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

Fessenden’s own rules

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  A new water and/or sewer connection to City of Fessenden utility service inside city limits.

  • The area served must be duly platted, the plan approved by the governing body, and recorded in the Wells County Register of Deeds Office.
  • The prohibition may be waived only in limited and extraordinary circumstances under section 7.0110.
  • For property not previously assessed for existing utility lines, payment or a written agreement to pay in monthly installments within a maximum of five years is required before a connection permit is issued.

  “No application for water and/or sewer service shall be approved and no person shall hook up to or make connection with the city water and sewer system”

• Subdividing landLimited

  Land seeking City of Fessenden water or sewer service inside city limits.

  • The utility-service rule does not establish the complete municipal subdivision process.
  • The area must be duly platted, the plan approved by the governing body, and recorded in Wells County before utility service is approved, subject to a limited-and-extraordinary-circumstances waiver.

  “been duly platted and the plan approved by the governing body and recorded in the Register or Deeds Office of Wells County, North Dakota.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  City water and sewer utility service and connection activity inside Fessenden city limits.

  • The January 19, 2026 resolution states water and sewer rates, fees, and charges are on file with the city auditor.
  • Chapter 7 permits the City Council to change connection charges by resolution from time to time.

  water shutoff charge: 50 USD · water turn-on charge: 50 USD · new-user water deposit: 100 USD

  “All new users: $100.00 D. Connection $50.00 charge for shutting water off $50.00 charge for turning water on”

• Permit processPartial

  Application for a new City of Fessenden water and sewer service connection.

  • The application must state the exact premises description, general and special water uses, nature of sewage to be discharged, and estimated quarter-annual water use.
  • The applicant must pay a connection charge established by City Council resolution, which may change from time to time.

  “shall apply for a connection on a form provided by the municipality.”

Rules another office applies inside Fessenden

Fessenden 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 septicMixed (with conditions)

  An onsite wastewater treatment system proposed inside Fessenden city limits when private sewage disposal is otherwise allowable under city law.

  • The state source requires a permit from the local public health unit before an installer begins work.
  • Fessenden's sewer ordinance separately restricts private sewage-disposal facilities.

  “The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality oversees the licensing of onsite wastewater treatment system installers”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an onsite wastewater treatment system inside Fessenden city limits when private sewage disposal is allowed.

  • An installer must secure a permit from the local public health unit before beginning work.
  • The installer must also obtain a department license.

  “secure a permit from their local public health unit before beginning work on a system.”

• Well permitLimited

  Private water wells proposed inside Fessenden city limits.

  • A Department of Water Resources permit is required only if the well will draw over 12.5 acre-feet per year.
  • Hired construction, installation, or repair requires a licensed contractor; an individual may install or repair a well on the individual's own property without Board licensure.

  annual withdrawal threshold: > 12.5 acre-feet per year (A Department of Water Resources permit is needed above this threshold.)

  “If your well will draw over 12.5 acre-feet (4,073,000 gallons) of water per year, it needs to be permitted”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New residential building construction inside Fessenden city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside Fessenden city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Fessenden city limits.
• Inspections — General residential building inspections inside Fessenden city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Fessenden city limits.

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.