Off-grid site report

Chaves County, NM

33.3945, -104.5149 · 3,573 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyChaves County Planning & Zoning administers countywide zoning for unincorporated land, distinct from Roswell's city zoning; land in the city's extraterritorial zone follows prior county zoning until annexed. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyManufactured/modular homes need a county placement permit and address verification; tiny house and full-time RV occupancy rules are not confirmed, so ask Planning & Zoning directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedChaves County enforces its own Building Code (Ordinance 60) as the local arm of the state Construction Industries Division; electrical permitting was reportedly suspended as of the last county page checked, so confirm current status by phone. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic is state-administered by NMED's Liquid Waste Program since Chaves County has no separate wastewater ordinance; permits require NMED-approved systems and evaluation before property transfer. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo Chaves County-specific greywater rule was found; the state's small-system greywater rule under NMED applies as the baseline. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county restriction was found, and the state Office of the State Engineer generally supports on-site rainwater harvesting for domestic use. source

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedChaves County lies in the closed Roswell Artesian Underground Water Basin; new wells require an Office of the State Engineer District II permit evaluated case by case, not a routine approval. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Chaves County ordinance mandating grid, water, or sewer connection was found, but this is not confirmed, so verify directly with Planning & Zoning.

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): 5.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,805 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 12 in/yr
Snowfall: 6 in/yr
Heating degree days: 2,960 (mild)
Frost-free season: Mar 20 to Nov 20
Design low: 19 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Lovelace Regional Hospital - Roswell: 1.6 mi
Fire station Roswell Central Fire Station: 0.6 mi
Hardware store Builders Do-it Center: 0.5 mi
Grocery Farmers Country 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 88203).

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.