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

Bowman’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the corporate limits of Bowman city, North Dakota.

  • The code also applies to the stated extraterritorial area; this claim is limited to city limits.

  “within the corporate limits of the City of Bowman”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts established for land inside Bowman city limits.

  • The official Chapter 6 district list includes R-1, R-2, R-3, MH-1, MH-2, PUD, C, C-2, DC, I, I-2, Ag, PR/P, PO, and MU.
  • The city zoning-map webpage presents a shorter current list and describes city extraterritorial zoning separately.

  “The City is hereby divided into the following use districts”

• Building heightSpecified

  Proposed structures within Bowman's jurisdiction, including city limits.

  • A structure over 35 feet must undergo Planning and Zoning Commission review through conditional-use-permit procedures before erection or construction.
  • The Commission may grant the permit if the applicant demonstrates the listed health, safety, welfare, and solar-access findings.

  height requiring conditional-use review: > 35 feet (Measured under the code's stated height regulation.)

  “exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height shall be reviewed”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewer systems for occupied, employed, or recreational properties inside Bowman city limits where city sewer connection is not required.

  • The system must comply with State of North Dakota Building and Plumbing Code and City of Bowman regulations.
  • A permit is granted by the Superintendent of the Water Department.

  “permit by the Superintendent of the Water Department”

• Septic permitRequired

  A private sewer system serving a house or building inside Bowman city limits when city sewer connection is not required by location.

  • The system may only be developed after permit grant by the Superintendent of the Water Department.
  • A private sewer-system permit cannot be granted for property under 40,000 square feet, except it may be granted for a 20,000-square-foot property already platted for private sewer use.

  minimum property size for private sewer permit: >= 40000 square feet (A permit may be granted for an already-platted 20,000-square-foot property intended for private sewer use.)

  “A sewer system permit may be granted [...] on a twenty-thousand (20,000) square foot property when said has already been platted”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewer systems for houses or buildings inside Bowman city limits where city sewer connection is not required by location.

  • Private sewer must comply with State of North Dakota Building and Plumbing Code and City of Bowman regulations.
  • A Superintendent of the Water Department permit is required.
  • Where city sewer becomes available, a property with private septic must cease use and connect within 60 days of official notice.

  “When a house or building by its location is not required to be connected to the City of Bowman sewer system, the owner of said house or building shall construct a private sewer system. Said system shall be designed in compliance with the State of North Dakota Building and Plumbing Code, City of Bowman regulations and shall only be developed following the granting of a permit by the Superintendent of the Water Department;”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses, buildings, and properties used for human occupancy, employment, or recreation inside Bowman city limits.

  • Connection is required within 90 days of official notice when the associated lot abuts or is within 150 feet of a public easement containing, or to contain, a sewer line.
  • Properties with private septic systems must discontinue private use and connect within 60 days of official notice when sewer service becomes available.

  sewer-easement proximity: <= 150 feet (Applies where the lot abuts or is within this distance of a public easement containing, or to contain, a sewer line.) · connection deadline after first official notice: 90 days (Applies to the abutting/proximity condition.) · connection deadline after service becomes available: 60 days (Applies to properties with private septic systems after official notice.)

  “connect [...] within sixty (60) days of receipt of official notice”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals inside Bowman city limits.

  • The Planning and Zoning Commission makes a recommendation and the City Commission makes the final decision on preliminary plat maps.

  “For preliminary plat maps [...] shall make a recommendation to the City Commission”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development within special flood hazard areas inside Bowman's jurisdiction, including city limits.

  • The special flood hazard area must be one established under § 6.1007.
  • The application may include the detailed plans, elevations, structures, fill/storage materials, drainage facilities, and other listed information.

  “before construction or development begins within any special flood hazard area”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Zoning and discretionary permit applications inside Bowman city limits.

  • Zoning permits follow a fee schedule obtainable from the Zoning Administrator.
  • Discretionary application fees are per the City Commission-approved schedule and are due at filing; an application without payment is incomplete.

  “Zoning permits pursuant to the ordinances of the City of Bowman, shall be issued in accordance with the fee schedule which can be obtained from the Zoning Administrator. 1. Payment shall be made at the Zoning Administrator’s office upon delivery of the permit.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Administrative zoning-permit applications for construction, relocation, or external additions inside Bowman city limits.

  • The application must be accompanied by a sketch map.
  • The Zoning Administrator must determine conformity with state statutes, city regulations, and other applicable ordinances before issuing the permit.

  “Each application for a zoning permit shall be accompanied by a sketch map showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the size, shape and location of the building to be erected, and such other information as may be necessary to provide for the enforcement of these regulations. A record of the application and sketch map shall be kept in the office of the Zoning Administrator. 6.1105 Administrative Application, Approval, Requirements, and Issuance of Permits. The application shall be filed in the office of the Zoning Administrator and he/she shall determine whether said application and proposed construction meets the requirements of these provisions.”

Rules another office applies inside Bowman

Bowman does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  One-family and two-family dwellings in Bowman's R-1 district.

  • Lots must also satisfy stated width requirements.

  minimum lot area: >= 7000 square feet (Applies to R-1 one-family and R-1 two-family lots.)

  “Lots shall be seven-thousand (7,000) square feet or greater;”

• SetbacksSpecified

  One-family dwellings in Bowman's R-1 district.

  • The front setback is in addition to the city public right-of-way stated in the code.

  front-yard setback: >= 7 feet (In addition to the City of Bowman's public right-of-way of 13 feet measured from back of curb.) · side-yard setback: >= 5 feet (Applies on each side of the lot.) · rear-yard setback: >= 20 feet

  “A front yard setback of seven (7) feet or greater.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  One-family and two-family lots in Bowman's R-1 district.

  maximum structural lot coverage: <= 65 percent (Applies to R-1 one-family and two-family lots.)

  “No more than sixty-five percent (65%) of the lot area may be covered with structures.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicle park spaces in Bowman's MH-2 Manufactured Home/RV Park Alternate District.

  • An RV may not occupy a space more than 60 continuous days unless permanent occupancy for 61 days or more receives conditional permission.
  • The RV park must post signs that dumping gray and black water is prohibited.

  maximum continuous RV occupancy: <= 60 days (Permanent occupancy for 61 days or more is conditionally permitted.)

  “permanent occupancy sixty-one (61) days or more.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home use in Bowman's R-3 and MH-1 zoning districts.

  • R-3 permits double-wide and triple-wide manufactured or modular homes with perimeter foundations and shingle roofs.
  • MH-1 permits manufactured homes; a single-wide manufactured home on privately owned lots zoned for manufactured homes is conditionally permitted only if no older than 10 years.

  maximum single-wide manufactured-home age: <= 10 years (Applies to a single-wide manufactured home on privately owned lot(s) zoned for manufactured homes.)

  “must be no older than ten (10) years of age.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Bowman city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Bowman city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Bowman city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Bowman city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bowman city limits.

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.