Off-grid site report

Pembina County, ND

48.7939, -97.6223 · 883 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Pembina 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 rulesPembina County, ND

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning ordinance was found on Pembina County's official site. The City of Pembina has its own zoning chapter for land inside city limits; unincorporated county land status is not confirmed, so ask the County Auditor's Office. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county minimum dwelling size or RV occupancy rule was found; the City of Pembina has its own building code chapter for in-city dwellings. Outside the city, the state baseline of no minimum size likely applies but isn't confirmed at the county level.
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThe City of Pembina maintains its own building and electrical code chapters for property inside city limits. No county-level building permit office or code was found on the official county site, so unincorporated land status is not confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality licenses onsite wastewater installers statewide and requires a permit from the local public health unit before work begins. Pembina County Public Health lists a regional environmental inspector as the local contact. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Pembina County or state DEQ page was found specifically addressing residential greywater reuse permitting; this is an unresolved gray area, so confirm directly with County Public Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting was found, so this inherits the state baseline that rainwater collection is legal, though larger or underground systems may need a building permit.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe state Department of Water Resources handles conditional water permits for permanent water projects, and the Pembina County Water Resource District coordinates locally on water management and groundwater studies, though domestic well exemption specifics were not detailed on the county page. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Pembina County ordinance requiring grid utility connection was found, so this inherits the state baseline that off-grid solar is legal and grid connection is not mandated.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,346 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
19 in/yr
Snowfall
37 in/yr
Heating degree days
10,007 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 14 to Sep 25

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Pembina County Memorial Hospital
0.2 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
Terry's Hardware Inc
0.1 mi
Grocery
Fine Foods - Food & Deli Gretna
15.0 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 58220).

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.