Off-grid site report

Roosevelt County, NM

34.1634, -103.3464 · 4,042 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyRoosevelt County's attorney has stated the county has no zoning code or classifications for unincorporated land, per county commission discussion; there's no separate published ordinance confirming this outright, so treat it as reliable but not formally codified. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Roosevelt County ordinance on tiny homes or full-time RV occupancy was found; state minimum construction codes via CID would apply by default. Confirm with CID and county Rural Addressing. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyBuilding permits for unincorporated Roosevelt County appear to run through New Mexico's statewide Construction Industries Division since there's no local building department; county Rural Addressing coordination is typically needed first. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and regulated by NMED's Liquid Waste Program statewide, including Roosevelt County; homeowners may qualify to self-install after passing an exam at a local NMED field office. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo Roosevelt County-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the statewide NMED greywater rule governs by default. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Roosevelt County ordinance restricting residential rainwater catchment was found; state policy generally allows it.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedAll water use, including household wells, requires a permit from the state Office of the State Engineer, and Roosevelt County lies within the actively administered Portales Underground Water Basin. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo countywide ordinance requiring utility hookups was found, consistent with the absence of a general zoning code; any such requirement would come from subdivision covenants rather than county law.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 6.3 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 4.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,785 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 17 in/yr
Snowfall: 8 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,665 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 18 to Oct 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Roosevelt General Hospital: 1.0 mi
Fire station Portales Fire Station 1: 1.4 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 20.7 mi
Grocery Farmers Country Market: 0.8 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 88130).

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.