Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Prairie Township, North Dakota

New Prairie Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential, commercial, and industrial structures, including accessories, inside New Prairie Township where Ward County zoning applies.

  • A building, alteration, or moving permit must be obtained from the Ward County Building Inspector before the covered work.
  • The permit is good for one year; construction after that date requires Board of County Commissioners approval.
  • No permit is required for maintenance or repair that does not alter the strength or plan of the structure or its mechanical installations, although that work must comply with the regulation.
  • The ordinance's building-permit provisions do not apply to farm buildings or farm lands meeting its definition of a farm.
  • If construction has not begun within six months after permit issuance, the permit is cancelled unless the Board of County Commissions grants an extension under the adopted International Building Code.

  permit validity: 1 year (Construction beyond the date of issuance requires Board of County Commissioners approval.) · construction commencement deadline: 6 months (Unless the Board of County Commissions grants an extension under the adopted International Building Code.)

  “No structure of any kind used for residential, commercial or industrial purposes, including accessories thereto, shall hereafter be built, altered or moved within the zoned area of Ward County until a building, alteration, or moving permit has been obtained from the office of the Building Inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside New Prairie Township, Ward County, North Dakota. Ward County administers the zoning that applies there; the township participates by recommendation on the documented county application.

  • The cited New Prairie Township application was for an accessory dwelling and required a conditional use permit.
  • Ward County's current zoning ordinance was adopted July 1, 2025.

  “Alberto Flores Lopez applied for a conditional use permit for the following described property: Outlot 1 of Sec 20-154-81 New Prairie Twp. The applicant is requesting to be allowed an accessory dwelling for occasional guests and family. Ward County zoning applies with the township and staff recommending approval.”

Rules another office applies inside New Prairie Township

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage treatment systems inside New Prairie Township, Ward County, North Dakota.

  • First District Health Unit requires a permit before installation or repair work on any part of an onsite sewage treatment system.
  • For construction of a building that will produce sewage or wastewater, a septic permit must be obtained from First District Health Unit when no existing community septic system is available.
  • All work must be completed by an NDDEQ-licensed septic contractor or certified property owner.
  • All septic-system designs must be done or approved by First District Health Unit.
  • A final inspection must be scheduled before backfilling or covering the system; without final inspection and approval, the system is considered unapproved and illegal.

  “First District Health Unit (FDHU) requires a permit for the installation and/or repair of any part of an onsite sewage treatment system in Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, McLean, Renville, Sheridan, or Ward Counties. A permit must be received prior to any work done on the system.”

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.