Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Glen Ullin, North Dakota

Glen Ullin’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, additions, or structural alterations of buildings and structures inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • The Auditor issues the permit.
  • Applications require two copies of a scaled layout or plot showing lot dimensions, building and accessory-building size and location, and other information needed for enforcement.
  • A permit may not issue where work or use would violate Chapter Six unless ordered in writing by the Zoning Committee.

  “All exterior additions or new buildings need a building permit. All fences need a permit..”

• InspectionsRequired

  City-administered permits for fences, storage sheds, detached garages, pole barns, and carports inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • The ordinance's city fee schedule provides a maximum of four inspections.
  • The ordinance lists a penalty for building without city inspections.
  • Residential and commercial building permits, including additions, are administered by Morton County under the ordinance.

  maximum inspections: <= 4 inspections (City fee schedule) · penalty for building without city inspections: 100 USD per violation

  “1Maximum of 4 inspections [...] Building without city inspections $100.00 per Violation”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • Buildings, structures, premises, and land uses must conform to the regulations for the district shown on the official map.

  “No building, structure or premises shall be used or occupied, and no building or part thereof or other structure shall be erected, raised, moved, placed, reconstructed, extended, enlarged or altered except in conformity with the regulations herein specified for the district, as shown on the official map, in which it is located.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • The city maps page publishes a Zoning Map.
  • The ordinance identifies R-1, R-3, R-4, R-5, Commercial, Industrial, RC Park & Recreation, and AG Agricultural districts.

  “ARTICLE 6 - Use Districts 6.0601 Use Districts 6.0602 R-1 - Residential Districts - Single-Family 6.0603 R-3 - Residential Districts - Multi-Family 6.0604 R-4 - Residential Districts – Manufactured Homes 6.0605 R-5 Mobile Home Court 6.0606 Accessory Uses in Residential Districts 6.0607 Commercial District 6.0608 IN-Industrial 6.0609 RC-Park & Recreation District 6.0610 AG-Agricultural District”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • Homes must be placed on property zoned R-4, R-5, or otherwise zoned for the home.
  • Home must be no more than 20 years old and in good condition when placed.
  • Building-permit applications must include photographs showing condition.
  • R-5 courts must comply with North Dakota regulations.

  maximum home age at placement: <= 20 years (Home must also be in good condition)

  “Any mobile/manufactured home being brought onto real property within the jurisdiction of the City of Glen Ullin on property which is zoned R-4 or R-5 or otherwise zoned for such home must be no more than 20 years of age and in good condition at the time it is placed; applications for building permits for setting such mobile/manufactured homes shall be accompanied by photographs of sufficient quality to clearly show the condition of the home.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private wastewater disposal inside Glen Ullin city limits where public sanitary or combined sewer is unavailable.

  • Written Health District permit is required before construction.
  • No septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet or ground surface.
  • Connection to public sewer is mandatory when it becomes available.

  “Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of Section 7.0303 (4), the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of this article.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  A property inside Glen Ullin city limits served by a private wastewater disposal system when public sewer becomes available.

  • A direct connection must be made within 30 days after public sewer becomes available under § 7.0303(4).
  • Septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private disposal facilities must be cleaned of sludge and filled with suitable material.

  connection deadline: <= 30 days (After public sewer becomes available)

  “At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private wastewater disposal system, as provided in Section 7.0303 (4), a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer within thirty (30) days in compliance with this ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  City-administered building permits inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • The 2025-2 schedule assigns city administration to fences, storage sheds, detached garages, pole barns, and carports.
  • Fee schedule gives a maximum of four inspections.

  detached garage/pole barn/carport fee: 150 USD plus 75 USD per inspection (No water) · fence fee: 50 USD plus 75 USD per inspection · demolition fee: 25 USD

  “Detached Garages, Pole barns, carports- no water [...] $150 + $75 per inspection1 [...] Fences [...] $50.00 + $75 per inspection1 [...] Demolition $25.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit applications inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • Applicant submits two copies of scaled layout or plot.
  • Auditor returns one approved copy with permit after fee payment.
  • The cited city ordinance assigns residential and commercial permits, including additions, to Morton County.

  “There shall be submitted with all applications for building permits two copies of a layout or plot drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact size and location on the lot of the building and accessory buildings to be erected and such other information as may be necessary to determine and provide for the enforcement of this ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside Glen Ullin

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  One-family districts inside Glen Ullin city limits.

  • Rear-yard exception applies where no garage door faces the alley.

  front yard: >= 20 feet plus boulevard · side yard each side: >= 5 feet · rear yard: >= 20 feet plus 10 feet of alley (If no garage door faces alley, at least 5 feet from roof overhang to property line)

  “In one-family districts there shall be: 1. A front yard of not less than twenty (20) feet plus boulevard. 2. A side yard on each side of not less than five (5) feet. 3. A rear yard of not less than twenty (20) feet plus ten (10) feet of alley unless there is no garage door facing the alley, then the rear yard shall be no less than five (5) feet from the overhang of the roof to the property line.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Glen Ullin city limits where public sanitary or combined sewer is unavailable.

  • The city ordinance identifies the local (Custer) Health District as permit issuer and inspecting authority.
  • The system must comply with North Dakota State Department of Health recommendations and regulations.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit issued by the local (Custer) Health District.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private wastewater disposal system inside Glen Ullin city limits where public sanitary or combined sewer is unavailable.

  • Permit is required before construction.
  • Application follows Health District forms and procedures and requires payment of any Health District fee.
  • No permit may issue unless the system meets state-health-department recommendations and regulations.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit issued by the local (Custer) Health District.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Glen Ullin city limits where public sanitary or combined sewer is unavailable.

  • Permit does not become effective until installation is completed to the Health District's satisfaction.
  • Applicant must notify the Health District when ready for final inspection and before underground portions are covered.

  “The Health District shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction, and in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Health District when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Glen Ullin or Morton County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Glen Ullin city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Glen Ullin city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Glen Ullin city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Glen Ullin city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Glen Ullin 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.