Off-grid site report

Richland County, ND

46.2637, -96.6153 · 958 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyNo single Richland County zoning ordinance exists; zoning is handled township by township (e.g., Dwight, Richland Township) under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 58-03-13. Confirm with your specific township's zoning administrator. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Richland County or RCRPC source specifies minimum dwelling size or RV occupancy rules; this would fall to the applicable township, not confirmed for Richland County.

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyThe Richland County Building Codes Department administers the flood program in unincorporated areas, but general building permit enforcement depends on whether the local township or county has opted to adopt the North Dakota State Building Code, per the state's Community Services division. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedFargo Cass Public Health's Division of Environmental Health permits, inspects, and sets design standards for septic systems in Richland County, and the state DEQ licenses installers statewide. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Richland County, Fargo Cass Public Health, or state DEQ page addresses residential greywater reuse permitting directly; ask FCPH Environmental Health for their current stance.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Richland County-specific rule was found; this likely inherits the general state baseline of being legal, though underground storage tanks could trigger a building permit question worth confirming with the county building department.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are generally permitted and exempt from full state water appropriation permitting if installed by a licensed well driller; drainage or culvert work near waterways instead requires a separate permit from the Richland County Water Resource Board. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Richland County or township source explicitly requires or prohibits full off-grid electrical disconnection; any such rule would live in a specific township's zoning ordinance, so check locally.

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): 2.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,323 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 25 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,603 (severe)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital CHI Saint Francis Health: 2.3 mi
Fire station Breckenridge South Fire Station: 1.6 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 24.1 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 1.6 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 58074).

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.