Off-grid site report

Ward County, ND

48.1549, -101.1618 · 1,578 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyWard County has countywide zoning with districts like Agricultural Production, Rural Residential, and others, adopted under state law (NDCC 11-33.2-12). Some townships/cities set their own zoning instead, so confirm jurisdiction with Ward County Planning & Zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Ward County document specifies a minimum dwelling size or a tiny-home/RV occupancy rule; contact Planning & Zoning directly to confirm.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedWard County requires building permits reviewed by its Planning, Building, and Engineering Departments, and First District Health Unit approval for sewer/water is required unless connected to municipal service. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic permitting is handled by the First District Health Unit, a regional public health district covering Ward County; a permit is required before work, and a final inspection is mandatory or the system is considered illegal. Composting toilets aren't specifically addressed.

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo official Ward County or First District Health Unit page addresses greywater reuse specifically; not confirmed, so ask FDHU or the county Building Inspector directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Ward County-specific rule on rainwater harvesting was found; the state baseline is understood to permit it, but confirm with the county Building Inspector if a storage structure needs a permit.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedDomestic wells are generally exempt from full state appropriation permitting, but must be built by a licensed driller; larger or permanent water projects need a conditional water permit from the North Dakota Department of Water Resources, and Ward County falls under the Souris River Joint Board's watershed oversight. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide rule mandating grid-electric hookup was found, but off-grid water/sewer systems still must go through the same First District Health Unit and county approval process as connected systems; townships/cities may add their own utility rules. source

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): 2.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,340 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 17 in/yr
Snowfall: 46 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,800 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 10 to Sep 29

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Trinity Health West: 8.1 mi
Fire station Minot Fire Department: 7.6 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 6.8 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 6.9 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 58785).

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.