Bolthole Index

Pierce County, North Dakota

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Rugby, North Dakota

Rugby, North Dakota requires a city building permit before a building or other structure is erected, moved, added to or structurally altered.1 Rugby has its own zoning rules, including district-specific lot and dwelling sizes.23 In Pierce County, Lake Region District Health Unit handles onsite wastewater permits; Rugby also requires connection when public sewer becomes available.45

At a glance

Building permits
Required for erection, moving, additions and structural alterations; city building official issues them1
Zoning
City district rules apply; City Hall receives zoning and variance applications26
Septic permits
Lake Region District Health Unit; public-sewer availability limits private systems47
Minimum dwelling size
R-1: 800 square feet on the main floor; A: 800 square feet, excluding attached garages83
Minimum lot size
R-1 single-family: 7,000 square feet; A single-family: 5 acres29
RV and tiny-home living
We could not confirm occupancy rules; ask Rugby City Hall about the proposed use6

Who to call

Building permits

Rugby City Hall — Building Permit Applications

Application contact for city building permits; the city building official issues the permit.

(701)776-6181

223 Main Ave S Rugby, ND 58368

Planning & zoning

Rugby Planning & Zoning Commission — City Hall

Zoning and variance applications returned to City Hall for commission review.

701-776-6181

223 South Main Ave. Rugby ND 58368

Septic permits

Lake Region District Health Unit Environmental Health

Licenses and permits new onsite sewage treatment systems and repairs in Pierce County

(701) 662-7040

[email protected]

524 4th Ave NE #9, Devils Lake, ND 58301

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Rugby 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.

Do you need a building permit in Rugby, ND?

Rugby requires a permit from the city building official before a building or other structure is erected, moved, added to or structurally altered.1 Rugby construction must comply with city ordinances and the city building-code chapter.10 A permit application needs plans and lot/building information, so prepare the proposed footprint and construction drawings before applying.1 Rugby’s published application lists residential remodels and additions at $75, residential work valued through $250,000 at $100, and residential work valued at $250,001 or more at $200; confirm the current charge with City Hall because the form is marked Rev. 6-20.11

Who handles Rugby building permits and zoning applications?

Rugby City Hall is the contact shown on the city building-permit application, at 223 Main Ave S, Rugby, ND 58368, phone (701)776-6181.12 The city building official issues Rugby building permits.1 Rugby’s zoning and variance applications go to City Hall for Planning & Zoning Commission review.6 The commission meets on the second Monday of each month, and the city asks applicants to return planning and zoning applications one week before the meeting.6 The city forms page lists a $70 fee under Planning & Zoning Applications; ask City Hall which application your proposal needs.6

Does Rugby have zoning, minimum lot sizes and setbacks?

Rugby’s zoning dimensions depend on the district, so identify the parcel’s district with City Hall before choosing a house plan.296 In Rugby’s R-1 Single-Family Residential District, a single-family dwelling requires a lot of at least 7,000 square feet and a minimum width of 50 feet.2 An R-1 dwelling must have at least 800 square feet on the main floor, excluding an attached garage.8 In Rugby’s A Agricultural District, single-family lots need at least 5 acres and 125 feet of width; dwellings need at least 800 square feet, excluding attached garages.93 Principal buildings in Rugby’s A district need front and rear yards of 40 feet and side yards of 15 feet.13

How do septic permits and sewer connections work inside Rugby?

Rugby allows an approved private wastewater system where public sewer is unavailable, and the system must comply with the North Dakota State Plumbing Code.7 For onsite wastewater installation in Rugby, the installer needs a North Dakota DEQ license and a local public health unit permit before work begins.14 Lake Region District Health Unit serves Pierce County and permits new onsite systems and repairs, including septic tanks, drain fields and holding tanks.4 Lake Region also provides inspection of existing permitted systems upon request, useful when evaluating a property with an existing system.15 When public sewer becomes available to a Rugby property served by a private system, direct connection is required within 60 days, and the former disposal facilities must be cleaned of sludge and filled with suitable material.5

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Rugby?

We could not confirm Rugby’s rules for occupying an RV, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy; describe the intended living arrangement to Rugby City Hall before buying or moving a unit onto the lot.6 A small dwelling in Rugby’s R-1 district still faces the 800-square-foot main-floor minimum, excluding an attached garage.8 Rugby’s A district also sets an 800-square-foot dwelling minimum, excluding attached garages.3 Rugby prohibits dwelling use of accessory buildings except by domestic servants employed entirely on the premises; converting a shed into living space therefore raises a separate use restriction.16 Private sanitation also depends on public-sewer availability rather than simply choosing to live off grid.7

Building a home in Rugby: what are the steps before construction?

  1. Ask Rugby City Hall to identify the zoning district and review the proposed use, lot dimensions and building location against the relevant district rules.6213
  2. Resolve wastewater service: Rugby requires an approved private system when public sewer is unavailable, with Lake Region District Health Unit handling onsite-system permits.74
  3. Submit the Rugby building-permit application with building plans and lot/building information, and obtain the city building official’s permit before covered construction begins.121
  4. Ask City Hall for the required inspection schedule, occupancy approval, driveway-access review and floodplain contact; we could not confirm those Rugby requirements.126

For land outside Rugby, use the Pierce County guide to investigate county zoning rather than applying Rugby’s district dimensions to the parcel.172

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption from Rugby building permits; ask City Hall before assuming self-construction changes the permit requirement.12
  • A Rugby septic system does not eliminate the requirement to connect within 60 days after public sewer becomes available.5
  • Rugby’s A Agricultural District has specific dwelling and lot requirements; an agricultural zoning label does not establish a city building-permit exemption.931

Sources

  1. Building permits required (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  2. R-1 minimum lot requirements (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  3. A Agricultural District minimum floor area (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  4. Lake Region District Health Unit Environmental Health (lrdhu.com)
  5. Connection to public sewer required when (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  6. Rugby Planning & Zoning Commission — City Hall (cityofrugbynd.com)
  7. Connection to approved private system required when public sewer not available (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  8. R-1 minimum floor area (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  9. A Agricultural District minimum lot requirements (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building code permit required (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Rugby Application for Building Permit (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  12. Rugby City Hall — Building Permit Applications (cityofrugbynd.com)
  13. A Agricultural District minimum yard requirements (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  14. On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  15. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  16. Accessory buildings (Rugby), quoted and re-checked
  17. 2024 Pierce County, North Dakota Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Rugby

Rugby’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, movement, addition, or structural alteration of a building or other structure inside Rugby city limits.

    • Permit must be issued by the city building official.
    • Permit applications require plans and lot/building information.
    • A permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days and expires if work is not substantially completed within two years.
    “No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a permit therefor, issued by the city building official.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building construction inside Rugby city limits.

    • Construction must comply with City of Rugby ordinances and the provisions of the building-code chapter.
    • The reviewed material did not identify a specific adopted edition of the International Building Code or International Residential Code.
    “All building construction shall be performed in strict compliance with the ordinances of the City of Rugby, and the provisions of this chapter, and any other such rules and regulations as the City shall make from time to time for the execution of the same.”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Use of accessory buildings as dwelling units inside Rugby city limits.

    • The code contains an exception for domestic servants employed entirely on the premises.
    • This claim addresses accessory buildings and does not resolve other possible accessory-dwelling arrangements.
    “No accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes other than by domestic servants employed entirely on the premises.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site wastewater systems inside Rugby city limits.

    • Rugby requires private wastewater systems to comply with the North Dakota State Plumbing Code when public sewer is unavailable.
    • North Dakota DEQ licenses installers and requires a permit from the local public health unit before work begins.
    • City sewer rules also regulate connection and maintenance.
    “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.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private wastewater disposal inside Rugby city limits.

    • Private wastewater disposal is allowed only where public sewer is unavailable and must comply with the ND State Plumbing Code.
    • Except as provided in the sewer chapter, construction or maintenance of a privy, septic tank, cesspool, or other wastewater-disposal facility is unlawful.
    “Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with the provisions of the ND State Plumbing Code.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Properties inside Rugby city limits served by private wastewater systems.

    • When public sewer becomes available, direct connection is required within 60 days.
    • The septic tank, cesspool, or similar facility must be cleaned of sludge and filled with suitable material.
    • When public sewer is unavailable, the building sewer must connect to an approved private wastewater system complying with the ND State Plumbing Code.

    connection deadline: 60 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, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer within sixty days in compliance with this chapter, and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private wastewater disposal facilities shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with suitable material.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City building permits inside Rugby city limits.

    • The application states Rev. 6-20.
    • Fees vary by project type and residential or commercial value.

    measuring lot lines: 50 USD (separate Disclaimer Form required) · fence, deck, or shed up to 10 by 12 feet: 25 USD · shed over 10 by 12 feet: 75 USD (if more than one overhead door, see Residential Property) · residential remodels and additions: 75 USD · residential work value 0 to 250000: 100 USD · residential work value 250001 and up: 200 USD

    “Building Permit Fee Schedule: Measuring Lot Lines = $50.00(separate Disclaimer Form required) Fence, Deck, or Shed up to 10’x12’ = $25.00 Shed over 10’x12’ (if more than one overhead door, please see Residential Property) = $75.00”

Rules another office applies inside Rugby

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwellings in Rugby's R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

    • Attached garages are excluded from the floor-area calculation.
    • The minimum applies on the main floor.

    minimum floor area: >= 800 square feet (excluding attached garage; main floor)

    “The minimum floor area of any dwelling excluding attached garage, shall be eight hundred square feet on the main floor.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Dwellings in Rugby's A Agricultural District.
      “The minimum floor area of any dwelling excluding attached garage, shall be eight hundred square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in Rugby's A Agricultural District.

    • The district also requires a minimum lot width of 125 feet.

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width: >= 125 feet

    “(a) Minimum lot area, five acres. (b) Minimum lot width, one hundred twenty-five feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in Rugby's R-1 Single-Family Residential District.
      “Single-family dwellings 7,000 sq. ft. 50 feet”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal buildings in Rugby's A Agricultural District.

    • The ordinance specifies separate front, side, and rear yards.

    front yard: 40 feet · side yard: 15 feet · rear yard: 40 feet

    “(a) Front yard, forty feet. (b) Side yard, fifteen feet. (c) Rear yard, forty feet.”
  • Septic permitRequired

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

    • The installer must obtain a North Dakota DEQ license.
    • A permit from the local public health unit is required before beginning work.
    • The local public health unit is not identified by name in the reviewed official source.
    “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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing inside Rugby city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Rugby city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Rugby city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Rugby city limits.
  • Building height — Building height inside Rugby city limits.
10 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Rugby publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Pierce County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Pierce County: county rules, score and offices