Off-grid site report

Oliver County, ND

47.1164, -101.3028 · 1,969 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Oliver County, ND, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.

The local rulesOliver County, ND

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyOliver County has a countywide zoning ordinance adopted under NDCC chapter 11-33, administered by the county Planning & Zoning Board, covering unincorporated land only (Center and its extraterritorial area follow city rules). It's actively amended, most recently effective September 2025. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo specific minimum dwelling size or RV-as-residence policy was confirmed for Oliver County; the ordinance does address road-frontage/access. Confirm with county Planning & Zoning before placing a tiny home or RV as a permanent residence. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are required and issued by the county Planning and Zoning Board (with County Commission approval for routine buildings), under the statewide North Dakota State Building Code. Fees and inspection steps were not confirmed in official sources, so ask the County Auditor. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOnsite wastewater systems require a state-licensed installer (NDDEQ, under NDCC 23.1-07.1) plus a permit from the local district health unit; the specific health unit covering Oliver County wasn't confirmed, so check with the County Auditor or NDDEQ. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Oliver County ordinance addresses greywater reuse, and this remains an unresolved gray area at the state level too; treat it like a wastewater system and check with the local health unit before installing.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance provision restricts rainwater harvesting; this follows the general state baseline, though larger or underground storage may need a building permit from county Planning & Zoning. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction is regulated statewide by the ND Department of Water Resources (NDAC 33.1-18-01) through licensed contractors; North Dakota doesn't regulate private well placement or water quality directly. Oliver County's SW Water Board handles local water-resource matters. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo provision found in the reviewed Oliver County zoning materials requiring connection to electric or public utility service; this matches the state baseline, but confirm with Planning & Zoning since the full ordinance wasn't reviewed in entirety. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,381 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
19 in/yr
Heating degree days
8,325 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 11 to Sep 26

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Sakakawea Medical Center
19.1 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
none within range
Grocery
Tellman's Market Grocery
19.3 mi

From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.

Plan this spot

These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 58530).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

Share or save this report:New report

Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.