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

Rules another office applies inside Dawson

Dawson 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 septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater systems inside Dawson city limits

  • The state licenses installers.
  • The installer must secure a permit from the local public health unit before beginning work.
  • Installers must follow local codes.

  “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 on-site wastewater system inside Dawson city limits

  • The installer must secure the permit from the local public health unit before beginning work.
  • The installer must be licensed by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
  • Installers must follow local codes.

  “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. Installers are required to follow local codes, and licenses may be revoked for cause under NDCC 23.1-07.1-03 (Licensing) .”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or updated septic systems inside Dawson city limits, subject to the Kidder County District Health Unit's jurisdiction

  • The health unit states that this follows its 2017 adoption of the statewide septic system code.
  • Kidder County contracts environmental-health services through Custer Health to perform these duties.

  “In 2017, Kidder County District Health Unit Board of Health adopted the statewide septic system code. This requires that all installers are licensed and that every new or updated septic system is permitted and inspected. Kidder County contracts environmental health services through Custer Health to perform these duties.”

• Well permitLimited

  Groundwater appropriation through a well inside Dawson city limits

  • A water appropriation permit is required for domestic, municipal, public, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational water use exceeding 12.5 acre-feet per year.
  • A water appropriation permit is required for any industrial water use.
  • A water appropriation permit is required for irrigation of 5 acres or more.
  • Domestic, livestock, fish and wildlife, and other recreational use below 12.5 acre-feet per year does not require a water appropriation permit, but the location and capacity of constructed works must be reported to DWR.

  annual-use threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (Domestic, municipal, public, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational water use) · irrigation area threshold: >= 5 acres (Irrigation use)

  “A water appropriation permit is required for: Any industrial water use; Irrigation of 5 acres or more; or 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.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Buildings used for agricultural purposes inside Dawson city limits, where the state building code is applicable

  • The exemption does not apply if the building is a place of human habitation.
  • The exemption does not apply if the building is for use by the public.

  “Any building used for agricultural purposes, unless a place of human habitation or for use by the public, is exempt from this chapter.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Dawson city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Dawson city limits
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Dawson city limits
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Dawson city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Dawson 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.