Off-grid site report

Foster County, ND

47.5761, -98.5892 · 1,509 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyFoster County has adopted its own countywide 2018 Zoning Regulation, administered by the Planning & Zoning Department, unlike counties that leave zoning to townships. District-specific rules for raw land were not confirmed from available materials. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo confirmed Foster County minimum dwelling size, tiny-home, or RV occupancy rule was found; this would fall under the county's 2018 zoning regulation. Confirm directly with Planning & Zoning. source

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyNorth Dakota is a home-rule state for building codes, meaning cities and counties decide individually whether to adopt them. It's not confirmed whether Foster County issues its own building permits outside city limits. source

Septic & composting toilets

Unclear - verifySeptic installer licensing is handled by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board statewide, but permitting is typically local or through a multi-county health district. Foster County is confirmed NOT covered by the First District Health Unit, but which authority does cover it was not confirmed.

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Foster County ordinance on greywater reuse was found; this falls back to the ambiguous state baseline. Ask the county Planning & Zoning office directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Foster County-specific restriction was found, so the general state allowance for rainwater harvesting appears to apply.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNorth Dakota's baseline generally exempts domestic and stock wells from full water-appropriation permitting, though construction standards apply. A Foster County-specific water resource district was not confirmed.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo evidence of a mandatory grid-hookup ordinance in Foster County was found; off-grid living appears permitted under the state baseline, but no local confirmation was available.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,317 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 21 in/yr
Snowfall: 51 in/yr
Heating degree days: 9,326 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 11 to Sep 26

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington: 26.3 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 58464).

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.