Bolthole Index

North Dakota · Off-grid & homestead potential

Burke County

48Index Score / 100
#29 of 53 in North Dakota

Burke County scores 48/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths are deep seclusion — about 15 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. The trade-offs: thin water margin (17.7″/yr rainfall).

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Burke County in North Dakota

48
County map
Burke County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Burke County scores

Seclusion83100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency1999% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability48100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost8194% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$141kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$1,445Land / acre
17.7"Annual rain
14.7% of yrsSevere drought
3.1 / yr (+2.8)Mid-century 100°F days
20.5 daysMid-century dry spell
1.17" (+3.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.46×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
state median fallbackInsurance basis
15People within 30 min
15,724People within 2 hr
1,193Radius comparison (15 mi)
1.9People / sq mi
31.9%Federal land
92.2%Land at 15% slope or less
23.5%Septic soil without severe limits
163,304 acWorkable land screen
0.8%Wooded land
17.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
39°FAvg temp

Scout Burke County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Burke County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Building & land-use rules in Burke County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Burke County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitRequired

    Burke County Planning & Zoning issues permits prior to construction (residential $50; commercial/industrial higher), with agricultural buildings without a dwelling exempt from fees.

    Burke County Planning and Zoning ↗
  • County zoningYes

    Burke County has adopted a Planning & Zoning Ordinance (last updated 2025) applying to the unincorporated county, with zoning districts and use conformity requirements.

    Burke County Planning & Zoning Ordinance ↗
  • Septic permittingFirst District Health Unit (Environmental Health Division)

    Onsite sewage systems in Burke County are permitted and inspected by the First District Health Unit; work must be done by an NDDEQ-licensed contractor or certified property owner.

    First District Health Unit - Septic (Onsite Wastewater) Systems ↗
  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Burke County Planning and Zoning before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Burke County, North Dakota

Is Burke County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Burke County scores 48/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 15 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (17.7″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Burke County, North Dakota?

Burke County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by First District Health Unit (Environmental Health Division). Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Burke County, North Dakota?

Land in Burke County runs about $1,445 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Burke County?

Burke County gets about 17.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 14.7% of years.

How remote is Burke County?

A representative private-land location has about 15 people within a 30-minute drive and 15,724 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Burke County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

How Burke compares in North Dakota

Compare side-by-side →See all 53 North Dakota counties ranked →