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

Hankinson’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, or removal projects inside Hankinson city.

  • The City webpage identifies the threshold as a structure greater than 100 square feet and/or project cost, including labor and materials, exceeding $2,000.
  • Code § 8-25 excludes shingling and siding projects.
  • A zoning permit cannot issue for construction or use violating Chapter 42 unless authorized as a special exception.

  structure area threshold: > 100 square feet · project cost threshold: > 2000 USD (including labor and materials during the calendar year)

  “The City of Hankinson requires building permits be obtained prior to beginning any construction, alteration or removal projects within the City when a structure is greater thant 100 square feet and/or the project cost including labor and materials exceeds $2,000.”

• InspectionsLimited

  New residences, new commercial buildings, and qualifying additions inside Hankinson city.

  • Required city-building-inspector inspections are limited to new residences, new commercial buildings, and additions that include new foundations.
  • The water and sewer supervisor inspects defects as described in the International Property Maintenance Code under § 40-127 authorization.

  “Inspections by the city's building inspector shall only be conducted on and required of new residences, new commercial buildings, and additions to residences and commercial buildings, which include new foundations to either a residence or a commercial building.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land occupancy and use, and buildings erected, altered, extended, or changed in use inside Hankinson city.

  • A certificate must state compliance with Chapter 42.
  • It must be applied for coincident with the building-permit application and is to issue within 30 days after approved erection or alteration.
  • Nonconforming use also requires a certificate before maintenance, renewal, change, or extension.

  issuance period after approved erection or alteration: <= 30 days

  “No land shall be occupied or used and no building hereafter erected, altered or extended shall be used or changed in use until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the zoning administrator, stating that the building or proposed use thereof complies with the provisions of this chapter.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational equipment and RV-type equipment inside Hankinson city.

  • Recreational equipment cannot be occupied or used for human habitation except at a location approved by the City.
  • It may be parked on private premises if vacant and not used for human habitation.
  • Parking on a public street, alley, or right-of-way cannot exceed 48 hours.

  public-right-of-way parking duration: <= 48 hours

  “Recreational equipment may not be occupied or used for human habitation in any location not approved for such use by the city. Recreational equipment may be parked upon private premises, if vacant and not used for human habitation.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile homes in the A Agricultural District inside Hankinson city.

  • This claim is limited to the A Agricultural District.
  • Flood-hazard-area manufactured homes have separate anchoring and elevation rules.
  • General building, zoning, utility, and permit requirements remain applicable.

  “In an agricultural district, the following uses are permitted: agriculture and agricultural buildings, cemeteries, churches, one- and two-family dwellings and mobile homes, existing railroad rights-of-way, home occupations, parks or other open land recreational uses.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private wastewater disposal system inside Hankinson city where public sewer is unavailable under § 40-121(d).

  • The application is on a City form and must include plans, specifications, and other information deemed necessary by the supervisor.
  • No permit issues for a system that does not meet State Department of Health recommendations or regulations.
  • No septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet or ground surface.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner shall obtain a written permit signed by the supervisor.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Permitted private wastewater disposal systems inside Hankinson city.

  • The permit does not become effective until installation is completed to the supervisor's satisfaction.
  • The applicant must notify the superintendent for final inspection before underground portions are covered.
  • Inspection is to occur within 72 hours after the supervisor receives notice.

  inspection timing after notice: <= 72 hours

  “A permit for a private wastewater disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the supervisor.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal inside Hankinson city.

  • Private wastewater systems are only available where public sanitary or combined sewer is unavailable under § 40-121(d).
  • A written permit, State Department of Health compliance, inspection, and later sewer connection when service becomes available are required.
  • Privies, septic tanks, cesspools, and other sewage-disposal facilities are otherwise unlawful except as the article provides.

  “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.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction, reconstruction, alteration, grading, or repair of a public driveway inside Hankinson city.

  • The exception is work performed by the City contractor.
  • Applications go to the auditor and must state location, extent, and the person or firm doing construction.
  • The City can issue a permit only if work conforms to City ordinances.

  “It shall be unlawful to construct, reconstruct, alter, grade or repair any public street, sidewalk, driveway, curbs or gutters without having first secured a permit therefor, unless said work is performed by the city contractor.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development inside any special flood hazard area established by Hankinson Code § 16-23(b).

  • Application uses a form furnished by the building official or designee and may require scaled plans and specified elevation/floodproofing/watercourse information.
  • The building official or designee grants or denies the applications.
  • Permit review includes ensuring all necessary federal, state, and local approvals have been obtained.

  “A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any special flood hazard area established in section 16-23(b).”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building-code and zoning permits inside Hankinson city.

  • Building-code fees are established by City Council resolution.
  • Zoning permit fees are determined by Council resolution.
  • No current dollar amount was established by the opened code passage.

  “Fees under the building code shall be as established by resolution and adopted by the city council.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Hankinson city.

  • The City publishes building-permit information and an application.
  • Zoning permit applications must include a scaled layout or plot with lot dimensions and the size and location of proposed buildings and accessory buildings.
  • Payment of the Council-set fee is required for permit issuance after assessor approval; variances need Council approval.

  “See documents below for information and application for building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hankinson city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Hankinson city.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Hankinson city.
• Setbacks — Residential development inside Hankinson city.
• Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Hankinson 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.