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

Horace’s own rules

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Property inside Horace city limits served by a private wastewater disposal system when public sewer becomes available.

  • A direct public-sewer connection is required when public sewer becomes available.
  • The code's availability provision uses a public sewer within 200 feet of the property line.
  • Fargo Cass Public Health may grant a hardship variance.

  public sewer distance from property line: <= 200 feet (Subject to the ordinance's variance provision.)

  “At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private wastewater disposal system, as provided in this section, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  City permits, land-use applications, and inspections inside Horace city limits.

  • The online portal warns applicants to allow additional time for permit processing because of record application volume.
  • For current permit times, the portal directs applicants to contact the City's permitting department.

  “What can you do on this portal? Apply for a Building Permit Apply for a Right-of-Way Permit Submit a Land Use Application Report a Code Violation Request an Inspection”

Rules another office applies inside Horace

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Horace city limits.

  • Horace's sewer ordinance identifies Fargo Cass Public Health as the signing, inspection, and regulatory authority for private wastewater systems.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the property owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by Fargo Cass Public Health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private wastewater disposal system inside Horace city limits.

  • The owner must obtain a written permit signed by Fargo Cass Public Health before construction.
  • The application must use the Public Health form and include plans, specifications, and other information deemed necessary by Fargo Cass Public Health and the City.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the property owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by Fargo Cass Public Health. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by Fargo Cass Public Health”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Horace city limits.

  • The permit is not effective until installation is completed to Fargo Cass Public Health's satisfaction.
  • The applicant must notify Fargo Cass Public Health for final inspection before underground portions are covered.

  “A permit for a private wastewater disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of Fargo Cass Public Health. Fargo Cass Public Health shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Horace city limits.

  • A written Fargo Cass Public Health permit is required before construction.
  • The system's type, capacity, location, and layout must comply with Fargo Cass Public Health recommendations and regulations.
  • A septic tank or cesspool may not discharge to a natural outlet or ground surface.
  • Connection to public sewer is required when it becomes available under the ordinance.

  “The type, capacities, location, and layout of a private wastewater disposal system shall comply with all recommendations and/or regulations of Fargo Cass Public Health. A permit shall not be issued for any private wastewater disposal system not meeting these conditions.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Horace city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Horace city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Horace city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Horace city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Horace 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.