Bolthole Index

Pembina County, North Dakota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Pembina County, North Dakota

57Index Score / 100
#9 of 53 in North Dakota

Unincorporated Pembina County, North Dakota lists farm dwellings, single-family non-farm dwellings, mobile homes and accessory buildings as permitted uses requiring no county zoning permit1. The county does administer zoning, and a local public health permit is required before onsite wastewater work begins12. Confirm building-code enforcement for the parcel before construction because a separate residential building-permit requirement could not be confirmed.

At a glance

Building permit
No zoning permit for listed rural residential uses; a separate residential building-permit requirement was not confirmed13
Zoning
County zoning applies outside zoning jurisdiction accepted by municipalities and townships1
Septic permit
Required from Pembina County Public Health before onsite wastewater work begins24
RV living
No private-land occupancy rule confirmed; ask the Planning and Zoning Board before moving onto the parcel56
Tiny homes
No specific occupancy or minimum-size rule confirmed; ask the Planning and Zoning Board56
Agricultural buildings
Farm dwellings and agricultural buildings are listed as permitted uses requiring no zoning permit1
Private well
A state water-appropriation permit applies above 12.5 acre-feet per year; qualifying lower-use wells must be reported7

Who to call

Building permits

Planning and Zoning Board of Pembina County

County zoning questions, conditional-use review and direction to the zoning administrator

701-265-4231

301 Dakota Street W. #1, Cavalier, ND 58220

Building permits

Pembina County Planning and Zoning

County zoning regulations, permitted uses and conditional-use permits

Septic permits

Pembina County Public Health

Onsite sewer permits and regional environmental-inspector services

(701)265-4248

301 Dakota Street West #2, Cavalier North Dakota 58220

Floodplain permits

Pembina County Emergency Management Office

Floodway and floodplain location verification and conditional-permit paperwork

Roads & driveways

Pembina County Highway Department

County-road maintenance, bridges and culverts; contact the department to identify the road authority for access questions

(701)265-4208

503 Airport Road, Cavalier North Dakota 58220

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Pembina County, North Dakota?

Pembina County's zoning regulations list farm dwellings, single-family non-farm dwellings, mobile homes, accessory buildings and agricultural buildings as permitted uses requiring no zoning permit1. That answer concerns the county zoning permit; we could not confirm a separate residential construction permit or inspection requirement for unincorporated Pembina County. North Dakota has adopted a statewide building-code framework, but Community Services does not enforce it; enforcement belongs to jurisdictions that elect to administer building codes89. Ask the Planning and Zoning Board which building-code jurisdiction, if any, applies to the parcel before ordering plans or starting work6. Agricultural buildings used for agricultural purposes are also exempt from the state building-code chapter unless used for human habitation or by the public10. A residence on a farm does not fit that state agricultural exemption because it is a place of human habitation10.

Who handles Pembina County building and zoning questions?

The Planning and Zoning Board of Pembina County is the starting point for county zoning questions, and the county regulations assign administration and enforcement to the Planning and Zoning Commission and zoning administrator61. Call the county at 701-265-4231 or visit 301 Dakota Street W. #1, Cavalier, ND 58220, and ask to be connected with the zoning administrator6. Before relying on the no-zoning-permit list, describe the proposed use and ask whether the parcel falls under county, municipal or township zoning jurisdiction1. Conditional uses follow a different path, and development within a floodway or floodplain requires a conditional permit11. We could not confirm a published residential inspection schedule, certificate-of-occupancy rule or owner-builder exemption; ask the zoning administrator which approvals and closeout documents apply to the specific project126.

Does Pembina County have zoning?

Yes. Pembina County's regulations apply outside zoning jurisdiction accepted by municipalities and townships1. The county regulations describe the county as an agricultural district and allow listed uses without a zoning permit, including farm dwellings, agricultural buildings, single-family non-farm dwellings, mobile homes and accessory buildings1. North Dakota law allows county commissioners to regulate the location and use of buildings and land under a comprehensive plan, but that statewide authority does not replace Pembina County's own rules13. We could not confirm a current countywide minimum home size, minimum lot size, lot-coverage limit or general building-height limit. Ask the Planning and Zoning Board for the rules governing the exact parcel, particularly where a municipality or township may have its own jurisdiction6. Do not describe land as unrestricted merely because a listed residential use needs no county zoning permit; septic, floodplain, road-access and any applicable building-code requirements remain separate questions21114.

How do septic permits work in Pembina County?

A permit from the local public health unit is required before work begins on an onsite wastewater system in Pembina County2. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality separately licenses onsite wastewater installers, and installers must follow local codes15. Pembina County Public Health provides regional environmental-inspector services and can be reached at (701)265-4248 at 301 Dakota Street West #2, Cavalier, North Dakota 582204. Contact Public Health early enough to arrange the application and site evaluation before fixing the house location. Septic feasibility deserves early attention because only about 2.9% of Pembina County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field16. That soil rating does not make a parcel unbuildable, but it makes professional site evaluation and system design especially important16. We could not confirm a recurring inspection requirement or which off-grid sanitation alternatives Public Health will approve; ask the regional environmental inspector before selecting a system4.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Pembina County?

We could not confirm a Pembina County rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV on private land, either temporarily during construction or as a long-term residence. North Dakota's limit for camping in state-park facilities does not answer the private-land question17. Ask the Planning and Zoning Board for a parcel-specific answer before moving an RV onto the land or installing utilities6. We also could not confirm a county tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling size. A tiny home should not be assumed exempt from septic, floodplain or jurisdiction-specific building requirements merely because a single-family dwelling is a permitted county zoning use1211. A new manufactured home follows a separate state installation process requiring a licensed installer and licensed inspector18. The county regulations list a mobile home as a permitted use, but that zoning treatment does not erase the state installation rules for manufactured housing118.

Building a home in Pembina County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Planning and Zoning Board whether the parcel is under county, municipal or township zoning jurisdiction61.
  1. Describe the proposed residence and confirm that it fits a permitted use requiring no county zoning permit, or obtain the required conditional-use instructions1.
  1. Have Pembina County Public Health begin the onsite wastewater permit and site-evaluation process before work starts24.
  1. Ask which building-code authority, inspections and occupancy documents apply because county residential enforcement could not be confirmed96.
  1. Contact the Emergency Management Office if the site may be in a floodway or floodplain; construction there requires a conditional permit11.
  1. Confirm who controls the adjoining road and discuss the approach, culvert and access with the Pembina County Highway Department when it is a county road14.
  1. Obtain every required approval before excavation, wastewater installation or construction begins211.

What should you check before buying land in Pembina County?

Start by identifying the zoning jurisdiction because Pembina County's regulations yield to accepted municipal or township zoning authority in those areas1. Check the flood map and contact Emergency Management before planning construction in a floodway or floodplain, where a conditional permit is required11. Evaluate soils and wastewater options early because about 2.9% of county soils avoid severe conventional-drain-field limitations16. Confirm legal access and the road authority; the Highway Department maintains county roads, bridges and culverts, while some rural roads are under other authorities14. For a private well, a state water-appropriation permit is required above 12.5 acre-feet per year, while qualifying domestic and livestock uses below that threshold must still be reported7. For budgeting context, farmland averages about $3,915 per acre, the effective property-tax rate is about 1%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $1,165192021. The county has about 6 people per square mile, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 134 miles from the county center2223.

Watch-outs

  • Pembina County has zoning even though several common rural residential uses are listed as needing no zoning permit1.
  • A no-zoning-permit use is not a waiver of septic, floodplain, manufactured-home or any applicable building-code requirements211189.
  • Only about 2.9% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so investigate wastewater feasibility before fixing a house site16.
  • RV occupancy, tiny-home standards and a separate residential building-permit requirement remain unconfirmed; ask the Planning and Zoning Board before relying on any exemption6.
  • Floodway or floodplain construction requires a conditional permit and coordination with Pembina County Emergency Management11.

Sources

  1. Pembina County Planning and Zoning (pembinacountynd.gov)
  2. On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  3. Pembina County - Departments (2026 county census)
  4. Pembina County Public Health (pembinacountynd.gov)
  5. (2026 county census)
  6. Planning and Zoning Board of Pembina County (pembinacountynd.gov)
  7. Water Appropriation Permits (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Codes | Commerce | North Dakota (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Codes (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 54-21.3, State Building Code (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Pembina County Emergency Management Office (pembinacountynd.gov)
  12. (2026 county census)
  13. North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 11-33, County Zoning (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Pembina County Highway Department (pembinacountynd.gov)
  15. On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  16. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  17. Parks and Recreation FAQ (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Manufactured Home Installation Program (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Pembina County in North Dakota

57
County map
Pembina County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Pembina County scores

Seclusion85100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency22100% ev.
Admin Boringness6668% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost79100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$150kTypical home
1%Property tax
$3,915Land / acre
21.4"Annual rain
9.5% of yrsSevere drought
2.4 / yr (+2.2)Mid-century 100°F days
17.5 daysMid-century dry spell
1.38" (+8.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.69×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,741Home insurance / yr
2.9% / yrInsurance growth
0.75%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
1,512People within 30 min
178,497People within 2 hr
5,198Radius comparison (15 mi)
6People / sq mi
4%Federal land
99.2%Land at 15% slope or less
2.9%Septic soil without severe limits
20,922 acWorkable land screen
5.8%Wooded land
29.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
39.3°FAvg temp

Scout Pembina County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Pembina County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Answers from the rulebook for Pembina County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Pembina County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    Pembina County's official department listing includes no building department, building inspector, or building-permit office, indicating no countywide residential building-permit program in unincorporated areas.

    Pembina County - Departments ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

North Dakota rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    The North Dakota State Building Code, consisting of the IBC, IRC, IMC, and IFGC, with the 2024 updates and stated amendments effective statewide as the state code framework.

    • Community Services updates and amends the state code but does not enforce it.
    • The 2024 updates to the IBC, IRC, IMC, and IFGC, plus the 2024 IECC and IEBC versions and proposed amendments, were adopted on September 11, 2025.
    • The new North Dakota State Building Code went into effect January 1, 2026.
    • Appendix chapters are not part of the state building code unless specifically adopted.

    code versions adopted: 2024 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, and IEBC with proposed amendments · effective date: 2026-01-01

    “adopted the 2024 updates to the IBC, IRC, IMC, and IFGC and the proposed amendments.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Factory-built modular residential or commercial structures manufactured in North Dakota or intended for placement in North Dakota, where the manufacturer produces two or more modular residential or commercial structures per year.

    • The manufacturer must contract with a third party for inspection during the manufacturing process in the factory.
    • The third-party inspector must be approved as a certified third-party inspector by the Division of Community Services.
    • The inspection covers applicable building, electrical, fire, and plumbing codes and standards.
    • When a certified third-party inspector monitors compliance during factory manufacturing, no further inspection by state or local building, electrical, fire, or plumbing inspectors may be required for that structure during the manufacturing process in the factory.
    • The statutory provision does not apply to a factory manufacturing fewer than two residential or commercial structures per year; the Commerce program page states that manufacturers producing less than two modular structures per year are exempt but must submit a yearly certification of exemption.

    annual modular structures produced: >= 2 structures/year (Factories producing fewer than two residential or commercial structures per year are exempt from the statutory provision; the Commerce program page requires a yearly certification of exemption.)

    “shall contract with a third party for the inspection of the structure for compliance with all applicable building, electrical, fire, and plumbing codes and standards”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    New manufactured homes installed in North Dakota for residential purposes.

    • Installation must be performed by an installer licensed by the Division of Community Services.
    • The home must be inspected by an inspector licensed by the Division of Community Services.
    • The installer must first apply for and receive authorization to install the home from a licensed inspector.
    • A minimum of two inspections are required on a double-wide home and one inspection on a single-wide home.
    • After installation meets the installation requirements, an insignia is attached to show the home passes inspections.

    minimum inspections for double-wide manufactured home: >= 2 inspections · minimum inspections for single-wide manufactured home: 1 inspection

    “All new manufactured homes installed in North Dakota for residential purposes must be installed by an installer licensed by the Division of Community Services and inspected by an inspector licensed by the Division of Community Services.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site wastewater treatment system installation affecting Pembina County.

    • North Dakota DEQ licenses onsite wastewater treatment system installers.
    • A permit must also be obtained from the applicable local public health unit.
    • Installers must follow local codes.
    “The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality oversees the licensing of onsite wastewater treatment system installers under the authority of NDCC 23.1-07.1 . All installers must obtain a license from the department, which is issued at no cost, and secure a permit from their local public health unit before beginning work on a system. Installers are required to follow local codes, and licenses may be revoked for cause under NDCC 23.1-07.1-03 (Licensing) .”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Mixed — On-site wastewater treatment systems statewide in North Dakota.
      “The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality oversees the licensing of onsite wastewater treatment system installers”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of an onsite wastewater treatment system anywhere in North Dakota.

    • A permit from the applicable local public health unit must be secured before beginning work.
    • The installer must also obtain a state license from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
    • Installers must follow local codes.
    “Installers must obtain both a state license and a local public health permit before beginning work.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — On-site wastewater system installation in Pembina County.
      “All installers must obtain a license from the department, which is issued at no cost, and secure a permit from their local public health unit before beginning work on a system.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Private water-supply wells statewide in North Dakota.

    • A water appropriation permit from the North Dakota Department of Water Resources is required when annual withdrawal exceeds 12.5 acre-feet.
    • A permit is not needed for wells drawing less than 12.5 acre-feet per year, according to the official private-well guide.
    • For domestic, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses below 12.5 acre-feet per year, the location and capacity of constructed works must be reported to the Department of Water Resources.
    • Anyone hired to construct, install, or repair a well, pump, or pitless unit must be licensed; individuals may install or repair wells on their own property without a license.

    annual water withdrawal threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (Domestic, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses below this threshold do not require a water appropriation permit but must be reported.) · annual water withdrawal threshold: > 4073137 gallons per year (Equivalent threshold stated by the Department of Water Resources.)

    “Domestic, municipal, public, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational water use exceeding 12.5 acre-feet (4,073,137 gallons or 96,979 barrels) per year.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Buildings used for agricultural purposes under North Dakota's State Building Code.

    • The statute defines agricultural purposes to include agriculture, farming, ranching, dairying, pasturage, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, and animal and poultry husbandry.
    • The exemption does not apply when the building is a place of human habitation or is for use by the public.
    • The exemption is from Chapter 54-21.3, the State Building Code chapter; other applicable laws or local authorities may still apply.
    “Any building used for agricultural purposes, unless a place of human habitation or for use by the public, is exempt from this chapter.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or modification of North Dakota water-control structures regulated by the Department of Water Resources.

    • A DWR construction permit is required when a water-control structure is capable of retaining, diverting, or obstructing more than 50 acre-feet for dikes, other devices, and low-hazard dams.
    • The threshold is more than 25 acre-feet for medium-hazard and high-hazard dams.
    • This claim does not establish the separate local floodplain-development-permit requirements administered by local floodplain administrators.

    retention/diversion/obstruction threshold for dikes, other devices, and low-hazard dams: > 50 acre-feet · retention/diversion/obstruction threshold for medium- and high-hazard dams: > 25 acre-feet

    “A construction permit is required from the DWR if a water control structure is constructed or modified”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Transient lodging rentals held out to the public for a charge in North Dakota.

    • A lodging license applies to buildings or structures held out to the public where sleeping accommodations are furnished to transient guests for a charge.
    • The lodging license does not apply to a single structure with five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.
    • The lodging license also does not apply to a series or group of buildings or structures containing five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.
    • License applications must be submitted at least 30 days before beginning construction or acquiring new ownership; new construction, renovation, or remodeling also requires the Section 3 Plan Review Checklist; after payment, review may take up to 30 calendar days.

    guest-room exemption threshold: <= 5 guest rooms or fewer (Only when total occupants are ten or fewer.) · occupant exemption threshold: <= 10 occupants or fewer (Only when the structure has five or fewer guest rooms.)

    “The lodging license does not apply to: Single structures with five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building-permit fee schedules under the North Dakota State Building Code framework.

    • The applicable enforcing jurisdiction determines how it administers and enforces the state building code.
    • The state publication provides only a sample jurisdiction fee schedule, not a single statewide fee schedule.
    • Permit and plan-review fees are established by the applicable governing authority; plan-review fees are separate from and in addition to permit fees.
    “Where a permit is required, a fee for each permit and plan review shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as established by the applicable governing authority.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Administration and enforcement of the North Dakota State Building Code by eligible city, township, and county jurisdictions.

    • A city, township, or county that elects to administer and enforce a building code must adopt and enforce the state building code.
    • Local jurisdictions may amend the state building code to conform to local needs.
    • A city or township may enforce only within its jurisdictional area; a county may enforce in areas where the state building code is not administered by a city or township.
    “Community Services is not involved in the enforcement of the State Building Code. This is the responsibility of jurisdictions that elect to adopt and enforce building codes.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Camping at North Dakota state-park campsites and cabins administered by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.

    • Campsite and cabin occupancy is limited to no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period.
    • All vehicles entering a state park must have a valid daily or annual vehicle entrance permit, including overnight stays and day visits.
    • The cited rule concerns state-park facilities and does not determine camping on private land or land governed by local ordinances.

    maximum campsite or cabin occupancy: <= 14 nights in any 30-day period

    “Campsite and cabin occupancy is limited to no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    North Dakota counties adopting zoning regulations for land and buildings within the county, including unincorporated areas.

    • The authority is exercised by the board of county commissioners.
    • Regulation is subject to North Dakota Century Code chapter 54-21.3.
    • The authority covers the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use, or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, and other purposes.
    • County zoning regulations must be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
    • A county may divide all or any parts of the county into districts, and regulations must be uniform within each district but may differ between districts.
    • County zoning regulations must account for the statutory limitations governing farming, ranching, and animal feeding operations in section 11-33-02.1.
    • The board must state the grounds for approving or disapproving zoning amendments or variances, and written findings must be included in the records.
    • The board must establish zoning requirements for solid waste disposal and incineration facilities before July 1, 1994.
    • The board may impose tipping or other fees on solid waste management and incineration facilities, but may not impose a fee under this section on an energy conversion facility or coal mining operation that disposes of its waste onsite.
    • The board may establish institutional controls addressing environmental concerns with the department of environmental quality under section 23.1-10-16.
    “For the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals, public convenience, general prosperity, and public welfare, the board of county commissioners of any county may regulate and restrict within the county, subject to chapter 54-21.3, the location and the use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use, or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, and other purposes.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from residential construction permitting or licensing in unincorporated Pembina County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential certificate-of-occupancy requirements in unincorporated Pembina County.
  • Local zoning — Whether incorporated municipalities or townships impose additional or different zoning rules within Pembina County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Pembina County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Pembina County.
10 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Driveway access

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.

Living off-grid in Pembina County, North Dakota

Is Pembina County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Pembina County scores 57/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 1,512 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (21.4″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Pembina County, North Dakota?

Pembina County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Onsite septic is permitted by North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (with Pembina County Public Health regional environmental inspector). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Pembina County, North Dakota?

Land in Pembina County runs about $3,915 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Pembina County?

Pembina County gets about 21.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.5% of years.

How remote is Pembina County?

A representative private-land location has about 1,512 people within a 30-minute drive and 178,497 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

How Pembina compares in North Dakota

Compare side-by-side →See all 53 North Dakota counties ranked →