Off-Grid Living in Morton County, North Dakota

I've been digging into Morton County, North Dakota for folks who want to live off-grid or semi-off-grid, and here's where things stand based on official county and state sources.

Zoning. Morton County isn't a free-for-all. The county has a formal, codified Land Use Code, administered by the Morton County Planning and Zoning Department, that covers zoning districts, setbacks, subdivision rules, and floodplain issues for unincorporated parts of the county. If your land sits inside a city or township, that municipality's zoning may take over instead. Before you buy or build, I'd call Planning and Zoning to confirm your parcel is even eligible, the county itself warns that some properties are "non-conforming" and need a subdivision process before a building permit can be issued.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. The Land Use Code has a Dimensional Table (Section 2-120) that sets lot and building standards by zoning district, but I could not find a specific minimum dwelling size or a clear rule on living in an RV full-time. This is genuinely unclear from what I've reviewed, so ask Planning and Zoning directly before you commit to a tiny house or RV as a permanent residence.

Building permits. The county has adopted the 2021 International Building Code, and a permit from the Building Inspector (housed under the Tax Equalization Department) is required before you build, alter, or change occupancy of a structure. You'll also need a certificate of occupancy before living in the place.

Septic. North Dakota just changed how this works. A 2025 state law (Senate Bill 2267) gave the state Department of Environmental Quality full authority over licensing and permitting onsite wastewater systems, though it looks like an exemption exists if you're installing a system on your own property for personal use. Locally, permits still route through a public health unit, but I could not confirm which specific health unit covers Morton County, so that's a call to make before you dig.

Greywater and rainwater. I found no Morton County ordinance addressing either one specifically. That doesn't mean anything goes, it means the county hasn't published a clear rule, so I'd ask Planning and Zoning before installing a greywater system, and note that any rainwater storage tank tied into a structure may still fall under the county's building permit requirements.

Wells. Ordinary domestic and stock wells are generally exempt from state water-appropriation permits, but any larger water project needs a conditional permit from the state Department of Water Resources. Locally, the Morton County Water Resource District, a state-authorized body, handles drainage and water management matters.

Utilities. I found no county rule forcing you to hook up to grid power, water, or sewer to live somewhere. Occupancy still hinges on getting that certificate of occupancy under the building code, though.

Bottom line: Morton County is workable for off-grid living, but zoning eligibility and septic permitting are the two spots where you really need to make a phone call before you spend money.