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

Rules another office applies inside Coleharbor

Coleharbor does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  A person installing an onsite wastewater sewage treatment system on that person's own premises for that person's own use, including inside Coleharbor city limits.

  • The exemption is from the state installer licensing requirement, not from local permitting or other onsite-wastewater rules.
  • The system must be installed on the individual's premises for the individual's use.

  “exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Coleharbor city limits.

  • The Department of Environmental Quality has exclusive authority to adopt statewide rules; permits may be issued by a local public health unit or other political subdivision under those rules.

  “the department has the exclusive authority to adopt rules”

• Well permitLimited

  Construction of a well inside Coleharbor city limits from which more than 12.5 acre-feet of water per year will be appropriated.

  • The threshold applies regardless of proposed use.
  • Domestic, livestock, fish, wildlife, and other recreational uses have stated exceptions for construction or taking from constructed works, subject to notification after completion.
  • A water permit is required before construction of a qualifying well.

  annual water appropriation threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (Applies to construction of a well; the statute states separate domestic and other-use exceptions.)

  “shall secure a water permit prior to [...] construction of a well from which more than twelve and one-half acre-feet [...] per year will be appropriated.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Coleharbor city limits.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Coleharbor city limits.
• Inspections — Buildings inside Coleharbor city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Coleharbor city limits.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Coleharbor 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.