Off-grid site report

Adams County, ND

46.0014, -102.6368 · 2,690 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyAdams County has an actual countywide Zoning Ordinance administered jointly with its cities through the Tax Equalization Department, with agricultural, residential, and commercial districts; agricultural land is generally most permissive for off-grid occupancy but review still applies countywide. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo specific minimum dwelling size or tiny-home rule was found in county documents; RV parks/campgrounds are treated as a separate permitted/conditional use category from standard dwellings, so confirm how a full-time RV or tiny home would be classified with the zoning office.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits, conditional use permits, and variances are handled by the Adams County Tax Equalization Department, which serves as the joint city and county zoning administrative office rather than a separate building department. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are allowed with a permit from the local public health unit (Southwestern District Health Unit) and installers must be licensed by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality; no Adams County specific ordinance text was found, so confirm details with SWDHU. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Adams County or Southwestern District Health Unit page specifically addresses residential greywater reuse, and this appears to inherit the same ambiguity at the state level; ask SWDHU directly before installing a system.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Adams County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, and North Dakota has no state law prohibiting it, so this is treated as permitted under the state baseline.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo Adams County specific well ordinance was found; private wells fall under state jurisdiction (water appropriation and licensed well drillers), with the Southwestern District Health Unit as a possible regional contact on water quality.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Adams County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found, and North Dakota has no statewide mandate either, but this was not fully confirmed for Adams County so check with the Tax Equalization/Zoning office.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,459 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 16 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,638 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 20 to Sep 16

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital West River Regional Medical Center: 0.4 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store: none within range
Grocery Kenedy's Fresh Foods: 0.1 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 58639).

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.