Off-grid site report

San Juan County, NM

36.7348, -108.5289 · 5,115 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for San Juan 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 rulesSan Juan County, NM

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallySan Juan County has subdivision regulations but not comprehensive parcel zoning countywide, per the Community Development/Planning Office. Incorporated cities like Farmington have their own zoning (ADUs explicitly allowed there); unincorporated county land is reviewed case-by-case. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyCounty Ordinance 76 requires a park license once a parcel has 3+ RVs or manufactured homes; single RV/tiny home occupancy on an individual lot isn't clearly codified. Mobile homes fall under the state Manufactured Housing Division and need inspection before utility activation. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedSan Juan County Building Department requires permits for houses, accessory buildings, decks, and ag structures, and offers a homeowner's permit pathway if it's your primary residence, no contractor license needed. This covers unincorporated county plus Aztec, Bloomfield, and Kirtland. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedNMED's Liquid Waste Program issues septic permits statewide (San Juan isn't an exception like Bernalillo County), and San Juan County additionally requires a minimum 0.75 acres of land per septic system. Homeowners can self-install after passing NMED's qualification exam. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo San Juan County-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the state's small-system exemption under NMAC rules applies by default.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was found; state guidance from the Office of the State Engineer generally encourages residential rainwater harvesting. source

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedAll well construction and water use in New Mexico requires a permit from the Office of the State Engineer; there's no separate county well ordinance or relaxation found for San Juan County. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo explicit San Juan County ordinance requiring utility hookups for occupancy was found; the only utility-linked rule is that permanent-foundation mobile homes need state inspection before utilities are activated. Confirm with the county Building Department whether fully off-grid occupancy is acceptable on your parcel. source

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): 4.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,811 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 8 in/yr
Snowfall: 11 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,790 (cold)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Northern Navajo Medical Center: 10.2 mi
Fire station San Juan County Fire Valley Station 3: 3.7 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 9.8 mi
Grocery Dine Bashas: 9.9 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 87421).

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.