Off-grid site report

Rio Arriba County, NM

36.0165, -106.0651 · 5,611 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Rio Arriba 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 rulesRio Arriba County, NM

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyRio Arriba County Planning and Zoning Department administers a Comprehensive Plan and subdivision regulations, but specific zoning-district rules for raw land occupancy were not confirmed. Call the county Planning and Zoning Department directly. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyThe county's Development Permit process covers manufactured and modular home placement, but no distinct tiny-home or full-time RV occupancy ordinance was confirmed; this likely defaults to state rules. Confirm with the county.

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedThe county requires a local Development Permit plus a state Construction Industries Division (CID) building application; the county handles the local permit while CID does code review. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are regulated statewide by NMED since Rio Arriba has no county-specific wastewater ordinance (unlike Bernalillo County); the county requires NMED clearance for its Development Permit, and homeowners may self-install after passing NMED's exam. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Rio Arriba-specific greywater ordinance was found; this appears to default to New Mexico's statewide small-system exemption rule, but confirm with NMED or the county.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county restriction or added permit requirement for residential rainwater harvesting was found in county planning materials; this follows the state's generally permissive baseline.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells and water rights are regulated by the state Office of the State Engineer; the county requires proof of a well permit or water association membership before approving development, since most Rio Arriba drinking water is groundwater-sourced. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo explicit county ordinance requiring or prohibiting full utility disconnection was confirmed; the Development Permit tracks 'Utility Service' as a category but a mandatory-connection rule was not found.

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): 5.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,775 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 11 in/yr
Snowfall: 7 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,468 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Española Hospital: 1.9 mi
Fire station Espanola Fire Station #3: 0.5 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 0.2 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 0.2 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 87532).

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.