Unincorporated Eddy County, North Dakota requires a permit before construction or excavation for a new rural residential structure1. The county also administers zoning, while a local public health permit is required before onsite wastewater work begins23. Agricultural buildings have a limited permit exemption, but RV living and tiny-home occupancy remain questions for county officials45.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required before construction or excavation for a new rural residential structure in unincorporated Eddy County1
- Zoning
- County zoning applies in unincorporated territory, subject to separate municipal or township authority2
- Septic permit
- Required from the local public health unit before work begins3
- RV living
- No private-land occupancy rule confirmed; ask the Zoning Commission before relying on an RV as housing65
- Tiny homes
- No specific occupancy rule confirmed; the residential permit and zoning process still applies15
- Agricultural buildings
- Agland buildings are exempt from the county building permit4
- Owner-builder
- No exemption from permit requirements was confirmed7
- Private well
- A state water-appropriation permit applies above 12.5 acre-feet per year; qualifying lower-use wells must still be reported8
Who to call
Building permits
Zoning questions and coordination with the County Tax Director on residential structure permits
524 Central Avenue, New Rockford, North Dakota 58356
Septic permits
Lake Region District Health Unit Environmental Health Division
Onsite sewage treatment system applications, site review, design approval and permit records for Eddy County
524 4th Ave. NE Unit 9, Devils Lake, ND 58301-2490
Floodplain permits
Eddy County Flood Plain Management
Floodplain questions and development guidance for special flood hazard areas
524 Central Ave, New Rockford, ND 58356
Roads & driveways
County-road questions and coordination for county-road access permits
104 2nd Ave SE, New Rockford, ND 58356
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.
Do you need a building permit in Eddy County, North Dakota?
Yes. A person planning a new residential structure in unincorporated Eddy County must obtain a permit from the County Tax Director before construction or excavation begins1. The requirement covers new rural residential buildings or structures added to taxable property and the placement or relocation of mobile and manufactured homes1. Replacing roofs, siding, windows or decks does not require this county building permit, and agland buildings are exempt14. The residential application shows a $10 fee but also points to the county's resolution of fees and schedules, so confirm the current amount for the particular project9. North Dakota has a state building-code framework, but state Community Services does not enforce it; enforcement belongs to jurisdictions that elect to administer a code1011.
Who handles Eddy County building permits, and how do you reach them?
The Eddy County Tax Director administers the zoning code and assists the Zoning Commission and County Commission on zoning and development matters2. The county's Zoning Commission contact is 701-947-2434 at 524 Central Avenue, New Rockford, North Dakota 583565. Start there to confirm the parcel's zoning district, get the residential structure application and learn whether the project needs additional review125. A complete application includes the legal description, a lot map, structure type and materials, occupied lot area, probable construction cost, and any additional plans or specifications requested by the Tax Director13. The permit can be issued only when the proposal conforms to the applicable zoning and building provisions1. We could not confirm a published inspection schedule or certificate-of-occupancy requirement; ask the Zoning Commission what inspections and closeout documents apply before work starts5.
Does Eddy County have zoning?
Yes. Eddy County administers zoning in unincorporated territory through the County Tax Director and Zoning Commission, while municipal and township jurisdictions may have separate authority2. The county maintains a zoning map and records for Residential, Agricultural, Recreational, Commercial, Industrial and Vacant categories12. Buildings and structures near county and township rights-of-way must be set back at least 100 feet, including from county-road rights-of-way14. Do not treat that road setback as the only siting rule: we could not confirm current numeric limits for minimum lot size, lot coverage or building height, so have the Zoning Commission check the district and parcel before designing the site5. County-road access also requires a County Commission permit, although farm driveways and field access points are exempt from that access provision15. The Road Department's New Rockford shop is at 104 2nd Ave SE and can be reached at (701) 947-551816.
How do septic permits work in Eddy County?
An onsite wastewater installer in Eddy County needs a North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality license and a permit from the local public health unit before beginning work173. Lake Region District Health Unit's published procedure expressly covers Eddy County and directs applicants to complete the onsite sewage treatment system application with a legal description, contact information, a site drawing and payment18. After the application and payment arrive, the health unit grants only a preliminary permit; its process calls for site review and installer design approval before installation proceeds18. Contact Environmental Health at 701.662.7039 or [email protected], 524 4th Ave. NE Unit 9, Devils Lake, ND 58301-249018. Site evaluation matters because about 31.4% of Eddy County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field19. We could not confirm whether every installation receives an inspection or which off-grid sanitation alternatives are allowed; ask Environmental Health before choosing a system18.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Eddy County?
We could not confirm an Eddy County rule allowing or prohibiting full-time RV occupancy on private land, and North Dakota's state-park camping limit does not answer the private-land question20. Ask the Eddy County Zoning Commission whether an RV may be occupied on the parcel, including during construction, before arranging utilities or moving onto the land5. We also could not confirm a tiny-home occupancy rule or a countywide minimum dwelling size65. A tiny home that functions as a new residence should not be assumed exempt: Eddy County's permit requirement covers new rural residential structures, and permits are issued only when the proposal conforms to zoning and building provisions1. A new manufactured home has an additional state installation path requiring a licensed installer and licensed inspector21. No owner-builder exemption from the county permit requirement was confirmed, so self-performing the work should not be treated as an exemption7.
Building a home in Eddy County: the steps, in order
- Confirm that the parcel is under Eddy County zoning rather than a municipality or township with separate authority2.
- Call the Zoning Commission at 701-947-2434 to confirm the district, allowed residential use and required application512.
- Start the Lake Region District Health Unit septic application and site review before construction; the local permit is required before onsite wastewater work begins318.
- Prepare the legal description, lot map, structure details, occupied lot area, probable building cost, and any additional plans requested by the Tax Director13.
- If access connects to a county road, obtain the County Commission access permit and coordinate with the Road Department1516.
- Submit the residential permit, confirm the applicable fee and wait for approval before construction or excavation19.
- Ask which inspections and final occupancy documents apply because no published county schedule was confirmed5.
What should you check before buying land in Eddy County?
Start with jurisdiction and the zoning map because municipal or township authority may replace the county process on some parcels2. Confirm legal access and whether an existing approach has the required County Commission approval; farm driveways and field access points have a specific exemption, but a residential entrance should not be assumed exempt15. Screen the parcel for flood risk with Eddy County Flood Plain Management at 524 Central Ave, New Rockford, phone (701)-302-8279; the office says work in a special flood hazard area is subject to flood-damage and safety requirements22. Evaluate septic feasibility early because only about 31.4% of county soils avoid severe conventional-drain-field limitations19. For a private well, state water-appropriation permitting begins above 12.5 acre-feet per year, while qualifying lower-use wells must still be reported8. Budget for average annual precipitation of about 19.3 inches and carrying costs near a 0.9% effective property-tax rate with a median annual bill of about $1,027232425.
Watch-outs
- A residential permit is required before construction or excavation begins, not after site work is underway1.
- The 100-foot rule is measured from county and township rights-of-way, so verify the right-of-way rather than measuring from the traveled road edge14.
- A preliminary septic permit is not approval to install; Lake Region District Health Unit requires further site and design steps first18.
- RV living, tiny-home occupancy and a minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; ask the Zoning Commission for a parcel-specific answer5.
- County zoning does not settle rules in every municipality or township, which may exercise separate authority2.
Sources
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Zoning Commission (eddycountynd.org)
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application (2026 county census)
- (2026 county census)
- Water Appropriation Permits (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- Building Codes | Commerce | North Dakota (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Building Codes (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Planning and Zoning Residential Structure Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Road Department (eddycountynd.org)
- On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
- Lake Region District Health Unit Environmental Health Division (0bf4856a-7a65-4813-b674-23a67f3de7ab.filesusr.com)
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- Parks and Recreation FAQ (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Manufactured Home Installation Program (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Eddy County Flood Plain Management (eddycountynd.org)
- Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.