Off-grid site report

Bernalillo County, NM

35.0559, -106.7384 · 5,118 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Bernalillo County, NM, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.

The local rulesBernalillo County, NM

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyBernalillo County Planning & Development Services administers a full zoning ordinance with rural-agricultural (A-1, A-2), residential (R-1), and mobile-home (M-H) zones; which one applies to your parcel changes everything. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedManufactured homes are permitted in designated zones and the M-H zone covers mobile home subdivisions, but full-time tiny-home-on-wheels occupancy as official policy is not confirmed; ask Planning & Development Services. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedBernalillo County Planning & Development Services issues building permits and inspections for unincorporated county projects under New Mexico's adopted construction codes. source

Septic & composting toilets

Varies locallyUnincorporated Bernalillo County runs its own Wastewater Ordinance (not the state NMED rule used elsewhere in NM), requiring county permitting, soil testing, and mandatory sewer connection within 200 feet of an available line; standalone composting toilets without a liquid waste system are not confirmed as allowed. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state NMED greywater rule appears to apply by default. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting was found; the state Office of the State Engineer generally encourages rooftop harvesting.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWells need a New Mexico Office of the State Engineer permit AND a separate Bernalillo County well permit, a dual-permit setup unique among NM counties; the Sandia Underground Water Basin is closed to new water-rights appropriations though domestic wells can still be drilled. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo blanket electric/water hookup mandate was found, but the county's Wastewater Ordinance forces sewer connection if you're within 200 feet of an available line, limiting full off-grid independence near serviced areas. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 6.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 5.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,818 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 10 in/yr
Snowfall: 7 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,387 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 18 to Oct 23

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Lovelace Westside Hospital: 11.0 mi
Fire station Albuquerque Fire Station 14: 0.8 mi
Hardware store Dominic Tool: 1.3 mi
Grocery Walmart Neighborhood Market: 0.1 mi

From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.

Plan this spot

These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 87121).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.