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

Gladstone’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Gladstone city.

  • The adopted code includes future updates and amendments; the city code lists local-condition exceptions.

  “The erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, equipment, uses, height, area and maintenance of buildings or structures in the City shall meet with the provisions of the rules and regulations of the North Dakota State Building Code and any future updates and amendments to that code, a copy of which is on file with the city auditor.”

• InspectionsLimited

  A single-family or multifamily structure relocated into Gladstone city limits.

  • The structure must be relocated from another property within or outside the corporate city limits; the inspection report is submitted to City Council for review at the public hearing; applicant pays public-hearing, inspection, and mileage expenses.

  “Such structure must be inspected by the building inspector with an inspection report submitted to the City Council for review at the public hearing.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Gladstone city limits.

  • Use must comply with the applicable zoning district and any required conditional-use approval.

  “For the purposes of this ordinance the City of Gladstone is divided into the following zoning districts:”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Construction and use of privies, outhouses, and cesspools inside Gladstone city.

  • The zoning ordinance separately requires all new development within the city to connect to an approved on-site sewage system.

  “Construction and use of privies, outhouses, and cesspools is prohibited within the city.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Premises or buildings used or occupied for residence purposes within Gladstone corporate limits.

  • Proper connections must be made before residential use or occupancy; the code defines proper connections as water-main and sanitary-sewer connections equipped and furnished with proper valves and fittings.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to use or occupy or permit to be used or occupied for residence purposes, any premises or building within the corporate limits of this City without first making or causing to be made proper connections with the City’s sewer and water facilities and mains.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivided as a subdivision inside Gladstone city.

  • When the parcel contains a street or public way, it must be dedicated to the public at the location and details shown on the final plat; non-section-line roadways are the subdivision's responsibility.

  “Whenever a parcel of land to be subdivided as a subdivision contains a street or public way, such street or alley shall be dedicated to the public at the location and details shown on the final plat. All non-section line roadways shall be the responsibility of the subdivision.”

• Permit processPartial

  Residential and commercial building-permit applications in Gladstone city.

  • Applications are submitted to the City Auditor; applications must be complete and submitted with all additional requirements at the same time; partial plans or applications may not be accepted.

  “Please print, fill out, and submit to the City Auditor”

Rules another office applies inside Gladstone

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural District inside Gladstone city.

  front setback: >= 50 feet · side setback: >= 50 feet · rear setback: >= 50 feet

  “The minimum front yard setback shall be 50 feet from the front yard property line. The minimum side yard setback shall be 50 feet from the property line. The minimum rear yard setback shall be 50 feet from the property line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family units in the R-1 district inside Gladstone city.

  • The 40-percent limit covers the principal building and all accessories; the separate maximum impervious coverage is 50 percent.

  maximum building and accessory coverage: <= 40 percent (single-family units) · maximum impervious coverage: <= 50 percent (single-family residential lot)

  “For single family units the principal building and all accessories shall not cover more than forty (40) percent of the lot. The maximum impervious coverage on a single family residential lot cannot exceed fifty (50) percent of lot coverage.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Agricultural District inside Gladstone city.

  • The 35-foot maximum applies to residential structures; other permitted agricultural-district uses may not exceed 65 feet.

  maximum residential building height: <= 35 feet (residential structures) · maximum height: <= 65 feet (other permitted uses in Agricultural District)

  “The maximum building height for residential structures is 35 feet. All other permitted uses within an agricultural district shall not exceed 65 feet in height.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Recreational parks, tourist camps, and trailer camps in the Recreation District inside Gladstone city.

  • The use is conditionally permitted and City Council approval is required for ingress and egress.

  “Approval of the city Council for ingress and egress to the property.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction in Gladstone city.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in Gladstone city.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings in Gladstone city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 district in Gladstone city.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land in Gladstone 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.