Off-grid site report

Dunn County, ND

47.3536, -102.6205 · 2,185 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyDunn County administers a countywide zoning ordinance through its Planning & Zoning office, with the Rural Preservation district requiring a five-acre minimum lot for a single-family home as of early 2025. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Dunn County document confirms minimum dwelling size or how tiny homes/RVs are treated for permanent residency; confirm directly with Planning & Zoning. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedDunn County requires permits, listed on its own permits page, and North Dakota separately requires a septic permit tied to new construction. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic permits for Dunn County are handled by Southwest District Health, consistent with the statewide requirement that ND DEQ-licensed installers get a local health-unit permit before work begins. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo state or Dunn County rule explicitly addresses residential greywater reuse; ask Southwest District Health or ND DEQ before installing a system.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Dunn County ordinance restricts rainwater catchment, inheriting the state's general allowance; large tanks or cisterns may need a standard county building permit. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedDunn County is served in part by the regional Southwest Water Authority and the OMND treatment plant; private domestic wells otherwise follow standard state well-construction rules with no confirmed extra county layer.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo official Dunn County requirement mandating grid utility connection was found; confirm with Planning & Zoning whether occupancy permits in your zoning district assume a hookup. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,389 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 16 in/yr
Snowfall: 39 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,762 (severe)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson: 33.5 mi
Fire station West Dunn Fire Protection District: 0.2 mi
Hardware store Bosch Lumber Company: 6.1 mi
Grocery: none within range

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 58626).

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.