Off-grid site report

Morton County, ND

46.8218, -100.8813 · 1,641 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Morton 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 rulesMorton County, ND

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMorton County has a codified Land Use Code administered by the county Planning and Zoning Department for unincorporated areas; incorporated cities/townships may have their own zoning instead. The county warns some parcels are non-conforming and need subdivision approval before a building permit can issue. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThe Land Use Code's Dimensional Table (Section 2-120) sets area/dimension standards by zoning district, but no specific tiny-home minimum size or RV-as-residence rule was found. Confirm with Planning and Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe county has adopted the 2021 International Building Code and requires a permit from the Building Inspector before construction, plus a certificate of occupancy before use. Permits are handled through the Tax Equalization/Building Department. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems require a permit, historically through a local public health unit, though a 2025 state law (SB 2267) gave the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality expanded statewide authority over licensing and permitting, with a possible exemption for installing on your own property for personal use. The specific local health unit for Morton County was not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Morton County or state-specific greywater ordinance was found in official sources. Ask the Planning and Zoning Department and the local septic permitting authority before installing one.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Morton County ordinance specific to rainwater harvesting was found; state baseline is generally permissive, but a storage system tied to a structure may still need a building permit under the county's adopted IBC.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedOrdinary domestic and stock wells are generally exempt from state water-appropriation permitting, but larger projects need a conditional permit from the North Dakota Department of Water Resources. The Morton County Water Resource District, a state-authorized local body, handles drainage and water management locally. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Morton County ordinance was found requiring connection to grid electric, water, or sewer as a condition of occupancy; occupancy is instead tied to the certificate of occupancy under the adopted building code. 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)
2.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,395 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
18 in/yr
Heating degree days
8,670 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 11 to Sep 25

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Sanford Medical Center
4.8 mi
Fire station
Mandan Fire Department
0.5 mi
Hardware store
Lowe's
3.3 mi
Grocery
Family Fare
0.2 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 58554).

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.