Off-grid site report

Bottineau County, ND

48.8272, -100.4457 · 1,650 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Bottineau 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 rulesBottineau County, ND

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyBottineau County has a countywide zoning ordinance administered by a County Zoning Administrator, but the City of Bottineau runs its own separate zoning ordinance inside city limits, and Roland Township (Lake Metigoshe area) has its own township zoning. Confirm which jurisdiction covers your parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific minimum dwelling size, tiny-home rule, or RV-as-residence standard was confirmed in official sources; Roland Township has some RV use/storage provisions but details aren't verified.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are required, issued by the County Zoning Administrator in unincorporated areas and by the city Building Inspector inside Bottineau city limits (covering even fences, decks, and sheds). source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedFirst District Health Unit requires a permit before any onsite sewage system installation or repair, work must be done by an NDDEQ-licensed contractor or certified property owner, and a final inspection before backfilling is mandatory or the system is considered illegal. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Bottineau County or First District Health Unit page specifically addresses standalone greywater reuse; this inherits the same ambiguity found at the state level, so ask FDHU directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found; it appears to follow the state's generally permissive approach, with a building permit likely needed only for underground storage tanks.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNorth Dakota does not regulate private well placement or water quality, and this state rule carries over to Bottineau County; drilling must be done by a contractor licensed through the ND Department of Water Resources. The county Water Resource Board's documented role is drainage/flood projects, not private well permitting. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Bottineau County or City of Bottineau ordinance was found requiring connection to grid electric, water, or sewer utilities for occupancy; confirm directly with the zoning administrator or city building inspector since this wasn't documented on searchable official pages.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,331 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
18 in/yr
Snowfall
43 in/yr
Heating degree days
9,922 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 15 to Sep 23

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Saint Andrews Health Center
0.2 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
Sawmill Lumber
9.1 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
0.9 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 58318).

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

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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.