Bolthole Index

Towner County, North Dakota

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

45Index Score / 100
#38 of 53 in North Dakota

Towner County, North Dakota does not publish a countywide residential building-permit requirement; permits are handled at the city or township level, so the answer depends on the parcel.1 Cities and townships implement the county's planning and zoning regulations, while Lake Region District Health Unit permits new and repaired onsite sewage systems.23

At a glance

Building permit
Depends on the city or township; no countywide residential requirement was confirmed1
Zoning
County regulations are implemented by individual cities and townships42
Septic
Lake Region District Health Unit permits new systems and repairs53
RV living
Long-term private-land occupancy is unconfirmed; ask the city or township2
Tiny homes
Occupancy and dimensional rules are unconfirmed; ask the city or township2
Owner-builder
No general owner-builder exemption could be confirmed6
Private wells
A state appropriation permit applies above the annual withdrawal threshold7

Who to call

Zoning

Towner County Auditor/Treasurer Office

Planning and zoning questions and links to county zoning, conditional-use, variance, temporary-housing, road-access and zoning-permit forms

1 (701) 968-4340

[email protected]

315 2nd Street, Cando, North Dakota 58324

Septic permits

Lake Region District Health Unit Environmental Health

Permits new onsite sewage treatment systems and repairs, including septic tanks, drain fields, cesspools and holding tanks

(701) 662-7040

524 4th Ave NE #9, Devils Lake, ND 58301

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

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

A residential building permit in Towner County depends on where the parcel lies because building permits are issued at the city or township level, and no countywide building department or inspector was identified.1 North Dakota has adopted a state building-code framework, but state Community Services does not enforce it; enforcement belongs to jurisdictions that elect to adopt and enforce building codes.89

Before drawing plans, identify the parcel's city or township and ask that jurisdiction whether it administers the state code, requires a zoning or building permit, conducts inspections, or issues a certificate of occupancy. Towner County's official permit page includes an application for a zoning permit and directs planning and zoning questions to the Auditor/Treasurer Office.10 Permit fees are set by the applicable governing authority rather than by one statewide schedule.11

Who handles Towner County building and zoning permits?

Towner County does not identify a county residential building department on its planning and permits page, and the available county record does not confirm a county residential building-permit or inspection program.1 The practical starting point is the Towner County Auditor/Treasurer Office, which publishes the zoning-permit materials and says individual cities and townships implement the county's planning and zoning regulations.10

Give the office the parcel number and legal description, then ask which city or township has jurisdiction. The correct local jurisdiction can answer whether a house needs a building permit, which code edition it enforces, what plan review or inspections apply, and what the fee will be; those details could not be confirmed countywide. North Dakota allows a city, township, or county that elects enforcement to administer the state building code within its jurisdictional area.9

Does Towner County have zoning?

Towner County has planning and zoning regulations, but individual cities and townships implement them.42 That distinction matters: the county's general plan does not by itself establish the use and dimensional rules that apply to a particular parcel, and local ordinances may differ.2 The county permit page provides links for zoning permits, amendments or variances, conditional uses, temporary housing, and road access.10

Ask the responsible city or township to confirm the parcel's zoning district and allowed use before buying or siting a structure. Towner County-wide rules for setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, building height, lot coverage, accessory dwellings, and subdivision approval could not be confirmed from readable official material. The same local check is necessary for agricultural structures: North Dakota exempts a building used for agricultural purposes from the state building-code chapter unless it is used for human habitation or by the public, but that exemption does not resolve local land-use approval.12

How do septic permits work in Towner County?

Lake Region District Health Unit is the onsite-sewage authority for Towner County and permits new systems as well as repairs to existing systems.53 The district's program covers septic tanks, drain fields, cesspools, and holding tanks, and it offers inspections of existing permitted systems upon request.13

A complete application must be signed and dated by the owner or property representative and submitted with payment; a preliminary permit does not authorize installation.3 When a site inspection is required, the district assigns a permit number and issues the actual permit after inspection, while a holding tank requires a contract with a licensed septic pumper.3 Only about 4% of mapped county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early contingency rather than assuming a standard system will fit.14

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Towner County?

Towner County's rules for long-term RV occupancy on private land and for tiny-home occupancy could not be confirmed. Because individual cities and townships implement the county's planning and zoning regulations, ask the jurisdiction for the parcel before purchasing an RV, tiny home, or temporary dwelling.2 The county's planning page links a temporary-housing permit packet, but that link alone does not establish when a permit is required or what occupancy is allowed.10

Do not use North Dakota's state-park camping limit as an answer for private land; that rule applies to state-park campsites and cabins, not a privately owned parcel.15 A new manufactured home installed for residential use must be installed by a state-licensed installer and inspected by a state-licensed inspector.16 For any small dwelling, also confirm zoning, sanitation, foundation, utility, access, and occupancy requirements with the city or township and Lake Region District Health Unit.23

Building a home in Towner County: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Towner County Auditor/Treasurer Office which city or township implements zoning for the parcel and obtain the applicable zoning-permit materials.10
  1. Ask that jurisdiction whether it requires a residential building permit, plan review, inspections, or a certificate of occupancy; those requirements are not confirmed countywide.1
  1. Confirm the zoning district, permitted residential use, setbacks, lot standards, temporary-housing rules, and road-access approval with the city or township.2
  1. Apply to Lake Region District Health Unit before beginning onsite wastewater work, and complete any required site inspection before installation.3
  1. Address water supply early; a North Dakota water-appropriation permit is required when annual withdrawal exceeds 12.5 acre-feet, while certain smaller uses must still be reported.7
  1. Obtain the locally required permits and written approvals before construction, because the enforcing jurisdiction sets its own permit and plan-review fees.11

What should you check before buying land in Towner County?

Start with jurisdiction: obtain the parcel's legal description and confirm which city or township implements zoning, then request written answers on the intended home, RV, accessory structure, setbacks, access, and any temporary use.2 Towner County publishes a road and highway access permit link, but the available official material does not establish when that permit is required, so ask the Auditor/Treasurer Office before relying on an existing approach.10

Treat septic suitability as a major purchase contingency because only about 4% of mapped soils avoid severe conventional-drain-field limitations.14 Confirm the water source and expected withdrawal with the state permit threshold in mind.7 The county is very sparsely settled at about 2 people per square mile, and the nearest city of at least 100,000 people is about 165 miles from the county center, so contractor availability and material delivery deserve early calls.1718 The median property-tax bill is about $1,078 per year, but parcel-specific taxes require the current assessment.19

Watch-outs

  • Do not assume that the lack of a confirmed county building department means no permit is needed; the city or township may administer building and zoning requirements.12
  • A septic application or preliminary permit does not authorize installation; Lake Region District Health Unit may require a site inspection before issuing the actual permit.3
  • Private-land RV living, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks, and minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed, so ask the parcel's city or township before committing to a use.2

Sources

  1. Towner County Courthouse Planning, Zoning + Permits (2026 county census)
  2. Towner County Courthouse | Planning, Zoning + Permits, quoted and re-checked
  3. Environmental Health | Lake Region District Health Unit, quoted and re-checked
  4. Towner County Courthouse | Planning, Zoning + Permits, quoted and re-checked
  5. Environmental Health | Lake Region District Health Unit, quoted and re-checked
  6. (2026 county census)
  7. Water Appropriation Permits (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Codes | Commerce | North Dakota (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Codes (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Towner County Auditor/Treasurer Office (tccounty.com)
  11. 2026 North Dakota State Building Code Book (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 54-21.3, State Building Code (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Lake Region District Health Unit Environmental Health (lrdhu.com)
  14. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  15. Parks and Recreation FAQ (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Manufactured Home Installation Program (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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

Towner County in North Dakota

45
County map
Towner County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Towner County scores

Seclusion86100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency1592% ev.
Admin Boringness5590% ev.
Durability46100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost8194% ev.

Evidence strength: 96%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$132kTypical home
0.9%Property tax
$1,929Land / acre
19.1"Annual rain
9.8% of yrsSevere drought
2 / yr (+1.9)Mid-century 100°F days
18.5 daysMid-century dry spell
1.35" (+4.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.62×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
state median fallbackInsurance basis
70,583People within 2 hr
2,097Radius comparison (15 mi)
2People / sq mi
28.3%Federal land
99.9%Land at 15% slope or less
4%Septic soil without severe limits
25,863 acWorkable land screen
0.3%Wooded land
38°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Towner County

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

Towner County rules

  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Towner County planning and zoning regulations.

    • The county states that its planning and zoning regulations are implemented by individual cities and townships.
    “The Towner County Planning and Zoning regulations”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Local implementation of Towner County planning and zoning regulations aggregated across cities and townships in the county.

    • The county identifies individual cities and townships as the implementing authorities; this record does not establish the content of each local ordinance.
    “are implemented by the individual cities and townships.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage treatment systems in Towner County and the other counties served by Lake Region District Health Unit.

    • LRDHU enforces state public-health laws, its own regulations, and local ordinances in Towner County.
    “for onsite sewage treatment systems in Ramsey, Benson, Eddy, Pierce, Rolette, Towner, and Cavalier Counties”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New onsite sewage treatment systems and repairs to existing systems in Towner County and the other LRDHU service counties.

    • Application must be complete, signed and dated by the owner or property representative, and include payment.
    • A preliminary permit does not authorize installation.
    • For systems requiring site inspection, a permit number is assigned and the actual permit is issued after inspection.
    • A holding tank requires a contract with a licensed septic pumper.
    • The installer must obtain design approval and contact LRDHU at least 48 business hours before and on the day of installation.
    “permit application shall be completed in full.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Onsite sewage treatment systems in Towner County and other LRDHU service counties.

    • LRDHU provides inspections of existing permitted systems only upon request.
    • Site inspection is conducted for drainfield sites and as needed for holding-tank sites.
    • During construction, inspection may not always be possible because LRDHU covers seven counties.
    “provides inspection of existing permitted systems upon request.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private onsite sanitation systems in Towner County and other LRDHU service counties.

    • New systems and repairs require LRDHU licensing and permitting.
    • Covered systems include septic tanks, drain fields, cesspools, and holding tanks.
    • Holding tanks require a contract with a licensed septic pumper.
    “LRDHU licenses and permits all new onsite sewage treatment systems”
  • Building permitLimited

    Building permits in Towner County are issued at the city/township level rather than by a county building department; no county-wide building code or building inspector was identified, so the requirement depends on location.

    Towner County Courthouse Planning, Zoning + Permits ↗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.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Administration and enforcement of the North Dakota State Building Code by eligible city, township, and county jurisdictions.

    • A city, township, or county that elects to administer and enforce a building code must adopt and enforce the state building code.
    • Local jurisdictions may amend the state building code to conform to local needs.
    • A city or township may enforce only within its jurisdictional area; a county may enforce in areas where the state building code is not administered by a city or township.
    “Community Services is not involved in the enforcement of the State Building Code. This is the responsibility of jurisdictions that elect to adopt and enforce building codes.”
  • 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 exemption from residential construction requirements in Towner County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential certificates of occupancy in Towner County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Towner County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in Towner County.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks in Towner County.
9 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access

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 Towner County, North Dakota

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

Towner County scores 45/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 2,097 people within 15 miles and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (19.1″/yr rainfall).

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

Towner County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Lake Region District Health Unit. 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 Towner County, North Dakota?

Land in Towner County runs about $1,929 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Towner County?

Towner County gets about 19.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.8% of years.

How remote is Towner County?

A typical private-land location has about 2,097 people within 15 miles and 358,456 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Towner compares in North Dakota

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