Off-grid site report

Bowman County, ND

46.1831, -103.3949 · 2,966 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Bowman 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 rulesBowman County, ND

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyBowman County has an adopted zoning ordinance administered by its Department of Planning and Zoning, covering unorganized townships directly. Near the City of Bowman, state law (NDCC) gives the city sole zoning authority within a half-mile, with joint city-county authority in the next half-mile band.

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county text on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV-as-residence rules was found; not confirmed, so ask Bowman County Planning & Zoning directly.

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyBuilding permits appear handled by the City of Bowman for in-city work; a distinct county-wide building permit process for rural/unincorporated land was not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedNorth Dakota requires state-licensed septic installers under NDCC 23.1-07.1 plus a local public health permit before work begins; Bowman County's specific health-unit septic page was not confirmed, so check with Bowman County Public Health. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Bowman County ordinance on greywater reuse was found, mirroring a general lack of state-level rules on the topic.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county-specific restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, so the generally permissive state default applies.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells and water appropriation are handled through the state Department of Water Resources' conditional water permit process; no separate Bowman County well ordinance was found. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo ordinance mandating grid-utility hookup was found; the county's solar ordinance regulates utility-scale solar farm siting, not homeowner off-grid setups, but this was not fully confirmed either way.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,461 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 16 in/yr
Snowfall: 55 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,519 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 15 to Sep 23

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Southwest Healthcare Services: 0.6 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 0.6 mi
Grocery Bronson's Marketplace & Liquor: 0.5 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 58623).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.