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

Hazen’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Any person building on land or structurally altering a building inside Hazen city limits.

  • A permit may not issue for a subdivision unapproved by the Hazen Planning & Zoning Commission and Hazen City Commission.
  • A permit expires six months after issuance.
  • Variance cases require Board of Adjustment approval.
  • Application requires the ordinance-specified site and project information.

  permit expiration: 6 months

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to build upon any land or structurally alter any building without obtaining a building permit. A building permit shall not be issued for a subdivision which has not been approved by the Hazen Planning & Zoning Commission and the Hazen City Commission.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Land and structures regulated by Hazen’s zoning ordinance inside city limits.

  • The inspection duty is for determining compliance with the zoning ordinance.

  “Shall make inspection of land and/or structures to determine compliance with the provisions of this Ordinance.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Conditionally permitted uses inside Hazen city limits.

  • The City Commission requires evidence of compliance before issuing a certificate of occupancy for a granted conditional use.

  “In all cases in which conditional uses are granted, the City Commission shall prior to issuance of Certificate of Occupancy, require evidence of compliance with these provisions and with the conditions set forth.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hazen city limits; the ordinance also identifies a separately mapped extraterritorial area.

  • The ordinance applies to all incorporated parts of Hazen and extends to designated unincorporated territory within one-half mile of city limits.

  “This Ordinance and the Zoning District Map shall be known as the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Hazen, North Dakota.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Hazen city limits.

  • The official zoning map is adopted by the City Commission and the ordinance uses district-specific controls.

  “This Ordinance and the Zoning District Map shall be known as the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Hazen, North Dakota.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision-related building permits inside Hazen city limits.

  • Building permit issuance requires Planning & Zoning Commission and City Commission subdivision approval.

  “A building permit shall not be issued for a subdivision which has not been approved by the Hazen Planning & Zoning Commission and the Hazen City Commission.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Hazen building permits.

  • Fees are established by City Commission resolution; the amount was not stated in the ordinance text reviewed.

  “Building permit fees shall be established by resolution of the Hazen City Commission”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Hazen building permits.

  • Application must contain the required site-plan and project information.
  • Commercial and industrial applications have additional graphics and exterior-lighting plan requirements.
  • Variance cases require Board of Adjustment approval.

  “Application for a building permit shall include the following information: a. A site plan drawn to scale either in the space provided on the building permit or on an 8 ½” by 11” sheet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hazen city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Hazen city limits.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Hazen city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hazen city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Hazen 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.