Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Medora, North Dakota

Medora’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or site alteration inside Medora city limits (city construction/zoning permit)

  • Not required for ordinary maintenance and repair, or demolition/removal of an existing fence
  • Permit may be granted on a showing of continuity with the historical integrity district

  “a permit approved by the city of medora shall be required prior to the start of any construction or site alteration of any property within the city limits”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Medora city

  • Adopted with local amendments
  • Where the building code conflicts with zoning ordinances, zoning governs (14.0102)

  “the rules and regulations of the most recent edition of the north dakota state building code - one copy of which is on file with the city auditor”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Medora city limits and its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction

  • County zoning may also apply in the extraterritorial zone
  • Appeals go to the city council acting as board of adjustment

  “the entire city and the areas under its zoning jurisdiction are hereby zoned as a historical integrity district.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Medora city zoning districts

  • Whole city is one historical integrity district; section 6.0303 residential districts not fully read

  “the entire city and the areas under its zoning jurisdiction are hereby zoned as a historical integrity district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  All buildings inside Medora city (single historical integrity district)

  • Zoning commission may modify by affirmative vote of three members
  • Positioning of nearby buildings must be considered

  minimum side yard: >= 5 feet · minimum setback from edge of road or street: >= 15 feet

  “any portion of all buildings shall have minimum side yards of five (5) feet and be set back at least fifteen (15) feet from the edge of any road or street.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RVs and travel trailers on private land inside Medora city

  • Parking of one unoccupied RV in an accessory garage or rear yard allowed if no living quarters maintained
  • Allowed in a state-licensed designated campground
  • Motel guests' RVs only if parked unoccupied on motel property
  • Visitor's permit up to two weeks may be granted on written request

  “it shall be unlawful, within the limits of the city of medora, for any person to park any travel trailer, semi truck or semi trailer, or other recreational vehicle on any street, alley, or highway or on any tract of land owned by any person within the city of medora except as follows”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary stays in RVs inside Medora city

  • Visitor's permit up to two weeks on written request
  • Designated state-licensed campgrounds permitted

  “the owner of any trailer or other recreational vehicle in the city of medora may obtain a visitor's permit to park the trailer or other recreational vehicle on a lot for a period of not to exceed two weeks.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes (factory-built homes produced before 1976) inside Medora city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction

  • Only mobile homes existing at ordinance enactment are allowed without permit
  • Existing mobile homes may not be replaced

  “any such mobile home shall not be allowed to be replaced. a mobile home shall mean any factory-built home, not entirely built and constructed on site, produced prior to 1976.”

• Permit processPublished

  Construction permits inside Medora city

  • Process continues in 6.0504-6.0508 (plan submission, construction plan, hearing); not fully read

  “a permit approved by the city of medora shall be required prior to the start of any construction or site alteration of any property within the city limits”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Medora or Billings County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Medora city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Medora city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates inside Medora city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Medora city
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Medora city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.