North Dakota is known for its affordable land, tradition of homesteading life, and culture of self-sufficiency. While it is generally considered a good place for off-grid living, you may encounter some legal issues when trying to live entirely off the grid in North Dakota.
Want to know more about living off grid? Read:
- Overview of the Off Grid Laws of All States
- Steps to Take to Get Off Grid
- Ranked: The Best States for Homesteading
Is Living Off-Grid Legal in North Dakota?
Living off the grid is entirely legal in North Dakota. ND is very relaxed regarding water rights, zoning rules, and permit requirements compared to other states. However, North Dakota law is not very progressive regarding newer off-grid technologies. Because of this, you could encounter legal issues if you want to use a compost toilet, install a graywater recycling system or use other alternative systems.
North Dakota Zoning Laws and Off-Grid Living
Most land in North Dakota is under some form of zoning. The local zoning laws vary by county but are generally divided into the following districts:
- A – Agricultural
- R1, R2, R3 & R4 – Residential
- R5 – Mobile home district
- RM – Manufactured home district
- RR – Rural residential
- RC – Rural commercial
- B – Business
- I – Industrial
- PR – Parks and recreation
- E – Estate
For off-grid living, agricultural and rural zoning is usually the most permissive. You can farm, raise animals, and run some businesses from your home. Manufactured homes are even allowed in many agriculture zones, which isn’t the case in many parts of the USA.
Expect many restrictions on how you can use your land, though. For example, Grand Forks zoning laws require the minimum lot size for agricultural land to be 15 acres. The minimum parcel size for rural land is 2.5 acres. But, if you want to run a business from your rural land, you’ll need at least 10 acres.
It’s also worth noting that ND has a more relaxed view of what counts as a “family,” so unrelated groups of up to 4 can live together in most residential districts.
Flood Plains
Some parts of North Dakota are in flood plains. Special zoning rules usually apply to homes in flood plains. For example, you may be required to elevate your home or anchor it down to prevent floatation. Sewage treatment standards will also be higher.
Building Codes
As of January 2020, the North Dakota Building Code consists of the following:
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC)
- International Residential Code (IRC)
- International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) published by the International Code Council (ICC)
On top of this, your county or city may have additional codes to follow. For example, Williams County also follows the 2018 International Fire Code (IFC).
You will be required to get a permit for most work on your property. However, North Dakota permit fees tend to be much lower than those in other states.
Off-Grid Electricity in North Dakota
Off-grid electricity is legal in North Dakota. There are no laws requiring you to hook up to the electric grid. However, there are good incentives for homes that do connect their solar systems to the grid, such as rebates and net metering.
All renewable electricity systems are exempt from property taxes for the first five years.
Solar Power
Off-grid solar is legal in North Dakota. Systems must be installed according to the fire, electrical, residential, and international building code. Unless you install a very small system, you must get a permit and have it installed by a licensed electrician.
Also Read:
Off-Grid Water Laws in North Dakota
North Dakota has some of the USA’s most relaxed water rights laws. It follows the doctrine of prior appropriation, or “first in time is first in right.”
You are generally allowed to use the water on your property or even water not on your property. Permits usually aren’t required for domestic or farming uses, but you may want to get one to establish your water rights.
Who Owns the Water in North Dakota?
Under the North Dakota Century Code (N.D.C.C. § 61-01-01),
“All waters within the limits of the state from the following sources of water supply belong to the public and are subject to appropriation for beneficial use.”
These waters include:
- Surface waters in well-defined channels or which constitute integral parts of a stream system or waters in lakes. It does not include “diffused surface waters.”
- Groundwater
- Residual waters resulting from beneficial use, and all waters artificially drained.
- All waters (except privately owned waters) in areas that are noncontributing drainage areas
Because all of the water belongs to the public, you have a lot of freedom to use water on and around your property. However, it also means that your neighbors also have this right.
Water Use Permits in North Dakota
You do not need a permit to use water in North Dakota so long as it meets these requirements:
- Put to beneficial use
- The water is used for domestic use, livestock, fish, wildlife, and other recreational use
- For wells, no more than 12.5-acre-feet of water will be appropriated annually
- For water-holding impoundments, the impoundment is not capable of holding more than 12.5-acre-feet of water
Under these laws, you do need a water permit for agricultural irrigation. If the land to be irrigated is less than 5 acres, it likely falls into domestic use, and you won’t need a permit.
Even if you aren’t required to get a permit, you may still want one. Because North Dakota uses the “first in time, first in right” doctrine, getting a water permit will establish your priority date for that water.
Surface Water
In North Dakota, you can use surface water on your property without getting a permit. The water must be put to beneficial use.
Using water that isn’t on your property is also legal, so long as someone else does not have priority rights to it. This is why it is essential to establish your priority date in North Dakota by getting a permit.
Wetlands:
You may encounter legal issues if you want to use water in a wetland area. Wetlands in ND are regulated on both the federal and state levels by the Department of Health and Consolidated Laboratories, Game and Fish Department, and Water Commission.
You’ll need to get a permit to use this water.
Building a Pond on Your Property in ND:
Building a pond or other water detention basin on your property in North Dakota is legal. You don’t need a permit if the water is put to beneficial use and the containment is less than 12.5-acre-feet. However, there are some situations where you may need to get a permit – such as if the property is in a wetland or the pond will obstruct drainage.
Well Water
North Dakota has very relaxed rules on private wells. You do not need a permit for the well so long as it does not remove more than 12.5-acre-feet of water annually and the water is for domestic use or livestock. Wells must be drilled and made by certified contractors. However, there is a loophole that allows you to drill a well on your property. Read more here and here.
Also, see best hand pumps for wells
Rainwater Harvesting in North Dakota
Rainwater harvesting is legal in North Dakota. Currently, there are no statewide laws regulating rainwater harvesting systems.
There also don’t seem to be any laws prohibiting you from building a structure to collect rainwater or collecting water in large tanks – though you will likely need a building permit to install underground water tanks. Some counties are even encouraging rainwater harvesting with free workshops.
Also Read:
Sewage and Waste Removal
In North Dakota, you must get a sewage permit before obtaining a building permit for your property.
It varies throughout the state, but the law generally requires at least 1 acre of property to have a private sewage treatment system. This system will most likely be septic.
Some alternative off-grid systems are allowed. However, the law is very vague, and it will ultimately be up to the local authorities whether you get a permit.
Graywater Recycling
Most simple graywater recycling systems are illegal in North Dakota.
The law states,
“Water-carried sewage from bathrooms, kitchens, laundry fixtures, and other household plumbing will pass through a septic or other approved sedimentation tank prior to its discharge into the soil or into an alternative system. Where underground disposal for treatment is not feasible, consideration will be given to special methods of collection and disposal.”
Compost Toilets
Compost toilets are not mentioned in North Dakota sewage laws. Instead, they fall under “alternative design.” All alternative design systems must be submitted for approval. It will ultimately be up to the local authorities whether you get a permit to use a compost toilet.
Because of how the law is written, it is doubtful that you will be legally allowed to use just a compost toilet. You’ll likely still need septic, mainly because the law requires you to dispose of graywater through a septic system.
Most other states have a similar law that only allows compost toilets as a primary sewage treatment system when the home does not have running water.
Also Read:
Pit Privy (Outhouse)
Pit privies are legal in North Dakota. However, the pit privy must have a watertight structure in the pit.
You will need to have the pit pumped much like a holding tank. You will also need a permit for a pit privy.
If your property is small or you live somewhere with a higher population density, you probably won’t be granted a permit for a pit privy.
Also Read:
Other Off-Grid Laws in North Dakota
Home Businesses
If you plan on working from home in North Dakota, you might come across problems because of zoning laws.
Most land in North Dakota is zoned as agricultural or rural. There are often restrictions on using this land for home businesses. For example, Grand Forks County requires you to have at least 5 acres to run a home-extended business. The law isn’t always clear about how this applies to people who work remotely online from their homes.
Manufactured Homes
Manufactured homes are allowed in many parts of North Dakota. They are defined as factory-built structures transportable in one or more sections. While legal, they are often regulated to specific zones. Some other additional requirements may include:
- At least 6,000 square feet in size
- Minimum width of 20 feet
- Lot with not less than 45 feet and 120 feet deep
- Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (24 CFR 3280) certified
RVs
Because of zoning, living off-grid in an RV is illegal in many parts of North Dakota. The law defines an RV as a mobile structure in which the chassis is an integral structure, is transported to the site on wheels, comes fully equipped with toilet and shower facilities, is ready for immediate use once connected to the utilities, and is not on a permanent foundation.
Tiny Homes
Many areas of North Dakota are not friendly to tiny homes. For example, Mandan County requires homes to have at least 3,500 square feet in some zoning districts.
The laws are generally more relaxed if you have a large parcel of agricultural-zoned land.
Depending on how the tiny home is built and transported, it might be considered an RV instead of a manufactured home, subject to more stringent zoning rules.
Do you live off-grid in North Dakota? Let us know about your experiences in the comments section below.
https://casetext.com/statute/north-dakota-century-code/title-61-waters/chapter-61-04-appropriation-of-water/section-61-04-02-permit-for-beneficial-use-of-water-required
https://www.gfcounty.nd.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2656/637265489453100000
https://library.municode.com/nd/grand_forks/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICICO_CHXVIIILADECO_ART2ZO_18-0213MAHOREDI
https://library.municode.com/nd/mandan/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADEPUSE_CH105DIREZO_ART3ZODIRE_S105-3-4R1REDI
