Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Cimarron, New Mexico

Rules another office applies inside Village of Cimarron

Village of Cimarron does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Onsite (septic) liquid waste systems on private land inside Cimarron village limits, administered by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) under 20.7.3 NMAC. This is a state rule that applies inside the village; no village-adopted septic rule was verified.

  • 20.7.3 NMAC applies to on-site liquid waste systems that receive 5,000 gallons or less of liquid waste per day and that do not require a discharge plan or NPDES permit.
  • Connection to a public sewer, where available and required by the local authority, displaces the septic system (see utility_connection claim).

  “this part, 20.7.3 nmac, applies to on-site liquid waste systems, and effluent from such systems, that receive 5,000 gallons or less of liquid waste per day”

• Septic permitRequired

  Onsite liquid waste (septic) systems serving homes inside Cimarron village limits, under state rule 20.7.3 NMAC administered by NMED.

  • Untreated liquid waste may be discharged only into a permitted and approved enclosed system, a permitted and approved liquid waste treatment unit, or a public sewer system.
  • Applies to systems receiving 5,000 gallons or less of liquid waste per day that do not require a discharge plan or NPDES permit.
  • NMED states that permits for septic tanks and proprietary drainfield products are not issued unless the product has been approved by NMED before installation.
  • Village-specific septic or building permit procedures were not verified.

  “no person shall discharge untreated liquid waste except into a permitted and approved enclosed system, a permitted and approved liquid waste treatment unit or a public sewer system”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New residential units inside Cimarron village limits that use an on-site liquid waste system, under 20.7.3.201 NMAC. The village operates water and sewer utilities (villageofcimarron.net utilities page), but the village's own connection requirement was not verified.

  • Connection is required only if a public sewer is available, defined as having capacity and located in a thoroughfare, right-of-way or easement abutting the lot.
  • Connection is required only if required in accordance with the local authority that has jurisdiction, so the village's own rule controls and was not verified.
  • On connection, the on-site system must be properly abandoned within 30 days.

  “all residential and commercial units utilizing an on-site liquid waste system shall connect to a public sewer upon availability and if required in accordance with the local authority that has jurisdiction.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Cimarron or Colfax County directly.

• Building permit — Whether a building permit is required for construction inside Cimarron village
• Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner-builder exemption applies inside Cimarron village
• Building code adopted — Whether Cimarron village adopts a building code
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required inside Cimarron village
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required for new homes inside Cimarron village

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Cimarron means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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