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

Hillsboro’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Hillsboro city.

  • The adopted code is the North Dakota State Building Code and future updates and amendments; the ordinance states that zoning ordinances govern if they conflict.

  “The erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, equipment, uses, height, area and maintenance of buildings or structures”

• InspectionsRequired

  Completed work requiring a Hillsboro building permit.

  • The inspection occurs upon completion of the permitted work as part of the certificate-of-compliance process.

  “Upon completion of any work requiring a building permit, the building inspector conducts an on-site inspection of the work specified in the building permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Any structure, building, or land that has been built or structurally altered so as to require a building permit, inside Hillsboro city.

  • The ordinance calls this a certificate of compliance.
  • After the on-site inspection, the certificate is issued if work conforms to zoning and other applicable ordinances and codes.

  “A certificate of compliance is required before any structure, building, or land can be used or occupied”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Structures and land inside Hillsboro city limits.

  • The ordinance also applies within the City's one-half-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction; this record concerns only land inside city limits.

  “These title shall be known as the “Hillsboro Land Development Ordinance” for the City of Hillsboro, North Dakota.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential dwelling units inside Hillsboro city.

  • The 35-foot rule includes apartments, sleeping rooms, and owner-occupied residences above commercial service and trade establishments.

  maximum residential dwelling-unit height: <= 35 feet

  “No residential dwelling unit shall exceed thirty five (35) feet in height.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile-home parks inside Hillsboro city.

  • A City building-inspector permit is required to construct, alter, or extend a mobile-home park.
  • The land-development ordinance permits mobile-home parks in the MH district; this claim does not establish permission outside that district.

  “Mobile home parks (not to include recreational vehicles)”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private wastewater disposal systems inside Hillsboro city where public sewer is unavailable under City Code § 7.0303(4).

  • The City superintendent signs the written permit and may require plans, specifications, or other information.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private wastewater disposal system inside Hillsboro city where public sewer is not available under City Code § 7.0303(4).

  • The permit is signed by the superintendent.
  • The application must be on the City form and supplemented by information the superintendent deems necessary.
  • A $100 permit and inspection fee is due when the application is filed.

  private wastewater disposal permit and inspection fee: 100 USD (Paid to the City when the application is filed.)

  “A permit and inspection fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be paid to the City at the time the application is filed.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of a private wastewater disposal system permitted by Hillsboro city.

  • The superintendent may inspect at any stage of construction.
  • The permit does not become effective until installation is complete to the superintendent's satisfaction.

  “The inspection shall be made within a reasonable amount of time following the receipt of notice by the superintendent.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Hillsboro city.

  • The property must abut a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public sanitary sewer.
  • The sewer must be within 200 feet (61 meters) of the property line under the North Dakota plumbing code.
  • Connection is required within 90 days after official notice and at the owner's expense.

  public sewer distance from property line: <= 200 feet (Also stated as 61 meters; applies under the North Dakota plumbing code.) · connection deadline after official notice: <= 90 days

  “within ninety (90) days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within 200 feet”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural divisions of land inside Hillsboro city for subdivision-regulation purposes.

  • The division must create lots or parcels of at least five acres and must not involve a new street.

  minimum agricultural division parcel size: >= 5 acres (No new street may be involved.)

  “The division of land for agricultural purposes into lots or parcels of five (5) acres or more and not involving a new street”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Hillsboro city.

  • Agricultural divisions into lots or parcels of five acres or more that do not involve a new street are excluded from the definition of subdivision.
  • A preliminary plat application must be filed with the Planning and Zoning Commission.

  agricultural division exclusion lot size: >= 5 acres (Only where no new street is involved.)

  “The subdivider shall prepare a preliminary plat and file an application for approval with the Planning and Zoning Commission.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Hillsboro building permits.

  • The City and Red River Municipal Inspections have separate fee schedules.
  • The City page refers applicants to a step-by-step outline and associated fees; it does not state the fee amounts in the opened page text.

  “The City of Hillsboro and Red River Municipal Inspections have separate fee schedules.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Hillsboro city.

  • The permit is either approved by Planning & Zoning at its next meeting or sent to the Building Inspector.
  • New construction and dimension changes are reviewed by Planning and Zoning and presented to the City Commission for final approval; remodeling and repair may be approved by the City Auditor.

  “Your building permit will either be approved by Planning & Zoning at the next meeting or sent to our Building Inspector.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hillsboro city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Hillsboro city.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Hillsboro city.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hillsboro city.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Hillsboro 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.