Off-Grid Living in Stark County, North Dakota

I've been digging through Stark County, North Dakota's official pages, and here's the honest picture for anyone thinking about going off-grid here.

Zoning is countywide, so raw land isn't a free-for-all. Unlike some ND counties that skip zoning entirely, Stark County's Planning and Zoning Department enforces a countywide ordinance with districts like Agricultural, Estate Residential, and Mobile Home. What you can build or park depends on the district your parcel sits in, and rezonings or conditional use permits go through the Planning and Zoning Commission and County Commission. If you're eyeing a specific piece of land, call the county's Planning and Zoning office before you buy.

Dwellings and RVs are a gray area in the details. The zoning ordinance is clear that mobile/manufactured homes are only allowed in the designated Mobile Home District, and it distinguishes those from recreational travel trailers. But I could not confirm specific tiny-home square-footage rules or whether an RV can serve as a permanent residence outside that district. Ask the Planning and Zoning office directly if that's your plan.

Building permits run through the City of Dickinson. Stark County contracts its building department function to the City of Dickinson, which handles plan checks, permits, and inspections for the whole county, new construction included.

Septic is permitted, but the state just changed who's in charge. You'll still get your permit through the Stark County Health Department's Environmental Health division, but as of a 2025 state law, the ND Department of Environmental Quality now holds full authority over licensing and inspecting onsite wastewater systems statewide. If you hire an installer, that installer needs to be DEQ-licensed; installing on your own property for your own use is treated differently. If a permit gets denied locally, you can appeal to DEQ.

Greywater reuse: I found nothing. No county ordinance or state DEQ page specifically addresses residential greywater. That's a real gap, not a green light, so I'd call county Environmental Health before setting up a greywater system.

Rainwater harvesting looks fine, with a possible permit wrinkle. I found no county rule against it, but if you're adding underground storage or plumbing tie-ins, that likely triggers the standard building permit process through Dickinson's Building and Codes Department.

Wells are mostly a state matter. Well drilling and pump installation must go through a contractor licensed by the ND Department of Water Resources, and appropriation permits kick in above certain use thresholds, set at the state level, not by the county. Locally, the Stark County Health Department also tests private wells for bacteriological safety.

Off-grid utility living: no county mandate found. I didn't find any Stark County ordinance requiring you to hook up to grid power, water, or sewer to legally live somewhere. That said, absence of evidence isn't the same as a guarantee, so double-check with Planning and Zoning if you're planning a fully disconnected build.

Bottom line: zoning district and building permits are handled locally, but wells and (increasingly) septic licensing trace back to state agencies. Confirm everything with the offices below before you commit money to land or a build.