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

Harwood’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Harwood city limits.

  • The ordinance also applies in the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction; this claim is limited to incorporated Harwood.

  “This Ordinance shall be known, cited and referred to as the "Harwood City Land Use Ordinance." It and all subsequent amendments to it may be referred to in this document as "this Ordinance".”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and developer-installed public utilities inside Harwood city limits.

  • If a developer or subdivider requests that the City create an improvement district for public utilities, City Council approval is required.
  • The developer or subdivider must sign the City Attorney's agreement and provide the required cashier's check.

  “Should the developer or subdivider request to have the City create an improvement district in order for the public utilities to be installed, and the City Council approves this request, the following procedure shall be followed:”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New dwelling units inside Harwood city limits.

  • The dwelling lot must abut a dedicated public street.

  “No dwelling unit shall be built on a lot that does not abut a dedicated public street.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits inside Harwood city limits.

  • Applications require scaled plans showing lot dimensions and shape, structures, uses, parking/loading, and other information necessary for compliance review.

  “All applications for building permits shall be accompanied by plans drawn to scale, showing the exact dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon; the exact sizes and locations on the lot of any proposed or existing structures; existing and proposed use of any structures; layout and number of spaces for off-street parking and loading; and other such information as may be necessary to determine compliance with this ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Harwood city limits.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Harwood city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Harwood city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Harwood city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Harwood 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.