asbestos contractors to hold one — there is no asbestos-specific CID classification)
Notification
Notifications go to the New Mexico Environment Dept. (NMED), Air Quality Bureau (AQB) under 20.2.78 NMAC (state-adopted asbestos NESHAP); 40 CFR 61 Subpart M.
- Advance notice: 10 working days.
- Notification details / form.
How the federal rules layer in
No matter the state, federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 (asbestos in construction), EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation still apply. A state program layers its own licensing and notification on top of — not instead of — these. Where New Mexico has no state license, the federal accreditation and NESHAP notification requirements are the floor.
New Mexico-specific notes
- NMED requires asbestos contractors to hold a CID GB-98 general building license; New Mexico has no asbestos-specific contractor classification.
- New Mexico does not issue individual asbestos credentials — on-site personnel use federal AHERA accreditation; samplers qualified under AHERA or another state qualify.
- NM adopted the federal asbestos NESHAP as 20.2.78 NMAC; AQB administers it.
- All demolitions require notification, with a survey by a qualified professional within 3 years of removal start; renovation thresholds >260 linear ft, >160 sq ft, or >35 cu ft of RACM.
- Albuquerque/Bernalillo County runs its own delegated program.
- Civil penalties up to $15,000 per violation per day.
Official sources
- NMED Air Quality — Asbestos
- NMED Asbestos in New Mexico FAQ (GB-98 requirement)
- NM CID (Construction Industries Division)
- City of Albuquerque Asbestos Program
Related
- All asbestos regulations by state
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 — Asbestos in Construction
- EPA NESHAP — 40 CFR 61, Subpart M
- Asbestos abatement software
- Compliance reporting in Nexus
Items we could not fully verify against a primary source: Exact 20.2.78 NMAC subsection numbering worth a direct read; CID landing URLs change periodically.
Last reviewed against the published rules: 2026-05-28. This is a summary, not legal advice. Asbestos rules — and the agencies that run them — change; confirm the current requirements with the New Mexico Environment Dept. (NMED), Air Quality Bureau (AQB) and read the actual rule before making a compliance decision.
New Mexico asbestos: common questions
Do I need a license to do asbestos abatement in New Mexico?
Yes — New Mexico regulates who can perform asbestos abatement. New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Dept., Construction Industries Division (CID) licenses the contractor; NMED Air Quality Bureau handles NESHAP. Relevant credentials include GB-98 General Building contractor license (NMED requires asbestos contractors to hold one — there is no asbestos-specific CID classification).
Who do I notify before asbestos work in New Mexico, and how far in advance?
Notifications go to the New Mexico Environment Dept. (NMED), Air Quality Bureau (AQB) (20.2.78 NMAC (state-adopted asbestos NESHAP); 40 CFR 61 Subpart M). Required advance notice: 10 working days.
Do the federal OSHA and EPA asbestos rules still apply in New Mexico?
Yes. Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101, EPA NESHAP (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and AHERA worker accreditation apply nationwide — New Mexico's rules layer on top of them, not instead of them.
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