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

Garrison’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building upon property or structural alteration of a building in the R-3 Recreational Vehicles District inside Garrison city.

  • The cited rule is in the R-3 district article; this research did not establish a citywide building-permit trigger.

  “SECTION 5. BUILDING PERMIT: It shall be unlawful for any person to build upon any property or structurally alter any building without obtaining a building permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Garrison city, North Dakota, subject to the city's zoning ordinance and district map.

  • The zoning-district map is on file with the City of Garrison.

  “This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Garrison, North Dakota and shall repeal all ordinances in conflict herewith.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts within Garrison city.

  • District boundaries are shown on the zoning district map; a properly attested copy is on file with the city.

  “Copies of the Zoning District Map are properly attested and are on file with the City of Garrison, North Dakota.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwelling units erected, enlarged, remodeled, or moved into Garrison's planning area.

  • Areas exclude porches, breezeways, and garages.
  • Two-family dwellings require 600 square feet per unit; multiple-family dwellings require 480 square feet per unit.

  single dwelling minimum floor area: >= 600 square feet (Exclusive of porches, breezeways, and garages.)

  “All dwelling units shall provide a minimum floor area, exclusive of porches, breezeways, and garages, as follows: Type of Dwelling Unit Minimum Area Single Six Hundred (600) square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District inside Garrison city.

  • Average lot width must be at least 65 feet.

  minimum lot area: >= 6000 square feet (R-1 district.) · minimum average lot width: >= 65 feet (R-1 district.)

  “Every lot shall have an area of not less than six thousand (6,000) square feet and an average width of not less than sixty-five (65) feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District inside Garrison city.

  • Front-yard rule excepts arterial and collector streets.
  • For corner lots, the ordinance supplies further conditions concerning front yards and buildable width.

  front yard depth: >= 25 feet (Except as required for arterial and collector streets in Article XXII.) · side yard width: >= 6 feet (Each side of the principal building; subject to additional height, area and use regulations.) · rear yard depth: >= 25 feet

  “There shall be a rear yard having a depth of not less than twenty-five (25) feet.”

• Living in an RVAllowed (with conditions)

  Residential recreational vehicles in the R-3 Recreational Vehicles District in Garrison city.

  • Must be on a lot at least 25 feet wide.
  • Water and sewer hookup required.
  • Only one recreational vehicle is allowed per lot.

  “The "R-3" Recreational Vehicles District is intended for the purpose to provide for the placement and location of recreational vehicles on residential lots.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny homes used as dwelling units in Garrison's planning area.

  • The ordinance defines a tiny home as 400 square feet or less.
  • A single dwelling unit must have at least 600 square feet of floor area, exclusive of porches, breezeways, and garages.

  tiny home maximum area: <= 400 square feet · single dwelling unit minimum area: >= 600 square feet (Exclusive of porches, breezeways, and garages.)

  “All dwelling units shall provide a minimum floor area, exclusive of porches, breezeways, and garages, as follows: Type of Dwelling Unit Minimum Area Single Six Hundred (600) square feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile/manufactured homes in Garrison city.

  • R-1 single-family district excludes trailer houses and mobile/manufactured homes.
  • The ordinance contains Mobile Home and Mobile Home Park districts.

  “Single-family dwellings, but not, including trailer houses or mobile/manufactured homes.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwelling units erected, enlarged, remodeled, or moved into the Garrison planning area.

  • Each dwelling unit must contain a kitchen sink connected to running water and an approved sewer system.

  “Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink which is connected to running water and an approved sewer system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Residential recreational vehicles in Garrison's R-3 Recreational Vehicles District.

  • Applies to residential recreational vehicles on lots at least 25 feet wide.
  • Only one recreational vehicle is allowed per lot.
  • Lot owner is responsible for all utilities.

  minimum lot width: >= 25 feet (Residential recreational vehicle lot in R-3.)

  “All residential recreational vehicles must be on a twenty-five (25) feet width lot or larger and must have water and sewer hookup. Only one recreational vehicle allowed per lot.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Business-use erection or structural-alteration plans dependent on vehicles entering a business site or parking lot inside Garrison city.

  • Plans require Governing Body approval.
  • The Governing Body may require changes relating to curb cuts, width of drives, yards, signs, accessory uses, buildings, and construction.

  “Plans for the erection or structural alteration of any business use dependent on vehicles entering onto the business site or parking lot shall be approved the Governing Body.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit applications in Garrison city.

  • Applicant is directed to read required information, obtain an application form, and return it to City Hall.

  “Take a moment to read all required information provided. Then pick up a building permit application form and return to City Hall.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Garrison city.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Garrison city.
• Inspections — Construction inside Garrison city.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Garrison city.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Garrison 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.