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

Colfax’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential construction projects inside Colfax city limits.

  • A complete application must be approved and permit fees paid before issuance.
  • Permits expire one year after issuance.

  “All projects MUST have an issued building permit to begin work. Permits expire 1 year after date of issuance.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Colfax city.

  • The City code incorporates current and future North Dakota State Building Code updates and amendments, subject to stated local exceptions.

  “That code is hereby adopted and made a part of this chapter by reference with the exception of the following sections affecting local conditions in the City.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Colfax city limits.

  • The City Council acts as zoning administrator and enforces Chapter Six.

  “the City Council acting as the zoning administrator shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Colfax city limits.

  “The City is hereby divided into the following Use Districts to be known as: R-1 Residential Districts, Single-Family R-2 Residential Districts, Two-Family R-3 Residential Districts, Multi-Family C Commercial Districts I Industrial Districts”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage disposal inside Colfax city limits.

  • The ordinance bans private sewage-disposal facilities except as otherwise provided.
  • Where a public sanitary sewer meets the stated location and distance condition, the owner must connect within 90 days after official notice.

  “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Private privies, privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools, and other sewage-disposal facilities inside Colfax city limits.

  • The prohibition is qualified by the ordinance's phrase "Except as hereinafter provided."

  “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses, buildings, and properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Colfax city limits that abut a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public sanitary sewer.

  • The public sewer must be within 200 feet (61 meters), according to the North Dakota plumbing code, of the property line.
  • Connection is required within 90 days after official notice and at the owner's expense.

  public sewer distance from property line: <= 200 feet (61 meters; according to the North Dakota plumbing code) · connection deadline after official notice: <= 90 days

  “is hereby required at the owner=s expense [...] to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer [...] within 90 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within 200 feet (61 meters) according to the North Dakota plumbing code of the property line.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway culverts for residential construction inside Colfax city limits.

  • Culverts must meet development-specific requirements.
  • All culverts must be at least 30 feet long and have end flares.

  minimum culvert length: >= 30 feet (with end flares)

  “Culverts must follow development-specific requirements. All culverts must be a minimum 30' long with end flares.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permits inside Colfax city limits.

  • The currently posted form is revised February 16, 2026.
  • Permit payment must be made in full before a building permit is issued.

  new single-family construction fee: 1500 USD · additions/remodel/basement finish fee: 500 USD · deck fee: 250 USD · residential garage fee: 400 USD

  “Type of Building Fee New, Single-Family Construction $1,500 Additions/Remodel/Basement Finish $500 Deck $250 Residential Garage $400”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permits inside Colfax city limits.

  • Applicant must supply a complete application and required approvals.
  • Application must be submitted by 5 p.m. the day before the next council meeting.
  • Payment in full is required before issuance.

  “Submit COMPETED application to the City for review by 5pm the day BEFORE the next council meeting. [...] Permit application payment MUST be made in full PRIOR to a building permit being issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Colfax

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential use districts inside Colfax city limits; single-family residences require at least 10,500 square feet.

  • Two-family and multi-family standards differ.
  • The multi-family standard also sets a 24-unit-per-acre maximum and frontage additions.

  one-family minimum lot area: >= 10500 square feet · one-family minimum lot width: >= 75 feet (measured along the front building line)

  “One-family - not less than ten thousand five hundred (10,500) sq. ft. [...] One-family - not less than seventy-five (75) feet of lot width measured along the front building line.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  One-family districts inside Colfax city limits.

  front yard: >= 35 feet · side yard each side: >= 8 feet · rear yard: >= 30 feet

  “In one-family districts there shall be: 1. A front yard of not less than thirty-five (35) feet. 2. A side yard on each side of not less than eight (8) feet. 3. A rear yard of not less than thirty (30) feet.”

• Camping on your landAllowed

  Campgrounds in areas zoned Agricultural inside Colfax city limits.

  • This claim is limited to campgrounds in the Agricultural district; it does not establish a general right to camp on private land elsewhere in the city.

  “In areas zoned Agricultural the following uses are permitted: [...] Public Playgrounds, private recreation, shooting ranges & campgrounds.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Colfax city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for land inside Colfax city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Colfax city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Colfax city limits.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Colfax 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.