Off-grid site report

Doña Ana County, NM

32.1554, -106.7350 · 3,835 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Doña Ana 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 rulesDoña Ana County, NM

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyDoña Ana County has adopted a comprehensive countywide Unified Development Code (UDC) with transect-based zoning, administered by the county Planning and Zoning Commission; allowed uses depend on the specific zone. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedManufactured/mobile homes need a county installation permit (MHIP) and liquid waste connection before occupancy; RVs are addressed as campground/park units, not standalone residences, under county code. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedCounty Building Services enforces adopted International, National, and New Mexico codes with its own fee schedule for new construction and manufactured home placement. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted through the state's New Mexico Environment Department Liquid Waste Program, not the county directly, though the county has pushed septic-to-sewer conversion in some designated areas. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was confirmed; residents fall back on the state NMED greywater rule (20.7.3.810 NMAC). Ask the county Community Development Department if in doubt.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance was confirmed; the state Office of the State Engineer's general encouragement of rooftop harvesting is the applicable baseline.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedBeyond state OSE well permitting, the county can restrict new domestic wells within designated county water-service areas under its Water Systems ordinance, citing NMSA § 3-53-1.1. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyWithin county-designated water/wastewater service areas, mandatory connection rules can require hookup instead of staying off-grid; outside those areas no countywide ban on disconnection was found. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 6.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 5.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,864 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 10 in/yr
Snowfall: 3 in/yr
Heating degree days: 2,816 (mild)
Frost-free season: Mar 23 to Nov 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Memorial Medical Center: 9.4 mi
Fire station South Valley Volunteer Fire Department: 7.1 mi
Hardware store Sun Valley Hardware: 8.3 mi
Grocery Toucan: 9.1 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 88058).

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.