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

Drayton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings and structures inside Drayton city limits, including erection, demolition, moving, repairs, alterations, and improvements.

  • A written permit is issued by the Drayton Auditor.
  • For a moved structure, the ordinance covers a move from within or outside city limits to a place, lot, or location within city limits.
  • The permit application must be in writing and contain the information listed in Ordinance #4 section 2.
  • Substantial construction must begin within 90 days of issuance and exterior work must be completed within 120 days after start, unless extended in writing.

  construction commencement deadline: <= 90 days (Unless extended in writing.) · exterior-work completion deadline: <= 120 days (Unless extended in writing.)

  “A written permit issued by the Drayton Auditor is required before: 1. A building or structure is erected, demolished or moved; 2. Repairs, alterations or improvements made to a building or structure;”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Drayton city limits.

  • The city page states that its Planning & Zoning Commission reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans, and plat applications and recommends to City Council.

  “The Planning & Zoning Commission reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications, and also makes recommendations to the Council regarding the current and future development of the City of Drayton.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Drayton city limits.

  • The city handbook describes the fee as current; Ordinance #4 separately states that the fee promulgated by the city must accompany the written application.

  building permit fee: 25 USD (Described by the city handbook as the current fee.)

  “A building permit application can be filled out at the city office. Current fee for a building permit is $25.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Drayton city limits.

  • The application must be made in writing to the city.
  • The written application must include owner and contractor information, legal lot description, project description, a dimensional site sketch, intended use, and the applicant signature.
  • The fee promulgated by the city must accompany the application.
  • Upon approval, the City Auditor signs the permit.

  “Application for permit to build, add to, structurally alter, repair, improve or move any structure shall be made in writing to the City and shall contain the following information: 1. Name of owner; 2. Name of contractor, plumber, electrician or mover; 3. Legal description of the lot to be built upon, or moved onto;”

Rules another office applies inside Drayton

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

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater systems inside Drayton city limits when an onsite system is used.

  • North Dakota DEQ licenses installers; the installer must obtain a permit from the local public health unit before work begins.
  • The opened official material does not expressly identify the specific local health unit's service area inside Drayton city limits.

  “The department has been authorized to provide and administer this chapter relating to onsite wastewater treatment systems. The department has exclusive authority to adopt rules regarding licensing, permitting, and inspections of onsite wastewater treatment systems as provided by North Dakota Century Code section 23.1-07.1-02.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an onsite wastewater treatment system inside Drayton city limits.

  • An installer must secure a permit from the local public health unit before beginning work.
  • Installers must also obtain a state license and follow local codes.

  “A person may not construct, alter, repair, or extend any system without first obtaining a permit from the permitting authority. Regular system maintenance does not require a permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies or chemical toilets used as sanitation inside Drayton city limits where water under pressure is not available.

  • All human body wastes must be disposed of in approved privies, chemical toilets, or other installations acceptable to the administrative authority.
  • Requests to erect and use chemical toilets or privies require administrative-authority approval.

  “Where water under pressure is not available, all human body wastes shall be disposed of by depositing them in approved privies, chemical toilets, or such other installations acceptable to the administrative authority.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Drayton city limits.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Drayton city limits.
• Inspections — Construction inside Drayton city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Drayton city limits.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Drayton 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.