Off-Grid Living in Burke County, North Dakota

I've been digging into what off-grid living actually looks like in Burke County, North Dakota, and the honest answer is: it's workable, but you'll be making phone calls before you break ground.

Zoning is the first fork in the road. Burke County has a countywide zoning ordinance run by the Planning & Zoning Department, but cities and, as of July 2023, some organized townships have their own zoning authority that can override the county's. So the very first thing to figure out isn't "what does Burke County allow," it's "which government actually controls my specific parcel." Call Planning & Zoning with your parcel info before you assume anything.

Tiny homes and alternative dwellings are a gray zone. I could not find an official Burke County document that sets minimum dwelling sizes or specifically addresses tiny homes on wheels or foundations. That doesn't mean it's forbidden, it means it's likely handled case-by-case, so get a determination in writing from Planning & Zoning before you buy or build.

Building permits run through the county, and the process is tied together with septic approval, since North Dakota requires a septic (sewage) permit before you build. I didn't find a published fee schedule or specific adopted code text for Burke County, so confirm current requirements directly with the county office.

Septic systems are permitted, but the permitting authority is the First District Health Unit (FDHU), not the county itself. FDHU requires a permit for installing or repairing any part of an onsite sewage system, the work has to be done by a state-licensed contractor (or a certified property owner), and skipping final inspection makes the system illegal in the state's eyes. This lines up with the statewide framework under the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

Greywater reuse separate from a septic system is unclear. I found no Burke County or FDHU page addressing standalone greywater systems, so this inherits the state-level gap. Ask FDHU directly before setting one up.

Rainwater harvesting appears to be permitted by default. No county ordinance restricts it, and the state baseline treats it as legal, though an underground storage tank might trigger a building permit.

Private wells are a state matter, not a county one. North Dakota's well code and water appropriation law apply uniformly, and domestic use under 12.5 acre-feet a year doesn't need an appropriation permit, though you must report the well's location and capacity to the Department of Water Resources. Construction must be done by a licensed well contractor. Note that the state doesn't regulate private well placement or water quality, so check with FDHU on any local health guidance.

Utility disconnection rules for Burke County specifically are not confirmed. Some other North Dakota counties reportedly require utility hookups, but I found no equivalent Burke County provision. Don't assume either way, call Planning & Zoning.

Bottom line: Burke County isn't slamming the door on off-grid living, but a lot of the specifics simply aren't published anywhere official, so a few phone calls are part of the process here.