Off-grid site report

Sandoval County, NM

35.2408, -106.6576 · 5,292 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedSandoval County Planning and Zoning Department actively administers a Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance across unincorporated areas; most rural land is zoned Rural Residential/Agricultural (RRA), allowing single-family and manufactured homes, but other uses need a conditional use permit, temporary use permit, or zone change. Incorporated towns (Bernalillo, Corrales, Cuba, Jemez Springs, Rio Rancho, San Ysidro) are not covered and run their own codes. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedThe CZO's dwelling unit definition excludes RVs, and in districts like Rio Rancho Estates, dwellings must sit on permanent foundations meeting state Manufactured Housing Division rules. Manufactured/mobile homes need a county Manufactured Home Placement Permit; whether tiny homes on wheels can be permanent residences is not confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits for unincorporated Sandoval County are issued by the state's Construction Industries Division (CID), but a county Zoning Compliance and Floodplain Determination Checklist from Sandoval County Planning & Zoning is required first. Properties within three miles of Bernalillo permit through the town instead, and flood-zone parcels need a county Flood Plain Development Permit. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSandoval County has no county-specific septic ordinance and defers to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED); the county's building permit checklist requires a copy of the approved NMED Liquid Waste Permit. Homeowner self-installation is allowed statewide if you pass NMED's exam. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo Sandoval County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the CZO defers generally to NMED regulations on water and wastewater systems, so the state baseline rule applies unmodified. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting specifically was located; the CZO's general deferral to the State Engineer's Office on water systems is the only county-level touchpoint, so the state baseline appears to apply. source

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedThe CZO incorporates state well law (NMSA 1978 Section 72-12-1) and caps shared domestic wells at three contiguous parcels in at least one district; minimum lot size countywide (generally three-quarters of an acre) is tied partly to protecting onsite septic and well capacity. Actual well permits are issued by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyThe county's Addressing Ordinance regulates installing utility service (tied to building permits and address assignment) but doesn't clearly mandate hookup; whether a fully off-grid home with no utility service at all is affirmatively permitted county-wide is not confirmed, so ask Planning & Zoning directly. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 6.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 5.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,804 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 12 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,115 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Lovelace Westside Hospital: 2.6 mi
Fire station Albuquerque Fire Station 22: 4.0 mi
Hardware store Pioneer Ace Hardware: 0.2 mi
Grocery Natural Grocers: 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 87124).

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.