Bolthole Index

McHenry County, North Dakota

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

Drake is a city in McHenry County, North Dakota. Drake adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Drake’s rules apply, not the county’s. 3 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 6, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the McHenry County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Drake

Drake’s own rules

  • InspectionsLimited

    Building inspection services for Drake city.

    • Drake has no local chief building inspector; the county plan says inspection services are available through the State of North Dakota.
    “McHenry County, North Dakota, and the cities of Anamoose, Balfour, Bergen, Deering, Drake, Granville, Karlsruhe, Kief, Towner, Upham, Velva, and Voltaire do not have a local chief building inspector. Inspection services are available through the state of North Dakota.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Drake city limits, McHenry County, North Dakota.

    • The cited county mitigation plan identifies Drake's zoning as independent from McHenry County zoning.
    “The cities of Deering, Drake, Granville, Towner, and Velva have zoning independent from McHenry County, North Dakota.”
  • Subdividing landNot regulated

    Subdivision regulation inside Drake city limits.

    • This finding is limited to the plan's statement about subdivision ordinances and does not establish that no other platting, utility, zoning, or state requirements apply.
    “McHenry County, North Dakota, and the cities of Anamoose, Balfour, Bergen, Deering, Drake, Granville, Karlsruhe, Kief, Towner, Upham, Velva, and Voltaire do not have subdivision ordinances.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential construction inside Drake city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Drake city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Drake city limits.
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Drake city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Drake city limits.
16 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Drake publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. McHenry County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

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

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