Off-grid site report

Mora County, NM

35.9742, -105.3299 · 7,182 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyMora County recently adopted a new Zoning and Subdivision Regulation to replace 1995-era rules, but its scope was still being contested at the commission level when researched, so raw-land occupancy rules are not confirmed from published code text. The county's Planning & Zoning Department is the authority to call. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Mora County ordinance on tiny homes or full-time RV occupancy was found; state CID minimum codes are the likely baseline but county additions are not confirmed.

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedMora County does not appear to run its own building department; the state Construction Industries Division (CID) issues building permits directly using a state form listing the county. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are regulated by the state NMED, not the county, since Mora County has no independent wastewater ordinance. Homeowners may install simple conventional systems themselves after passing a written test, and a Permit to Construct is required. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedGreywater reuse follows the New Mexico state rule administered by NMED; no Mora County-specific addition was found. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedRooftop rainwater harvesting for on-site domestic use is generally encouraged under the state Office of the State Engineer's framework, with no Mora County restriction found. source

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedAll water use requires a permit from the state Office of the State Engineer under New Mexico's prior appropriation doctrine, and well drilling requires a state-licensed driller; Mora County has no separate water authority. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo statewide or Mora County statute mandating utility hookups was found; any such requirement would likely come indirectly through the county's new zoning and subdivision regulation, but this is not confirmed.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 6.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 5.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,698 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 25 in/yr
Snowfall: 128 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,465 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 31 to Sep 23

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Alta Vista Regional Hospital: 25.1 mi
Fire station Mora Volunteer Fire Department: 1.3 mi
Hardware store Sahds: 24.2 mi
Grocery Los De Mora Local Growers' Coop: 0.3 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 87732).

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.