Off-grid site report
Grant County, ND
46.0949, -101.5494 · 2,234 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Grant 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 rulesGrant County, ND
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyGrant County has adopted its own countywide zoning ordinance, administered by the County Planning & Zoning Department, with conditional uses requiring a public hearing before the Planning Commission.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyA building permit is required for any new structure including homes, but specific minimum dwelling size or standards were not confirmed; mobile/manufactured homes are tracked separately via county registration.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedGrant County requires a building permit for new structures, including sheds over a small size threshold, decks, and porches, and even for tax-exempt farm residences; apply well ahead of construction per the county's own guidance. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are allowed statewide under ND Department of Environmental Quality licensing standards, but the actual permit comes from a local public health unit; which unit covers Grant County was not confirmed in available sources. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Grant County or North Dakota state rule on residential greywater reuse was found; confirm directly with the local public health unit before planning a greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Grant County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, and the state baseline is generally permissive; note that underground storage tanks may still fall under the county's general building permit review.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedDomestic wells are permitted and regulated at the state level, with Grant County also served regionally by the Southwest Water Authority; larger appropriative water use needs a state conditional water permit. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Grant County ordinance was found requiring connection to grid electricity or municipal utilities; the county's building permit process is the main mechanism reviewing any structure, off-grid or otherwise.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,433 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 17 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 41 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,838 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 7 to Sep 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center - 25.7 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
- none within range
- 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 57660).
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.