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

Mott’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, moving, enlarging or altering structures inside Mott city

  • Fees apply
  • Structure must also comply with the zoning ordinance

  “building permits - any new building or structure (includes fences), also any change or alteration to structure of building requires a building permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures inside Mott city

  • Also adopts the latest international property maintenance code
  • Local amendments for local conditions are allowed; copies on file with city auditor

  “shall conform to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the state adopted building code(s) and any future updates and amendments to that code, and the latest version of the international property maintenance code adopted by the city of mott”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Mott city limits (ordinance also reaches a one-mile extraterritorial area)

  “this ordinance shall be entitled "the zoning ordinance for the city of mott, north dakota."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Mott city zoning districts (R, Mobile Home, RR, DC, C, I, AG, Recreation, Floodplain, PUD overlay)

  “the city of mott is divided into the following zoning districts: r mh rr dc c i a rc f pud”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Residential district inside Mott city

  • Lots not on public sanitary sewer need 100 ft width and 43,560 sq ft, and must meet state health department on-site sewage standards
  • Multi-family adds 3,000 sq ft per added unit (duplex)

  minimum area: >= 7000 sq ft · minimum width: >= 50 feet

  “(1) minimum width: 50 feet (2) minimum area: 7,000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AG Agriculture district inside Mott city

    “the minimum lot area within an agricultural district shall be 5 acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  AG Agriculture district inside Mott city (R-1 setbacks not read)

  • Side and rear yard minimums are also 50 feet per the same section

  front yard setback: >= 50 feet

  “the minimum front yard setback shall be 50 feet from the front yard property line.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential structures in AG Agriculture district inside Mott city

  • Other permitted uses in AG may not exceed 65 feet

  maximum residential height: <= 35 feet

  “the maximum building height for residential structures is 35 feet. all other permitted uses within an agricultural district shall not exceed 65 feet in height.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in the R-1 residential district inside Mott city (a separate Mobile Home District, 4.4, exists and was not read)

  • Conditional use only
  • Needs city permit before placement
  • Notice to owners within 300 feet; two thirds of affected owners must agree
  • Must be built within 10 years of permit date
  • Permanent foundation; wheels and hitches removed

  minimum floor area: >= 1120 sq ft · minimum width: >= 20 feet

  “manufactured homes on permanent type foundations on platted lots with a minimum square footage of eleven hundred and twenty (1,120) square feet and a minimum width of twenty (20) feet.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sewage disposal for new development inside Mott city

  • Privies, outhouses and cesspools are banned
  • Lots not on public sewer in R-1 need 43,560 sq ft and 100 ft width, and site must meet state health department on-site sewage standards

  “construction and use of privies, outhouses, and cesspools is prohibited within the city.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Mott city

  • Article V sets plat procedures (minor subdivision, sketch, preliminary, final plat) and design standards; detail not read

  “whenever a parcel of land to be subdivided as a subdivision contains a street or public way, such street or alley shall be dedicated to the public”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Inside Mott city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Mott city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy inside Mott city
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in R-1 inside Mott city
• Lot coverage — R-1 inside Mott city

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.