Bolthole Index

Sheridan County, North Dakota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Sheridan County, North Dakota

51Index Score / 100
#23 of 53 in North Dakota

Sheridan County, North Dakota requires a building permit and administers county zoning, but the precise building-code and inspection requirements remain unconfirmed12. Start with the Sheridan County Auditor for county applications, and get a separate septic permit from First District Health Unit before onsite wastewater work begins34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; confirm the form and project-specific requirements with the County Auditor13
Zoning
Yes; the county publishes a zoning plan, maps and resolutions2
Septic permit
Required from First District Health Unit before work begins45
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the County Auditor before relying on an RV as a dwelling23
Tiny home
Not confirmed; county zoning and permitting still need review for the parcel and design21
Owner-builder
No county building-permit exemption confirmed6
Private well
State appropriation permit required above 12.5 acre-feet per year; lower qualifying uses must be reported7
Agricultural building
State building-code exemption may apply unless used for habitation or by the public8

Who to call

Building permits

Sheridan County Auditor

County contact for building and zoning applications and project-specific county requirements

(701)363-2205

215 E 2nd St, McClusky, ND 58463

Septic permits

First District Health Unit Environmental Health Division

Septic permit applications, site evaluations, system design approval and final inspections in Sheridan County

701-837-5121

801 11th Ave SW, Minot ND 58701

Roads & driveways

Sheridan County Highway Department

County-road questions; ask whether it is the highway authority for a proposed new access road

(701)363-2396

215 E 2nd St, McClusky, ND 58463

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Sheridan County, North Dakota?

Yes. Sheridan County records a building permit as required, based on the county's published building-permit application and related building and zoning materials1. The county also administers zoning, so a permit answer is only one part of the review2. The available record does not settle which construction triggers inspections, whether the county has adopted and enforces the North Dakota State Building Code, or whether a certificate of occupancy is required. Ask the Sheridan County Auditor to match the current application and review path to your exact parcel and project3. North Dakota maintains a state code framework, but Community Services does not enforce it; enforcement belongs to jurisdictions that elect to adopt and enforce a code9. Do not assume the state framework alone answers which inspections Sheridan County will require.

Who handles Sheridan County building permits, and how do you reach them?

The Sheridan County Auditor is the practical county contact for building and zoning applications at 215 E 2nd St, McClusky, ND 58463, phone (701)363-22053. Sheridan County publishes building-permit and zoning materials, but we could not confirm a separately named building department or building inspector1. For a conditional use, zoning change or variance, the reviewed county application requires a map, a boundary-line survey, a preliminary structure-location map, a construction schedule, written highway-authority approval for a new access road, and an application fee10. The form does not state the amount of that fee, and North Dakota's statewide code publication says permit and plan-review charges are set by the applicable governing authority rather than by one statewide schedule11. Ask the Auditor for the current fee and whether your proposal uses that zoning application or another county form3.

Does Sheridan County, North Dakota have zoning?

Yes. Sheridan County publishes a zoning plan, zoning maps and zoning resolutions, and the county holds Planning and Zoning Commission meetings2. That means a rural parcel should not be treated as unrestricted simply because it lies outside a city. North Dakota law allows county commissioners to regulate the location and use of buildings and structures and the occupancy and use of land, subject to the state building-code chapter12. We could not confirm Sheridan County's current district boundaries, minimum lot sizes, setbacks, lot-coverage limits, building-height limits or minimum dwelling size. Ask the Sheridan County Auditor for the map and standards tied to the parcel before placing a house, tiny home, accessory dwelling or other structure3. For a new access road associated with a county zoning application, Sheridan County requires written approval from the highway authority, although the reviewed application does not identify which road authority controls a particular approach13.

How do septic permits work in Sheridan County?

First District Health Unit requires a septic permit before installation or repair work on an onsite sewage treatment system in Sheridan County45. North Dakota also requires the installer to hold a state license, while the local public-health unit issues the system permit14. First District Health Unit accepts applications at 801 11th Ave SW, Minot ND 58701, and its payment phone is 701-837-51215. The health unit states that it conducts a site evaluation, takes soil samples and determines the system location and design; it also requires a final inspection before the system is covered5. About 58.2% of Sheridan County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so parcel-level soil evaluation still matters even where the countywide figure looks favorable15. We could not confirm a separate county rule for off-grid sanitation, so take any alternative design to First District Health Unit before purchase or construction5.

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

We could not confirm a Sheridan County rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV on private land, nor a county standard specifically governing tiny-home occupancy. Sheridan County does have zoning and requires building permits, so neither use should be assumed legal without parcel-specific confirmation from the County Auditor213. The North Dakota state-park camping limit concerns state-park campsites and cabins, not private land, so it does not answer the RV question here16. A new manufactured home follows a clearer statewide path: residential installation must be performed by a state-licensed installer and inspected by a state-licensed inspector17. A tiny home is not automatically the same legal category as a manufactured home. Any occupied structure producing sewage without community sewer service will also need the local septic process addressed before wastewater work begins4.

Building a home in Sheridan County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Sheridan County Auditor for the zoning map, the correct building or zoning application, the current fee, and the requirements for your parcel at 215 E 2nd St, McClusky, ND 58463, phone (701)363-220532.
  2. Confirm whether the project will be reviewed under an adopted building code and which inspections or occupancy approval apply; those details remain unconfirmed9.
  3. Prepare the map, boundary survey, structure-location map and schedule required for a county conditional-use, zoning-change or variance application when that process applies10.
  4. Obtain written approval from the correct highway authority before adding a new access road connected to that zoning application13.
  5. Apply to First District Health Unit before septic work and complete its site evaluation and design process45.
  6. Address water supply: qualifying lower-volume private-well uses do not need a state appropriation permit but still must be reported7.
  7. Do not cover the septic system until First District Health Unit completes the required final inspection5.

What should you check before buying land in Sheridan County?

Zoning comes first: obtain Sheridan County's zoning map and ask the County Auditor for the parcel's district, allowed uses, setbacks and permit path23. Access matters too, because a county zoning application for a new access road requires written approval from the highway authority13. For septic, have First District Health Unit evaluate the site; about 58.2% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, but that countywide figure cannot approve an individual lot155. Sheridan County is very sparsely settled at about 1.3 people per square mile, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 171 miles from the county center, so contractor travel and material logistics deserve early pricing1819. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.7%, with a median annual bill around $7532021. For a private well, discuss expected use with the Department of Water Resources because the appropriation-permit threshold is 12.5 acre-feet per year7.

Watch-outs

  • Sheridan County's application leaves the permit-fee amount blank, so get the current charge from the County Auditor before budgeting103.
  • A North Dakota agricultural building is exempt from the state building-code chapter unless it is used for human habitation or by the public, but that does not erase applicable Sheridan County zoning review82.
  • Sheridan County requires written highway-authority approval for a new access road tied to a county zoning application, but the reviewed form does not identify the authority for each road13.

Sources

  1. Sheridan County ND - Document Library (Building/Zoning) (2026 county census)
  2. Sheridan County ND - Document Library (Zoning Plan/Maps) (2026 county census)
  3. Sheridan County Auditor (co.sheridan.nd.us)
  4. On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. First District Health Unit Environmental Health Division (fdhu.org)
  6. (2026 county census)
  7. Water Appropriation Permits (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 54-21.3, State Building Code (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Codes (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sheridan County Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  11. 2026 North Dakota State Building Code Book (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 11-33, County Zoning (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Sheridan County Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  14. On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  16. Parks and Recreation FAQ (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Manufactured Home Installation Program (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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.

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County locator

Sheridan County in North Dakota

51
County map
Sheridan County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Sheridan County scores

Seclusion87100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency23100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability42100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost8194% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$116kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$1,746Land / acre
18.6"Annual rain
9.7% of yrsSevere drought
5.1 / yr (+4.4)Mid-century 100°F days
20.3 daysMid-century dry spell
1.29" (+4.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.59×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
state median fallbackInsurance basis
272People within 30 min
263,289People within 2 hr
1,031Radius comparison (15 mi)
1.3People / sq mi
40.3%Federal land
91.6%Land at 15% slope or less
58.2%Septic soil without severe limits
351,654 acWorkable land screen
1.8%Wooded land
46.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
40.6°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Sheridan County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Sheridan County rules

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater systems serving Sheridan County within the local public-health service area.

    • North Dakota DEQ licenses onsite-wastewater installers and requires a permit from the local public health unit.
    • The North Dakota Health and Human Services directory identifies a local public-health unit for Sheridan County.
    “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

    Onsite wastewater systems in Sheridan County.

    • A local public-health-unit permit is required before beginning work on a system.
    • The requirement is paired with state licensing of onsite-wastewater installers.
    “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.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    New access roads associated with a county zoning application.

    • Written approval of the highway authority is required for new access roads.
    • The application does not identify the responsible highway authority or specify dimensional standards.
    “Written approval of highway authority for new access roads.”
  • Permit processPartial

    County zoning applications for conditional use, zoning change, or variance.

    • The application requires a map of the area, boundary-line survey, preliminary structure-location map, timing schedule, written highway-authority approval for new access roads, and a permit application fee.
    • The form does not provide the fee amount or a complete review timeline.
    “Additional items required to be attached: Map of area Boundary line survey of site Preliminary map showing location of structures. Timing schedule indicting the starting and completion dates. Written approval of highway authority for new access roads. Permit application fee in the amount of $____________”
  • Building permitRequired

    Sheridan County's official document library publishes a county Building Permit Application, Building Code and Zoning Maps, and a Zoning Permit Application, indicating the county administers building/zoning permits.

    Sheridan County ND - Document Library (Building/Zoning) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningPresent

    The county publishes an official Sheridan County Zoning Plan, Zoning Maps, and Zoning Resolutions, and holds County Planning & Zoning Commission meetings.

    Sheridan County ND - Document Library (Zoning Plan/Maps) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

North Dakota rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    The North Dakota State Building Code, consisting of the IBC, IRC, IMC, and IFGC, with the 2024 updates and stated amendments effective statewide as the state code framework.

    • Community Services updates and amends the state code but does not enforce it.
    • The 2024 updates to the IBC, IRC, IMC, and IFGC, plus the 2024 IECC and IEBC versions and proposed amendments, were adopted on September 11, 2025.
    • The new North Dakota State Building Code went into effect January 1, 2026.
    • Appendix chapters are not part of the state building code unless specifically adopted.

    code versions adopted: 2024 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, and IEBC with proposed amendments · effective date: 2026-01-01

    “adopted the 2024 updates to the IBC, IRC, IMC, and IFGC and the proposed amendments.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Factory-built modular residential or commercial structures manufactured in North Dakota or intended for placement in North Dakota, where the manufacturer produces two or more modular residential or commercial structures per year.

    • The manufacturer must contract with a third party for inspection during the manufacturing process in the factory.
    • The third-party inspector must be approved as a certified third-party inspector by the Division of Community Services.
    • The inspection covers applicable building, electrical, fire, and plumbing codes and standards.
    • When a certified third-party inspector monitors compliance during factory manufacturing, no further inspection by state or local building, electrical, fire, or plumbing inspectors may be required for that structure during the manufacturing process in the factory.
    • The statutory provision does not apply to a factory manufacturing fewer than two residential or commercial structures per year; the Commerce program page states that manufacturers producing less than two modular structures per year are exempt but must submit a yearly certification of exemption.

    annual modular structures produced: >= 2 structures/year (Factories producing fewer than two residential or commercial structures per year are exempt from the statutory provision; the Commerce program page requires a yearly certification of exemption.)

    “shall contract with a third party for the inspection of the structure for compliance with all applicable building, electrical, fire, and plumbing codes and standards”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    New manufactured homes installed in North Dakota for residential purposes.

    • Installation must be performed by an installer licensed by the Division of Community Services.
    • The home must be inspected by an inspector licensed by the Division of Community Services.
    • The installer must first apply for and receive authorization to install the home from a licensed inspector.
    • A minimum of two inspections are required on a double-wide home and one inspection on a single-wide home.
    • After installation meets the installation requirements, an insignia is attached to show the home passes inspections.

    minimum inspections for double-wide manufactured home: >= 2 inspections · minimum inspections for single-wide manufactured home: 1 inspection

    “All new manufactured homes installed in North Dakota for residential purposes must be installed by an installer licensed by the Division of Community Services and inspected by an inspector licensed by the Division of Community Services.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Private water-supply wells statewide in North Dakota.

    • A water appropriation permit from the North Dakota Department of Water Resources is required when annual withdrawal exceeds 12.5 acre-feet.
    • A permit is not needed for wells drawing less than 12.5 acre-feet per year, according to the official private-well guide.
    • For domestic, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses below 12.5 acre-feet per year, the location and capacity of constructed works must be reported to the Department of Water Resources.
    • Anyone hired to construct, install, or repair a well, pump, or pitless unit must be licensed; individuals may install or repair wells on their own property without a license.

    annual water withdrawal threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (Domestic, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses below this threshold do not require a water appropriation permit but must be reported.) · annual water withdrawal threshold: > 4073137 gallons per year (Equivalent threshold stated by the Department of Water Resources.)

    “Domestic, municipal, public, livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational water use exceeding 12.5 acre-feet (4,073,137 gallons or 96,979 barrels) per year.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Buildings used for agricultural purposes under North Dakota's State Building Code.

    • The statute defines agricultural purposes to include agriculture, farming, ranching, dairying, pasturage, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, and animal and poultry husbandry.
    • The exemption does not apply when the building is a place of human habitation or is for use by the public.
    • The exemption is from Chapter 54-21.3, the State Building Code chapter; other applicable laws or local authorities may still apply.
    “Any building used for agricultural purposes, unless a place of human habitation or for use by the public, is exempt from this chapter.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or modification of North Dakota water-control structures regulated by the Department of Water Resources.

    • A DWR construction permit is required when a water-control structure is capable of retaining, diverting, or obstructing more than 50 acre-feet for dikes, other devices, and low-hazard dams.
    • The threshold is more than 25 acre-feet for medium-hazard and high-hazard dams.
    • This claim does not establish the separate local floodplain-development-permit requirements administered by local floodplain administrators.

    retention/diversion/obstruction threshold for dikes, other devices, and low-hazard dams: > 50 acre-feet · retention/diversion/obstruction threshold for medium- and high-hazard dams: > 25 acre-feet

    “A construction permit is required from the DWR if a water control structure is constructed or modified”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Transient lodging rentals held out to the public for a charge in North Dakota.

    • A lodging license applies to buildings or structures held out to the public where sleeping accommodations are furnished to transient guests for a charge.
    • The lodging license does not apply to a single structure with five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.
    • The lodging license also does not apply to a series or group of buildings or structures containing five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.
    • License applications must be submitted at least 30 days before beginning construction or acquiring new ownership; new construction, renovation, or remodeling also requires the Section 3 Plan Review Checklist; after payment, review may take up to 30 calendar days.

    guest-room exemption threshold: <= 5 guest rooms or fewer (Only when total occupants are ten or fewer.) · occupant exemption threshold: <= 10 occupants or fewer (Only when the structure has five or fewer guest rooms.)

    “The lodging license does not apply to: Single structures with five or fewer guest rooms and ten or fewer total occupants.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building-permit fee schedules under the North Dakota State Building Code framework.

    • The applicable enforcing jurisdiction determines how it administers and enforces the state building code.
    • The state publication provides only a sample jurisdiction fee schedule, not a single statewide fee schedule.
    • Permit and plan-review fees are established by the applicable governing authority; plan-review fees are separate from and in addition to permit fees.
    “Where a permit is required, a fee for each permit and plan review shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as established by the applicable governing authority.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Camping at North Dakota state-park campsites and cabins administered by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.

    • Campsite and cabin occupancy is limited to no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period.
    • All vehicles entering a state park must have a valid daily or annual vehicle entrance permit, including overnight stays and day visits.
    • The cited rule concerns state-park facilities and does not determine camping on private land or land governed by local ordinances.

    maximum campsite or cabin occupancy: <= 14 nights in any 30-day period

    “Campsite and cabin occupancy is limited to no more than 14 nights in any 30-day period.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    North Dakota counties adopting zoning regulations for land and buildings within the county, including unincorporated areas.

    • The authority is exercised by the board of county commissioners.
    • Regulation is subject to North Dakota Century Code chapter 54-21.3.
    • The authority covers the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use, or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, and other purposes.
    • County zoning regulations must be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
    • A county may divide all or any parts of the county into districts, and regulations must be uniform within each district but may differ between districts.
    • County zoning regulations must account for the statutory limitations governing farming, ranching, and animal feeding operations in section 11-33-02.1.
    • The board must state the grounds for approving or disapproving zoning amendments or variances, and written findings must be included in the records.
    • The board must establish zoning requirements for solid waste disposal and incineration facilities before July 1, 1994.
    • The board may impose tipping or other fees on solid waste management and incineration facilities, but may not impose a fee under this section on an energy conversion facility or coal mining operation that disposes of its waste onsite.
    • The board may establish institutional controls addressing environmental concerns with the department of environmental quality under section 23.1-10-16.
    “For the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals, public convenience, general prosperity, and public welfare, the board of county commissioners of any county may regulate and restrict within the county, subject to chapter 54-21.3, the location and the use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use, or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, and other purposes.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from building-permit or building-code requirements in Sheridan County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Sheridan County.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts and zoning maps in Sheridan County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Sheridan County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in Sheridan County.
11 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land

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.

Living off-grid in Sheridan County, North Dakota

Is Sheridan County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Sheridan County scores 51/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 272 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (18.6″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Sheridan County, North Dakota?

Sheridan County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by First District Health Unit (Environmental Health Division). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Sheridan County, North Dakota?

Land in Sheridan County runs about $1,746 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Sheridan County?

Sheridan County gets about 18.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.7% of years.

How remote is Sheridan County?

A representative private-land location has about 272 people within a 30-minute drive and 263,289 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Sheridan County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Sheridan compares in North Dakota

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