Residential Development

Accessory Dwelling Units are described in Section 10.4 of the SLDC and are generally allowed to be consistent with the requirements of the zoning district. Accessory dwelling units are integral or separate from the principal residence must be incidental and subordinate to the principal residence. They shall not exceed 50% of the heated floor area of the principal residence and must be less than 1.400 square feet. They must share the same architectural style as the principal residence and shall not exceed one story in height. They must share a driveway and utilities with the principal residence. The accessory dwelling unit permit packet is available here.

Accessory Structures are described in Section 10.3 of the SLDC. In general, where allowed by zoning, an accessory structure may be allowed on a lot. An accessory structure must share a driveway and utilities with the principal use. An agricultural accessory structure is allowed where the principal use is agriculture, grazing and/or ranching. A residential accessory structure shall not be designed so that it can be used for dwelling purposes nor is it permitted to contain a full bathroom. The accessory structure packet is available here.

A development permit is required for demolition and removal of existing structures. The demolition packet is available here.

Fences and walls over six feet in height will require a development permit. In addition, retaining walls higher than four feet will require a development permit. The design standards for fences and walls are in Section 7.7 of the SLDC and the submittal packet for fences and walls is available here.

Grading and clearing requirements are described in Section 7.17, Terrain Management, of the SLDC. A development permit is required prior to any grading, clearing or grubbing of a property and grading of existing native vegetation is limited to approved areas. A submittal packet for grading & clearing is available here.

For approval of placement of a manufactured home, it will be necessary to provide an approved well permit or water utility availability, an approved septic permit or proof of sewer service. A submittal packet for placement of a manufactured home is available here.

So as to encourage installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar electric generating systems, submittal requirements for residential PV systems are reduced. A submittal packet for PV solar is available here.

Some rainwater catchment requirements apply when increasing the square footage of the residence beyond 1,500 square feet or to over 2,500 square feet. The addition of a bedroom will require septic system approval from the New Mexico Environment Department. A submittal packet is available here.

Chapter 7 of the SLDC, Sustainable Design Standards, describes a number of performance standards that must be met for development; from lots, blocks and setbacks through access and easements, landscape and buffering, water supply and conservation, energy efficiency, open space, rainwater catchment, terrain management, and protection of archeological resources. The submittal requirements are therefore more extensive for new single family residential development and a permit packet is available here. For example, new single family residential homes are required to meet minimum energy efficiency requirements described here.

Development of private swimming pools is limited to those properties that received approval prior to enactment of Ordinance 1996-10. Requirements of a swimming pool development project are described in Section 7.24 of the SLDC. A swimming pool permit packet is available here.

Prior to development of a water supply well, authorization to proceed is required. A utility authorization permit packet is available here.