Off-grid site report

McKinley County, NM

35.7729, -108.8902 · 6,634 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for McKinley 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 rulesMcKinley County, NM

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyMcKinley County has no general/countywide zoning ordinance per the county's own FAQ; land use is guided by 1997 Subdivision Regulations and a Master Plan instead. This does not apply inside the City of Gallup or on Navajo Nation/Zuni Pueblo trust land, which have separate authorities. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official McKinley County document addresses tiny-home, RV, or manufactured-home occupancy rules specifically; not confirmed either way, so ask the county planning contact directly.

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedThe county has no local building code, so permits and inspections go through the state Construction Industries Division (CID) under the 2021 NM Residential Building Code and related state codes; the Gallup Regional CID office is the local contact. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedMcKinley County has no local septic ordinance (unlike Bernalillo County); the state NMED regulates onsite wastewater statewide under 20.7.3 NMAC, and homeowners can self-install after passing a qualifying exam. The Gallup NMED field office is the local contact. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo county-specific greywater rule exists; the statewide NMED small-system exemption under 20.7.3.810 NMAC applies, administered by the Gallup NMED field office. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo McKinley County ordinance restricts residential rooftop rainwater harvesting; the state's general encouragement of rainwater collection applies with no county override found.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedThe state Office of the State Engineer requires a water-use permit and a licensed driller for any well; McKinley County has no separate well ordinance and defers entirely to OSE district offices. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo McKinley County ordinance was found requiring utility hookups for occupancy; the absence of general zoning suggests this is plausible but it is not officially confirmed, so ask the county directly.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 6.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 5.1 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,819 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 12 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,413 (cold)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Tséhootsooí Medical Center: 8.9 mi
Fire station Fort Definance Fire Station: 10.5 mi
Hardware store Navajo Westerners Ace Hardware: 11.8 mi
Grocery Lowes Shop N Save: 11.9 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 87320).

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.