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

Rules another office applies inside Hampden

Hampden 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 septicLocal (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage treatment systems inside Hampden city limits, which are in Ramsey County.

  • Lake Region District Health Unit states that its Environmental Health program enforces laws, regulations, and ordinances in Ramsey County.
  • The state rule identifies the permitting authority as the authority with jurisdiction where the work is done.

  “Environmental Health is responsible for health and safety education to enforce state public health laws, LRDHU regulations, and local ordinances in Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Pierce, Ramsey, Rolette, and Towner counties. [...] LRDHU licenses and permits all new onsite sewage treatment systems (OSTS) and/or repairs to existing OSTS which include: septic tanks, drain fields, cesspools, and/or holding tanks.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of an onsite wastewater system inside Hampden city limits.

  • Regular system maintenance does not require a permit.
  • The permit must be issued by the permitting authority with jurisdiction where work occurs.
  • A permit cannot be issued without a valid installer license except to an individual installing a system on that individual's own premises.
  • A permit is valid for no more than twelve months from issuance.
  • Systems or facilities with wastewater flows of 2,500 gallons per day or greater require professional-engineer plans and state Division of Municipal Facilities approval before construction.

  permit validity: <= 12 months (from date of issuance) · engineering-review threshold: >= 2500 gallons per day (plans and specifications must be prepared by a North Dakota-registered professional engineer and submitted for state review)

  “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.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of an onsite wastewater system inside Hampden city limits.

  • The installation inspection must be conducted by the permitting authority or its authorized representative.
  • The cited rule requires inspection within one business day after receipt of the inspection request.
  • Inspection of existing equipment and system operation may be made at a reasonable time.

  inspection timing after request: <= 1 business day (installation inspection)

  “Inspection of the installation of a system must be conducted by the permitting authority or an authorized representative of the permitting authority in accordance with paragraph 3 of subdivision c of subsection 2 of North Dakota Century Code section 23-35-02, which requires the inspection to be conducted within one business day of receiving the request for inspection.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Onsite wastewater sanitation for land inside Hampden city limits.

  • A permit is required before constructing, altering, repairing, or extending an onsite system, except regular maintenance.
  • The permitting authority may deny a system permit if public sewer is available within 200 feet of the property line unless the sewer authority documents denial of connection.
  • A variance may be requested under the state rule.

  public-sewer availability distance: <= 200 feet (unless written documentation indicates denial of connection from the sewer authority)

  “The permitting authority may deny a permit for the construction of a system if a public sewer system is available within two hundred feet [60.96 meters] of the property line unless written documentation indicates denial of connection from the sewer authority.”

• Well permitLimited

  Water wells inside Hampden city limits.

  • A Department of Water Resources permit is needed if the well will draw more than 12.5 acre-feet per year.
  • The cited state guide says no permit is needed for wells drawing less than 12.5 acre-feet per year.

  annual withdrawal threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (a permit is needed above this amount)

  “If your well will draw over 12.5 acre-feet (4,073,000 gallons) of water per year, it needs to be permitted by the North Dakota Department of Water Resources (swc.nd.gov | 701-328-2750). A permit is not needed for wells that draw less than 12.5 acre-feet per year.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Hampden city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Hampden city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Hampden city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Hampden city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new or altered buildings inside Hampden 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.