Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Great Bend, North Dakota

Great Bend’s own rules

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area inside Great Bend city limits.

  • A floodplain development permit must be obtained from the local Floodplain Administrator before work begins.
  • The requirement is limited to Special Flood Hazard Areas.
  • The state floodplain-administrator list identifies City of Great Bend in Richland County with the mayor as contact.

  “A floodplain development permit must be obtained from the local Floodplain Administrator before beginning any work in a Special Flood Hazard Area.”

Rules another office applies inside Great Bend

Great Bend 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 Great Bend city limits, as part of the statewide North Dakota program.

  • The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality oversees installer licensing.
  • The installer must secure a permit from the applicable local public health unit before beginning work.
  • The official source does not identify the particular local public health unit serving Great Bend.

  “The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality oversees the licensing of onsite wastewater treatment system installers under the authority of NDCC 23.1-07.1 . 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.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an onsite wastewater treatment system inside Great Bend city limits.

  • A permit must be secured from the applicable local public health unit before work begins.
  • The cited statewide page states the obligation for installers; it does not name Great Bend's serving local public health unit.

  “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.”

• Well permitLimited

  Private wells inside Great Bend city limits.

  • A North Dakota Department of Water Resources permit is needed if the well will draw over 12.5 acre-feet (4,073,000 gallons) per year.
  • No permit is needed for wells drawing less than 12.5 acre-feet per year.

  annual withdrawal threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (Permit required when exceeded.) · annual withdrawal threshold: > 4073000 gallons per year (Permit required when exceeded.)

  “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 Great Bend or Richland County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Great Bend city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Great Bend city limits.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Great Bend city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Great Bend city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Great Bend 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.