Bolthole Index

Grant County, North Dakota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Grant County, North Dakota

50Index Score / 100
#24 of 53 in North Dakota

Grant County, North Dakota requires a building permit for a new home or other covered new structure, including a shed over 79 square feet.1 County zoning generally covers unincorporated land, with exceptions for townships retaining zoning authority and cities exercising extraterritorial zoning.2 A private septic system also needs a local public-health permit before work begins.3

At a glance

Building permit
Required for a new home and other covered structures1
Zoning
County zoning applies in much of the unincorporated area, subject to township and city exceptions2
Septic
A local public-health permit is required before installation3
RV living
A general private-land occupancy rule could not be confirmed; ask Planning & Zoning4
Tiny home
No distinct tiny-home rule was confirmed; ask Planning & Zoning how the proposed dwelling is classified4
Owner-builder
No exemption from applicable permits was confirmed; ask Planning & Zoning5
Private well
State water-appropriation rules depend on annual withdrawal6

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Grant County Planning & Zoning

Building, zoning, special-use and conditional-use applications for Grant County

701-460-9124

[email protected]

106 2nd Ave NE, Carson, North Dakota, 58529

Septic permits

Western Plains Public Health Environmental Health

Onsite septic-system permits and environmental-health questions in Grant County

701.667.3370

[email protected]

403 Burlington St SE, Mandan, ND 58554

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 Grant County, North Dakota?

Yes. Grant County requires a building permit when a new structure is built or moved onto a property.4 Covered projects include a stick-built, modular or manufactured home, a garage, a shed over 79 square feet, a deck, patio, porch, or an addition to an existing structure.1 The county says the farm-residence tax exemption does not remove the building-permit requirement for a new structure.1

Grant County requires applicants to apply at least two months before construction or before moving a structure onto the premises.4 The published building-permit application fee is $15.00, and the county Board of Planning and Zoning must approve building applications before the county mails the permit.4 The county ordinance also applies the current North Dakota-adopted International Building Code to regulated residential, commercial and accessory structures.7

Who issues building permits in Grant County, North Dakota?

Grant County Planning & Zoning is the first stop for county building and zoning applications.4 The department can be reached at 701-460-9124 or [email protected], and the county office address is 106 2nd Ave NE, Carson, North Dakota, 58529.4 The department says all building applications go to the Grant County Board of Planning and Zoning for approval.4

The county’s published process says an approved permit is mailed to the applicant and a denied applicant is contacted with an explanation.4 A special or conditional use follows a longer path: the Planning Commission holds a public hearing after at least two weeks of published notice and recommends action, while the County Commission makes the final decision.8 We could not confirm a general county inspection or certificate-of-occupancy process, so ask Planning & Zoning what inspections and final approvals apply to the particular project.4

Does Grant County, North Dakota have zoning?

Grant County zoning applies to unincorporated areas except townships that retained zoning power and incorporated cities that exercise extraterritorial zoning.2 That exception makes the parcel’s governing jurisdiction the first zoning question: confirm with Grant County Planning & Zoning whether the county, a township or a city controls the site.9

Land and buildings used exclusively for agriculture are generally outside the county regulations, but road setbacks and floodplain regulations still apply.10 The state building-code exemption for an agricultural building also does not cover a place of human habitation or a building used by the public.11 Accessory buildings subject to the county standard are limited to 35 feet in height, must be smaller than the principal building and must sit at least 25 feet from lot lines.12 No general minimum dwelling floor area was confirmed, so ask the authority governing the parcel before choosing a small-house plan.4

How do septic permits work in Grant County, North Dakota?

Western Plains Public Health serves Grant County for onsite septic matters.13 A local public-health permit must be secured before work on an onsite wastewater treatment system begins, and the installer must also hold a North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality license.3 Contact Environmental Health at 701.667.3370 or [email protected] before finalizing a house site or hiring excavation work.13

Only 11.6% of mapped county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field.14 That soil rating makes early site evaluation especially useful, but it does not decide whether an individual parcel can support a system.14 In subdivision developments, Grant County prohibits privies, outhouses and cesspools and requires connection to an onsite sewage system approved by the County Commission.15 The available reviewed material does not confirm the inspection sequence for Grant County, so ask Western Plains Public Health when inspections must occur.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Grant County, North Dakota?

We could not confirm a general Grant County rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV occupancy on private land.4 Grant County’s ordinance also does not provide a distinct, countywide tiny-home occupancy answer in the reviewed material.4 Ask Planning & Zoning which zoning authority controls the parcel and how that authority classifies the proposed unit before buying land or placing utilities.9

A tiny home treated as a new dwelling or other new structure would fall within the county’s stated building-permit rule where county authority applies.1 In the R-1 Residential Low-Density District, single-family dwellings include modular and multi-section manufactured homes, subject to the district and other ordinance requirements.16 New manufactured homes installed for residential use in North Dakota must use a state-licensed installer and receive inspection by a state-licensed inspector.17 State-park camping limits do not answer the private-land occupancy question.18

Building a home in Grant County, North Dakota: steps in order

  1. Confirm whether Grant County, a township or a city administers zoning for the parcel, because the county ordinance contains township and city exceptions.2
  2. Verify that the lot abuts a dedicated public road or has a recorded easement to one, as required for a dwelling lot.19
  3. Discuss the site and project classification with Grant County Planning & Zoning, then apply at least two months before construction or moving a structure onto the property.4
  4. Submit the building application and published $15.00 fee for Board of Planning and Zoning review.4
  5. Contact Western Plains Public Health and secure the septic permit before onsite-system work begins.3
  6. Check the parcel’s flood map, because development in a special flood hazard area requires a development permit before construction begins.20
  7. Ask Planning & Zoning which inspections or final approvals apply, because a general county inspection sequence was not confirmed.4

What should you check before buying land in Grant County?

Confirm the zoning authority, permitted use and road access before closing, because county zoning has township and city exceptions and a dwelling needs public-road frontage or a recorded access easement.219 Check the FEMA flood map and ask Grant County Planning & Zoning whether the planned work lies in a special flood hazard area requiring a development permit.20

Arrange an early septic discussion because only 11.6% of mapped soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field.14 For a private well, North Dakota requires a water-appropriation permit when annual withdrawal exceeds 12.5 acre-feet, while specified uses below that threshold must still be reported to the Department of Water Resources.6 Grant County’s effective property-tax rate is 1%, and the median annual property-tax bill is $841, useful context rather than a parcel-specific estimate.2122

Watch-outs

  • County zoning does not necessarily control every parcel: a township may retain zoning power, and a city may exercise extraterritorial zoning.2
  • Do not begin septic work before obtaining the local public-health permit and confirming that the installer holds the required state license.3
  • A special flood hazard area requires a development permit before construction or development begins.20
  • Grant County has not provided a confirmed general answer for long-term RV living, so ask Planning & Zoning before relying on an RV as a residence.4

Sources

  1. Grant County ND Planning & Zoning (2026 county census)
  2. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  3. On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. Grant County Planning & Zoning (grantcountynd.com)
  5. (2026 county census)
  6. Water Appropriation Permits (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  8. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  9. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  10. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  11. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 54-21.3, State Building Code (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  13. Western Plains Public Health Environmental Health (westernplainsph.org)
  14. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  15. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  16. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  17. Manufactured Home Installation Program (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Parks and Recreation FAQ (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  20. Grant County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. 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.

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County locator

Grant County in North Dakota

50
County map
Grant County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Grant County scores

Seclusion87100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency21100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability46100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost8096% 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 →

$86kTypical home
1%Property tax
$1,382Land / acre
17.7"Annual rain
7.8% of yrsSevere drought
7.2 / yr (+6)Mid-century 100°F days
22.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.19" (+5.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.42×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,939Home insurance / yr
3.2% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
1,156Radius comparison (15 mi)
1.3People / sq mi
1.1%Federal land
90.1%Land at 15% slope or less
11.6%Septic soil without severe limits
123,028 acWorkable land screen
2.1%Wooded land
31 tonsBiomass / forest ac
42.7°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Grant County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Grant County rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Residential and commercial buildings and accessory structures regulated by Grant County zoning.

    • The county ordinance incorporates the most current North Dakota-adopted International Building Code; state law requires jurisdictions electing to enforce building codes to adopt and enforce the State Building Code.
    “All buildings or structures or parts of structures used for residential or commercial purposes, and accessory structures thereto shall be designed and constructed, altered, equipped, and maintained in accordance with the most current version of the International Building Code (IBC) as adopted in North Dakota”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Grant County zoning regulations in unincorporated areas, subject to the ordinance's township and incorporated-city exceptions.

    • The ordinance applies to all unincorporated areas except townships retaining zoning authority and incorporated cities that have not elected extraterritorial zoning.
    “These regulations shall apply to all unincorporated areas of Grant County, except those townships which have not by resolution relinquished the power to enact zoning regulations to the county, and those incorporated cities which have not elected to exercise extraterritorial zoning as authorized by N.D.C.C. Section 40-47-01.1 and 40-48-18.”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate countywide local-zoning status, including county zoning in unincorporated areas and separate township or municipal authority where retained or exercised.

    • The conclusion aggregates township and municipal zoning authorities and does not imply that Grant County administers every local ordinance.
    “These regulations shall apply to all unincorporated areas of Grant County, except those townships which have not by resolution relinquished the power to enact zoning regulations to the county, and those incorporated cities which have not elected to exercise extraterritorial zoning as authorized by N.D.C.C. Section 40-47-01.1 and 40-48-18.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Accessory buildings and other structures subject to Grant County zoning standards.

    • Accessory buildings must be smaller than the principal building and must meet applicable lot-line setbacks; airport clear zones may impose additional FAA-related height limits.

    Accessory building maximum height: <= 35 feet

    “Accessory buildings shall be smaller than the principal building and shall be limited to thirty-five (35) feet in height and be located at least twenty-five (25) feet from all lot lines.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed

    Single-family dwellings, including modular and multi-section manufactured homes, in the R-1 Residential Low-Density District.

    • The use remains subject to the R-1 district and other county ordinance requirements.
    “Single family dwellings including modular and multi-section manufactured homes.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site wastewater treatment systems serving Grant County.

    • North Dakota DEQ oversees installer licensing and requires a local public-health-unit permit; local codes remain applicable.
    “The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality oversees the licensing of onsite wastewater treatment system installers under the authority of NDCC 23.1-07.1. All installers must obtain a license from the department, which is issued at no cost, and secure a permit from their local public health unit before beginning work on a system.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of an onsite wastewater treatment system in Grant County.

    • A permit from the local public health unit is required before system work begins; installers also need a North Dakota DEQ license.
    “All installers must obtain a license from the department, which is issued at no cost, and secure a permit from their local public health unit before beginning work on a system.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Privies, outhouses, and cesspools in subdivision developments in Grant County.

    • The rule is limited to subdivision developments; all subdivision development must connect to an onsite sewage system approved by the County Commission.
    “The construction and use of privies, outhouses, and cesspools in subdivision developments in the county is prohibited.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Land and buildings used exclusively for agriculture in Grant County.

    • The exemption does not apply to road setbacks or floodplain regulations.
    “Other than as they relate to setbacks from roads and floodplain regulations, these regulations shall not apply to land and buildings used exclusively for agriculture.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Residential dwelling access in Grant County.

    • A dwelling lot must abut a dedicated public road or have a recorded easement for access to one; highway access points are limited to four per mile per side, and some uses require County Commission approval for ingress and egress.

    Maximum access points: <= 4 per mile per side of roadway

    “No dwelling unit shall be built on a lot which does not abut a dedicated public road or have a recorded easement for access to a dedicated public road.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction, placement, extension, conversion, or alteration of structures or land in Grant County special flood hazard areas.

    • The Grant County Flood Insurance Study dated November 16, 2023 and accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map are adopted by reference; more stringent overlapping restrictions prevail.

    Flood Insurance Study date: November 16, 2023

    “A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any special flood hazard area established in Section 3.12.2.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    County zoning and conditional-use permits.

    • A fee is required for all permits; the fee is paid to the county auditor and deposited in the county general fund; the ordinance does not state the amount.
    “A fee is required for all permits. Said fee shall be paid to the county auditor. All fee payments shall be deposited in the county general fund.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Conditional-use and related zoning-permit procedures under the Grant County zoning ordinance.

    • Conditional uses require Planning Commission public hearing and recommendation; public notice must be published at least two weeks before the hearing; the County Commission makes the final decision.

    Public notice lead time: >= 2 weeks (Before conditional-use hearing.)

    “The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on any request for a conditional uses permit, a notice of which shall be published at least two weeks prior to the hearing in the official newspaper of the county.”
  • Building permitRequired

    A building permit is required for any new structure (home, garage, shed over 79 sq ft, deck, patio); even farm-residence tax-exempt properties must obtain one.

    Grant County ND Planning & Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

North Dakota rules that apply here

  • InspectionsRequired

    Factory-built modular residential or commercial structures manufactured in North Dakota or intended for placement in North Dakota, where the manufacturer produces two or more modular residential or commercial structures per year.

    • The manufacturer must contract with a third party for inspection during the manufacturing process in the factory.
    • The third-party inspector must be approved as a certified third-party inspector by the Division of Community Services.
    • The inspection covers applicable building, electrical, fire, and plumbing codes and standards.
    • When a certified third-party inspector monitors compliance during factory manufacturing, no further inspection by state or local building, electrical, fire, or plumbing inspectors may be required for that structure during the manufacturing process in the factory.
    • The statutory provision does not apply to a factory manufacturing fewer than two residential or commercial structures per year; the Commerce program page states that manufacturers producing less than two modular structures per year are exempt but must submit a yearly certification of exemption.

    annual modular structures produced: >= 2 structures/year (Factories producing fewer than two residential or commercial structures per year are exempt from the statutory provision; the Commerce program page requires a yearly certification of exemption.)

    “shall contract with a third party for the inspection of the structure for compliance with all applicable building, electrical, fire, and plumbing codes and standards”
  • Well permitLimited

    Private water-supply wells statewide in North Dakota.

    • A water appropriation permit from the North Dakota Department of Water Resources is required when annual withdrawal exceeds 12.5 acre-feet.
    • A permit is not needed for wells drawing less than 12.5 acre-feet per year, according to the official private-well guide.
    • For domestic, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses below 12.5 acre-feet per year, the location and capacity of constructed works must be reported to the Department of Water Resources.
    • Anyone hired to construct, install, or repair a well, pump, or pitless unit must be licensed; individuals may install or repair wells on their own property without a license.

    annual water withdrawal threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (Domestic, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses below this threshold do not require a water appropriation permit but must be reported.) · annual water withdrawal threshold: > 4073137 gallons per year (Equivalent threshold stated by the Department of Water Resources.)

    “Domestic, municipal, public, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational water use exceeding 12.5 acre-feet (4,073,137 gallons or 96,979 barrels) per year.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Transient lodging rentals held out to the public for a charge in North Dakota.

    • A lodging license applies to buildings or structures held out to the public where sleeping accommodations are furnished to transient guests for a charge.
    • The lodging license does not apply to a single structure with five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.
    • The lodging license also does not apply to a series or group of buildings or structures containing five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.
    • License applications must be submitted at least 30 days before beginning construction or acquiring new ownership; new construction, renovation, or remodeling also requires the Section 3 Plan Review Checklist; after payment, review may take up to 30 calendar days.

    guest-room exemption threshold: <= 5 guest rooms or fewer (Only when total occupants are ten or fewer.) · occupant exemption threshold: <= 10 occupants or fewer (Only when the structure has five or fewer guest rooms.)

    “The lodging license does not apply to: Single structures with five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Camping at North Dakota state-park campsites and cabins administered by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.

    • Campsite and cabin occupancy is limited to no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period.
    • All vehicles entering a state park must have a valid daily or annual vehicle entrance permit, including overnight stays and day visits.
    • The cited rule concerns state-park facilities and does not determine camping on private land or land governed by local ordinances.

    maximum campsite or cabin occupancy: <= 14 nights in any 30-day period

    “Campsite and cabin occupancy is limited to no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    North Dakota counties adopting zoning regulations for land and buildings within the county, including unincorporated areas.

    • The authority is exercised by the board of county commissioners.
    • Regulation is subject to North Dakota Century Code chapter 54-21.3.
    • The authority covers the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use, or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, and other purposes.
    • County zoning regulations must be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
    • A county may divide all or any parts of the county into districts, and regulations must be uniform within each district but may differ between districts.
    • County zoning regulations must account for the statutory limitations governing farming, ranching, and animal feeding operations in section 11-33-02.1.
    • The board must state the grounds for approving or disapproving zoning amendments or variances, and written findings must be included in the records.
    • The board must establish zoning requirements for solid waste disposal and incineration facilities before July 1, 1994.
    • The board may impose tipping or other fees on solid waste management and incineration facilities, but may not impose a fee under this section on an energy conversion facility or coal mining operation that disposes of its waste onsite.
    • The board may establish institutional controls addressing environmental concerns with the department of environmental quality under section 23.1-10-16.
    “For the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals, public convenience, general prosperity, and public welfare, the board of county commissioners of any county may regulate and restrict within the county, subject to chapter 54-21.3, the location and the use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use, or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, and other purposes.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from county building or zoning requirements.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy or equivalent approvals for buildings in unincorporated Grant County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Grant County zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Grant County zoning districts.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or permanent recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land in unincorporated Grant County.
4 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Mandatory utility hookup

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.

Living off-grid in Grant County, North Dakota

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

Grant County scores 50/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 1,156 people within 15 miles and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (17.7″/yr rainfall).

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

Grant County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Western Plains Public Health. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

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

Land in Grant County runs about $1,382 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Grant County?

Grant County gets about 17.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7.8% of years.

How remote is Grant County?

A typical private-land location has about 1,156 people within 15 miles and 230,557 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Grant compares in North Dakota

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