Off-grid site report

Barnes County, ND

46.9121, -98.0120 · 1,266 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Barnes 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 rulesBarnes County, ND

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyBarnes County administers its own Development Code countywide through its Planning & Zoning Board, but Valley City and its one-mile extraterritorial zone use a separate city zoning ordinance instead. Specific rural-district rules for raw-land occupancy were not confirmed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyCounty dwelling-size and RV-occupancy standards vary by zoning district and were not confirmed against the official code text; a possible park-model tiny home allowance in a recreational district could not be verified. Ask the county Planning & Zoning office directly. Valley City has its own separate Title 11 zoning if inside city limits or its extraterritorial area.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBarnes County's Planning & Zoning Administrator issues building permits, and the county follows the North Dakota Building Code (International Code-based) per state statute. State Plumbing and Electrical Board codes apply as a statewide baseline regardless of local adoption. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedNorth Dakota's Department of Environmental Quality licenses septic installers statewide under NDCC 23.1-07.1, and a permit is also required from the local public health unit serving Barnes County, though which specific unit covers the county was not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Barnes County ordinance on greywater reuse was found, and there is no clear statewide statute addressing it either. Treat this as an unresolved gray area and ask the county or state DEQ directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Barnes County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, so the state's general hands-off baseline applies. Large underground storage tanks may still trigger a county building permit, worth confirming with Planning & Zoning.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate domestic wells are governed by state well-construction rules, and much of Barnes County is also served by the Barnes Rural Water District. A separate county Water Resource District handles drainage and subsurface water management permits, which is a different matter from a household well. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo Barnes County ordinance mandating utility hookup was found in public materials, but some North Dakota counties have local requirements not posted publicly, so confirm directly with Planning & Zoning.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,374 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
21 in/yr
Snowfall
35 in/yr
Heating degree days
9,279 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 12 to Sep 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
CHI Mercy Health
1.4 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
Handy Home and Hardware
0.6 mi
Grocery
Leevers South
0.8 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 58072).

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.