Bolthole Index

Valencia County, New Mexico

Building permits, zoning and septic in Village of Los Lunas, New Mexico

Village of Los Lunas, New Mexico requires development plan approval before building a home; the village reviews zoning and site development, while New Mexico CID issues building and trade permits.1 Septic systems inside Los Lunas go through the New Mexico Environment Department, not the village planning office.2 For land outside village limits, use the Valencia County guide for the county’s zoning requirements.3

At a glance

Building permits
Village development approval plus CID building and trade permits1
Zoning
Village zoning controls uses, lot sizes, setbacks and building heights4
Septic permits
NMED liquid-waste permit required for construction or modification5
Floodplain review
Village reviews compliance with applicable floodplain regulations1
Owner-builder
State homeowner’s permit available for a qualifying primary residence; zoning approval still required6

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Village of Los Lunas Community Development Department

Development plan intake, zoning compliance and floodplain review inside village limits

505-352-7658

[email protected]

Zoning

Village of Los Lunas Planning Division

Zoning district questions and land-use applications inside village limits

505-352-7658

[email protected]

Building permits

New Mexico Construction Industries Division, Albuquerque Office

Structural and trade permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy for Los Lunas projects

505-222-9801

Septic permits

New Mexico Environment Department, Los Lunas Office

Local contact for NMED review of on-site wastewater systems

505-841-5280

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Village of Los Lunas, NM?

A home in Village of Los Lunas needs an approved Development Plan Application and supporting documents before development begins.1 The village also names commercial buildings, accessory structures over 120 square feet and other site improvements as projects requiring that approval.1

Los Lunas reviews site development and zoning; New Mexico CID reviews and issues structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and gas permits.1 Coordinate both approvals before construction rather than treating village development approval as the building permit.1

Who handles building permits and development review in Village of Los Lunas?

Send the completed Los Lunas Development Plan Application packet to [email protected]; the village lists its Community Development contact at 505-352-7658.1 For building and trade permits, the village lists the New Mexico CID Albuquerque Office at 505-222-9801.7

The village’s Zoning and Development Inspector verifies compliance with approved development plans and applicable zoning and floodplain regulations.1 CID handles the structural and trade permit side and issues certificates of occupancy after applicable inspections are complete.7

Does Village of Los Lunas have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Village of Los Lunas zoning governs permissible uses, minimum lot sizes, maximum building heights, setbacks, landscaping and parking.4 Start with the village Community Map: enter the property address to see the zoning district before asking the Planning Division about a proposed home or land use.4

A conditional use requires Planning and Zoning Commission approval, while a designated use requires Village Council approval.4 Ask the Planning Division for a pre-application meeting to discuss the district and application route before committing to a design.4

How do septic permits work inside Village of Los Lunas?

A new or modified on-site liquid-waste system inside Village of Los Lunas requires an NMED permit application, reviewed by the local NMED field office.52 Pay only after NMED notifies you that the application is approved or approved with conditions.5 Request the NMED inspection 48 hours, or 2 business days, in advance and leave the system uncovered until inspection.8

For a lot requiring an on-site system, state law requires the septic permit before a dwelling is constructed, modified or transported onto the lot.9 Ask the NMED Los Lunas Office about septic review; the village lists 505-841-5280 and [email protected].10

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Village of Los Lunas?

We could not confirm the Los Lunas rules for long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or minimum dwelling size; ask the village Planning Division about the proposed use and zoning district before buying.4 Los Lunas describes temporary uses as secondary to a primary use and limited in duration, but that general category does not establish permission to live in an RV on a particular parcel.4

Off-grid sanitation still needs NMED review of a complete liquid-waste permit application, including site conditions; treating a dwelling as off-grid does not resolve the wastewater approval.11

What are the steps to build a home in Village of Los Lunas?

  1. Identify the parcel’s zoning district on the village Community Map and discuss the proposed use with the Planning Division.4
  2. Ask the village about water and sewer service requirements; we could not confirm a mandatory connection rule or the applicable private-well requirements inside Los Lunas.1
  3. If the lot requires septic, obtain the NMED liquid-waste permit before constructing or moving a dwelling onto the lot.9
  4. Submit the Development Plan Application packet to the village and coordinate village approval with CID building and trade permits before construction.1
  5. Complete applicable inspections through the village and CID; CID issues the certificate of occupancy.1

A qualifying owner building a primary residence may use New Mexico’s homeowner’s-permit route, but must obtain local zoning approval and comply with permitting and inspection requirements.6

Watch-outs

  • A Los Lunas development approval does not replace CID building and trade permits; coordinate with both offices before construction.1
  • We could not confirm district-specific RV, tiny-home or minimum dwelling-size rules in Los Lunas; ask the village Planning Division before buying for those uses.4
  • Before buying a Los Lunas property with an established septic system, arrange the required qualified evaluation before transfer.12

Sources

  1. Village of Los Lunas Community Development Department (loslunasnm.gov)
  2. Apply for a Permit | New Mexico Environment Department (Village of Los Lunas), quoted and re-checked
  3. nmlegis.gov (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Village of Los Lunas Planning Division (loslunasnm.gov)
  5. Apply for a Permit | New Mexico Environment Department (Village of Los Lunas), quoted and re-checked
  6. 14.5.2 NMAC — Permits (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. New Mexico Construction Industries Division, Albuquerque Office (loslunasnm.gov)
  8. Apply for a Permit | New Mexico Environment Department (Village of Los Lunas), quoted and re-checked
  9. 20.7.3.401 NMAC — Permitting; General Requirements (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. New Mexico Environment Department, Los Lunas Office (loslunasnm.gov)
  11. Apply for a Permit | New Mexico Environment Department (Village of Los Lunas), quoted and re-checked
  12. Property Transfer Evaluations (New Mexico statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Los Lunas

Rules another office applies inside Village of Los Lunas

Village of Los Lunas 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)

    On-site wastewater systems inside Los Lunas village where an on-site system is proposed.

    • Applications are reviewed by the local NMED field office.
    “Submit to Local NMED Field Office for review. NMED will notify applicant of actions taken on the permit application.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction or modification of an on-site liquid-waste system inside Los Lunas village.

    • Application must be complete; payment is made only after NMED notifies the applicant that the permit is approved or approved with conditions.
    “Application – Print and fill out an Application for Liquid Waste Permit, Section 20.7.3.401 NMAC”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New or modified permitted on-site wastewater systems inside Los Lunas village.

    • Inspection must be requested from NMED 48 hours (two business days) in advance; the system must not be covered before inspection.
    “Request Inspection by NMED 48 hours (2 business days) in advance (DO NOT COVER BEFORE INSPECTION)”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site liquid-waste disposal proposed inside Los Lunas village.

    • A complete NMED liquid-waste permit application and NMED review are required.
    “Application must be complete, including approved materials, proper sizing, soil characteristics, geological and hydrological conditions, site conditions and: [...] Submit to Local NMED Field Office for review”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Los Lunas village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Los Lunas village.
  • Lot coverage — Land inside Los Lunas village.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Los Lunas village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Los Lunas village.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Los Lunas publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Valencia County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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