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

Sawyer’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building or structural alteration inside Sawyer zoning limits

  • No permit required for maintenance that does not structurally alter the building
  • No permit needed for a fence
  • Permit expires if construction not completed within one year
  • Permit must conform to the zoning ordinance

  “no land within the zoning limits shall be built upon and no structure or building shall be structurally altered until a permit has been obtained from the zoning administrator/building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings in Sawyer city and its extra-territorial area

  • Future revisions of the state building code automatically included

  “the city of sawyer has adopted the north dakota state building code and all future revisions are hereby made a part of this chapter for use and application in the city of sawyer and the city of sawyer extra-territorial area.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work requiring a building permit inside Sawyer city

  • Pre-owned manufactured homes and buildings moved into city limits must be inspected and approved before moving in

  “upon completion of any work requiring a building permit, the zoning administrator/building inspector conducts and on site inspection of the work specified on the building permit.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Sawyer city limits (and one-half mile beyond)

  • Ordinance applies to all structures and land within and one-half mile beyond city limits (6.0301)
  • Administered by city council and zoning administrator/building inspector

  “the provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all structures and land within and one-half mile (850m) beyond the city limits of sawyer, north dakota.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Sawyer city zoning districts

  • Official zoning map on file with city auditor and county recorder

  “the city of sawyer is hereby divided into the following classes of districts: ag - agricultural; ar - agriculture - residential; re - residential; co - commercial; in industrial.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  RE residential district, Sawyer city (AR district is 'same as residential')

  • Lot width 75 feet
  • 3000 square feet per family for multi-family unit

  minimum lot area, single family: >= 7500 square feet

  “area of lot - 7500 square feet (697 sq m) residential dwelling (single family)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AG agricultural district, Sawyer city, non-farm residences

    “lot size - minimum two (2) acre (1ha) for non-farm residences.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  RE residential district, Sawyer city

  • Side yard 10% of lot width for lots less than 75 feet wide

  front yard: >= 25 feet · rear yard: >= 30 feet · side yard: >= 7 feet (lots less than 75' wide, 10% of lot width)

  “setbacks: a. front yard - 25 feet (7.6m) 50 b. rear yard - 30 feet (9.1)m) c. side yard - 7 feet (2.1m) (lots less than 75' wide, 10% of lot width)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AG agricultural district, Sawyer city

    “setbacks - 50 feet (15.2m) from any public right-of-way or property line.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  IN industrial district, Sawyer city; no coverage limit found for residential or AG districts

  maximum lot coverage by building: <= 75 percent

  “lot coverage - not covered by more than 75% of building.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  CO commercial district (45 ft) and IN industrial district (90 ft), Sawyer city; no height limit found for residential or AG districts

  • Industrial maximum height 90 feet (6.0408 e.1)

  commercial max building height: <= 45 feet · industrial max building height: <= 90 feet

  “maximum dimensional standards: 1. building height - 45 feet (13.7m) 2. setbacks - 60 feet (18.3m) from right-of-way”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes more than 5 years old in the RE residential district, Sawyer city

  • Requires approval of building inspector and city council
  • Concrete foundation or post and piers required
  • Limit of 1 single-wide home per city block; no two adjoining lots with single-wides
  • Sewer and water lines replaced/updated at owner's expense or proof of recent replacement
  • Curb stop must be in working order
  • Pre-owned manufactured homes must be inspected before moving into city limits
  • Manufactured home parks are a conditional use requiring variance approval

  “limit to 1 single-wide homes in any one city block and no two adjoining lots may have single-wide mobile homes”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  Privies and cesspools within Sawyer corporate limits

  • Ordinance names privies and cesspools; other alternative systems not addressed

  “construction and use of privies and cesspools shall be prohibited within the corporate limits of the city of sawyer.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  All new developments inside Sawyer city

  • No distance or availability threshold stated in this section

  “all new developments within the city of sawyer shall be connected to the city sewer and water system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  New subdivisions in Sawyer city

  • Division of agricultural land for agricultural purposes into parcels over 10 acres with no new streets is not a subdivision

  “all new subdivisions require plat maps. plat must be drawn up and surveyed by licensed surveyor.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  RE residential district, Sawyer city

  • No dwelling on a lot that does not abut a dedicated public road (6.0309 b)

  maximum driveway width: <= 30 feet

  “driveway width may be no more than 30' wide.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permits in Sawyer city

  • Council may change fees from time to time
  • Deck $25; accessory building under 100 sq ft $25
  • $50 fee for zoning amendments or hearings
  • No fee for moving a building into city limits

  building permit fee, $0-$25,000 project value: 100 USD (additional $25 for each $25,000)

  “$0-$25,000.00 ……………… $100.00 $25,000 to $50,000.00……… $125.00”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permits in Sawyer city

  • Non-complying plans may use amendment, variance, conditional use or appeal procedures

  “the building permit process is outlined below.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Sawyer city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Sawyer city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Sawyer city
• Camping on your land — Camping inside Sawyer city
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Sawyer 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.