Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Bosque Farms, New Mexico

At a glance

Zoning

Village's own zoning ordinance (Planning & Zoning Commission)¹⁵

Building permit

Village development review first, then a state building permit from Construction Industries Division²⁶

Septic

New Mexico Environment Department, Onsite Wastewater Bureau³

RV living

Limited: guest use only, and temporary dwelling during construction under a conditional use permit⁴

Setbacks

30 ft front, 10 ft side, 10 ft rear on all lots⁷

Minimum lot size

2 acres in A-R; three-quarters of an acre (32,670 sq ft) in R-1⁸⁹

Height limit

26 ft from base flood elevation plus 6 inches of freeboard¹⁰

Owner-builder

State homeowner permit for a primary residence¹¹

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Does Bosque Farms, NM have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Village of Bosque Farms enforces its own Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1, through a five-member Planning and Zoning Commission¹⁵. The ordinance text on the village website predates later amendments we did not check, so ask the village for the current version¹.

Lots inside the village carry a 30-foot front setback, a 10-foot side setback and a 10-foot rear setback⁷. The front setback has an exception in the ordinance that we could not read⁷. Buildings are capped at 26 feet, measured from base flood elevation plus 6 inches of freeboard¹⁰.

Minimum lot size depends on the district: 2 acres in the A-R agricultural/residential zone⁸, and three-quarters of an acre (32,670 square feet) in R-1⁹. Manufactured and mobile homes are allowed in the R-1A mixed zone, subject to installation rules¹². An accessory dwelling needs a renewable conditional use permit¹³.

Do you need a building permit in Bosque Farms, and who issues it?

Building in Bosque Farms takes two approvals, in order. First, the village's Planning & Zoning Administrator reviews your plans against the zoning ordinance and issues a development permit; village Ordinance 10-1 requires this development review before any building or structure is erected or substantially improved². Second, you obtain the building permit from the state Construction Industries Division, which also performs the inspections²¹⁴.

The village does not issue building permits itself. The state's rule is that construction work needing a permit by statute or rule must have one¹⁵. Fees are based on type of construction, square footage, materials and cost¹⁶.

An owner who lives in the home can apply for a state homeowner permit for their primary residence without becoming a licensed contractor¹¹.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Bosque Farms?

RV living is limited, not open. On residential lots in Bosque Farms, an RV may serve as extra living quarters for an occasional guest for no more than 60 days per year, and the owner must notify the planning & zoning administrator when guests will stay more than 14 consecutive days⁴. The RV cannot have a permanent connection to utilities, and it cannot be parked or stored within 10 feet of a roadway, right-of-way or multi-use path⁴.

Living in an RV while you build is possible only under a conditional use permit, and a development review/building permit must be obtained within 30 days after that conditional use permit is issued¹⁷.

Tiny houses on a permanent foundation fall under the state residential code's tiny-house appendix¹⁸. We could not confirm how village zoning treats a tiny home, so ask the Planning & Zoning Administrator⁵.

How do septic permits work in Bosque Farms?

Septic permits for Bosque Farms come from the New Mexico Environment Department's Onsite Wastewater Bureau, not from the village³¹⁹. You file an application for a liquid waste permit with the local NMED field office, which may approve it, approve it with conditions, or deny it²⁰.

After payment, the Permit to Construct is valid for one year, and NMED can extend it in writing²¹. Request an inspection at least 48 hours in advance, and do not cover the system before it is inspected²². Homeowners may install simple conventional systems only after passing a written test²¹.

State rules also require a unit using an on-site system to connect to public sewer when sewer becomes available, if required²³. Ask the village whether sewer reaches your lot before you plan a septic system.

Building a home in Bosque Farms: the steps, in order

1. Confirm your lot's zoning district, setbacks and flood status with the Planning & Zoning Administrator⁵⁷.
2. Have your plans reviewed for village development review, and receive the development permit².
3. Apply to the Construction Industries Division for the state building permit and schedule inspections¹⁴.
4. Apply to NMED for a liquid waste permit if the lot uses a septic system²⁰.
5. Request septic and building inspections before covering work²².
6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy or approved final inspection before moving in²⁴.

What stays with Valencia County, and what to check before you buy in Bosque Farms

Land outside village limits follows Valencia County's rules, not the village's; county zoning applies to unincorporated land only²⁵. County district rules do not carry over to a lot inside the village.

Flood status matters most here: the village states that a large percentage of Bosque Farms lies in the floodplain, and it asks owners to have documentation reviewed with village staff before construction²⁶. The village flood damage prevention ordinance is Section 11-1²⁷.

For cost context, Valencia County's effective property tax rate is about 0.7%²⁸, and the median property tax bill is about $1,365 per year²⁹. Subdivision of land is regulated under the village's Section 10-2³⁰.

Watch-outs

• The village zoning text we reviewed is stamped effective 7/22/10, so confirm current amendments with the Planning & Zoning Administrator before relying on setbacks or lot sizes¹⁵.
• Do not expect the village to issue your building permit: the state Construction Industries Division does that after the village's development review².
• A large percentage of the village lies in the floodplain, so floodplain review can shape what and where you build²⁶.
• RV occupancy on a lot is limited to short guest stays unless a conditional use permit covers construction⁴.

Sources

1. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
2. Village of Bosque Farms Development Review (Planning & Zoning Administrator) (bosquefarmsnm.gov)
3. Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
4. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
5. Village of Bosque Farms Planning & Zoning (P&Z Administrator) (bosquefarmsnm.gov)
6. Code Enforcement | Valencia County, NM, quoted and re-checked
7. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
8. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
9. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
10. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
11. 14.5.2 NMAC — Permits (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
12. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
13. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
14. New Mexico Construction Industries Division (Albuquerque field office) (co.valencia.nm.us)
15. rld.nm.gov, quoted and re-checked
16. Construction Industries Forms and Applications Fees (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
17. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
18. 14.7.3 NMAC — 2021 New Mexico Residential Building Code (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
19. New Mexico Environment Department, Onsite Wastewater Bureau (env.nm.gov)
20. Apply for a Permit, quoted and re-checked
21. Liquid Waste Permitting Process, quoted and re-checked
22. Apply for a Permit, quoted and re-checked
23. 20.7.3 NMAC — Liquid Waste Disposal and Treatment (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
24. 14.5.3 NMAC Inspections, quoted and re-checked
25. codelibrary.amlegal.com, quoted and re-checked
26. Village of Bosque Farms Flood Plain Management (bosquefarmsnm.gov)
27. Village of Bosque Farms Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1 (effective 7/22/10) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked
28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
29. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
30. Village of Bosque Farms, NM code table of contents (eCode360) (Village of Bosque Farms), quoted and re-checked

Written October 14, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.