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

Walhalla’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Development or building inside Walhalla city

  • Permit expires one year from issuance
  • City council approves or denies building permits
  • Principal building permit requires an official address number from the city auditor

  permit validity: 1 year

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to begin any development or building without obtaining a building permit. 2. there shall be no fee for building permits or review of subdivision plats. 3. any building permit issued pursuant of these provisions shall expire one year from the date of issuance.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Walhalla city

  • Adopts the 'uniform building code' without naming an edition, with future updates and amendments
  • Copy on file with the city auditor

  “there is hereby adopted the rules for the construction of buildings as adopted by the uniform building code and any future updates, and amendments to those rules, a copy of which is on file in the office of the city auditor of the city”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and structures inside Walhalla city (called a 'certificate of compliance')

  • Issued by city council to confirm conformity with the development permit specifications

  “no building or structure shall be occupied until a certificate of compliance shall have been issued by the city council”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Walhalla city limits (Chapter Six, Zoning - Land Use Planning)

  • Council approves or denies final plats, building permits, variances and conditional uses after planning and zoning commission process

  “the city is hereby divided into the following use districts to be known as: a. residential districts - single-family b. residential districts - multi-family c. mobile home districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Use districts inside Walhalla city

  • Districts: single-family, multi-family, mobile home, commercial, industrial, agricultural, greenbelt

  “the city is hereby divided into the following use districts to be known as: a. residential districts - single-family b. residential districts - multi-family c. mobile home districts d. commercial districts e. industrial districts f. agricultural districts g. greenbelt districts”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Multi-family residential district inside Walhalla city

  minimum lot area: >= 13000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 75 ft

  “no single family residence shall hereafter be erected, established, or altered on a lot having a lot area of less than 13,000 square feet, b. have a minimum lot width of not less than 75 feet measured along the front building line”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family residential district inside Walhalla city

    “no single family residence shall hereafter be erected, established, or altered on a lot having a lot area of less than 7000 square feet, b. have a minimum lot width of not less than 50 feet measured along the front building line”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Multi-family residential district inside Walhalla city

  front yard: >= 25 ft · side yard each side: >= 5 ft · rear yard: >= 25 ft

  “a front yard of not less than 25 feet. b. a side yard on each side of not less than 5 feet. c. a rear yard of not less than 25 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family residential district inside Walhalla city

    “a front yard of not less than 20 feet. b. a side yard on each side of not less than 8 feet. c. a rear yard of not less than 20 feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family residential district inside Walhalla city

  • No fixed numeric cap; planning and zoning commission may impose limits based on surrounding structures

  height limit: no fixed limit; set case by case by planning and zoning commission

  “there shall be no height limitations, except as imposed by the planning and zoning commission in light of other structures and units in the area of proposed unit or units.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Multi-family residential district inside Walhalla city

    “there shall be a maximum height of four stories, not to exceed 50 feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile/manufactured homes in the single-family residential district inside Walhalla city

  • Conditionally permitted use only
  • Must be over 20 feet wide with a full foundation
  • Mobile home district separately permits independent mobile homes and parks (6.0605)

  “conditionally permitted uses: a. two family dwellings b. double wide mobile homes over 20 feet in width, with a full foundation”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage and water systems inside Walhalla city

  • Only in areas not included in 12.0101
  • Lot area must comply with zoning requirements
  • Must conform to state health department standards
  • Outhouses, privies, vaults and cesspools are a nuisance when in violation of 12.0101

  “private sewage system and private water supplies may be constructed to serve new buildings to be built in areas not included in 12.0101, providing such lot area complies with the requirements of any zoning requirements.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Residential premises inside Walhalla city

  • Private sewage/water allowed only in areas not covered by 12.0101 (see 12.0103)
  • Subdivision improvement deviations require a certificate of compliance promising future hookup

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to use or occupy or permit to be used or occupied for residence purposes, any premises or building within the corporate limits of this city without first making or causing to be made proper connections with the city's sewer and water facilities and mains.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Platting and subdivision inside Walhalla city (6.0701-6.0705)

  • Council approves or denies final plats
  • No fee for review of subdivision plats
  • Required improvements include municipal water and sewer; deviations need variance or conditional use plus certificate of compliance

  “approve or deny all final plats, building permits, variances, and conditional uses.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permits and subdivision plat review inside Walhalla city

  • Ordinance dated 2012; fees may have changed by later amendment

  building permit fee: 0 USD

  “there shall be no fee for building permits or review of subdivision plats.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits inside Walhalla city

  • Step-by-step application procedure not found in the ordinance

  “approve or deny all final plats, building permits, variances, and conditional uses.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Walhalla city
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Walhalla city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Walhalla city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Walhalla city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Walhalla 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.