Bolthole Index

Williams County, North Dakota

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

51Index Score / 100
#22 of 53 in North Dakota

Unincorporated Williams County, North Dakota requires a building permit before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or a change of occupancy1. The county also regulates land use and subdivisions in its unincorporated areas2. Properties using onsite wastewater need a septic permit through the Upper Missouri District Health Unit before installation begins34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction and many alterations in unincorporated areas1
Zoning
County land-use and subdivision rules apply in unincorporated areas25
Septic permit
Required through the Upper Missouri District Health Unit before installation34
RV living
Long-term private-land occupancy could not be confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning5
Tiny home
County occupancy and dimensional rules could not be confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning5
Domestic well
State appropriation permit applies above 12.5 acre-feet per year6
Agricultural building
State-code exemption is limited to nonresidential, nonpublic agricultural buildings7

Who to call

Building permits

Williams County Development Services – Building Division

Building-permit applications, plan review and permit fees for county jurisdiction

(701) 577-4567

Williams County Administration Building, 2nd Floor, 206 East Broadway, Williston, ND 58801

Zoning

Williams County Development Services – Planning and Zoning Division

Land-use and subdivision questions for unincorporated Williams County

(701) 577-4565

Williams County Administration Building, 2nd Floor, 206 East Broadway, Williston, ND 58801

Septic permits

Upper Missouri District Health Unit – Environmental Health

Septic-system permits and installer licensing in Williams County

701-774-6400

110 W. Bdwy, Suite 101, Williston, ND 58801

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 Williams County, North Dakota?

Yes. Unincorporated Williams County requires a building permit before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving or demolishing a building or structure, and before changing its occupancy1. The Building Division says a permit is issued only after review is complete and the applicable fee has been received8. North Dakota requires any county that elects to enforce building codes to use the State Building Code, while allowing local amendments9.

A qualifying agricultural building is exempt from the state building-code chapter only when it is used for agricultural purposes and is neither a place of human habitation nor open for public use7. Ask the Building Division whether a proposed barn, shop, repair or grading project needs county approval before work starts8.

Who issues building permits in Williams County, North Dakota?

Williams County Development Services’ Building Division is the county permit contact at the Williams County Administration Building in Williston8. The county’s minimum building-permit fee is $75, and the final permit is issued only after review and payment8. Statewide, permit and plan-review fees are set by the enforcing jurisdiction rather than by one uniform North Dakota fee schedule10.

The county permit information applies to county jurisdiction; a city or township may administer the State Building Code only within its own jurisdictional area11. Before submitting plans, use the parcel’s location to confirm that the Building Division—not an incorporated city—is the correct authority. The county’s published material did not establish a general owner-builder permit exemption, so an owner planning to perform the work should ask the Building Division how contractor and inspection requirements apply.

Does Williams County, North Dakota have zoning?

Yes. The Williams County Planning and Zoning Division regulates land uses and subdivisions in unincorporated Williams County under the county comprehensive plan25. North Dakota law permits county zoning to regulate the location and use of buildings and the occupancy and use of land, with rules that may differ by zoning district12.

That means a building permit does not by itself answer whether a proposed use fits the parcel. Confirm the zoning district, allowed use, subdivision status and any parcel-specific conditions with Planning and Zoning before designing a house or dividing land5. We could not confirm countywide details for setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, lot coverage or building height; the Planning and Zoning Division is the office to ask for the rules tied to a specific unincorporated parcel5.

How do septic permits work in Williams County?

The Upper Missouri District Health Unit has authority to permit septic systems and license installers in Williams County313. An onsite wastewater installer must hold a state license and obtain the local public-health permit before beginning installation4. Contact Environmental Health early enough to match the home site, system design and building-permit application to the same parcel13.

Soil conditions deserve early attention: only about 39.1% of mapped county soils avoid a “very limited” rating for a conventional septic drain field14. That statistic is a screening signal, not approval for an individual lot. We could not confirm a general Williams County septic-inspection schedule or the complete treatment rules for off-grid sanitation; ask Environmental Health what site evaluation, design, installation and inspection steps apply before committing to a house location13.

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

We could not confirm a Williams County rule that generally allows long-term RV residence, private-land camping or tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated areas. Because the Planning and Zoning Division regulates land uses there, ask that office whether the parcel’s district allows the proposed dwelling type and whether temporary occupancy during construction needs separate approval5.

Do not apply the North Dakota state-park camping limit to private land; that limit governs state-park campsites and cabins, not residential use of a private parcel15. A new manufactured home used as a residence must be installed by a state-licensed installer and inspected by a state-licensed inspector16. Those installation rules do not establish that every parcel allows manufactured-home occupancy, so confirm land use with Planning and Zoning and construction permitting with the Building Division58.

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

  1. Confirm that the parcel is outside an incorporated city and ask Williams County Planning and Zoning for the zoning district, allowed residential use and subdivision status5.
  2. Ask the Building Division what plans and reviews are required; Williams County requires a permit for new construction and issues it after review and payment18.
  3. If the property will use onsite wastewater, obtain the Upper Missouri District Health Unit permit before septic installation begins413.
  4. Check whether the proposed building site lies in a Special Flood Hazard Area; development there requires a permit from the local Floodplain Administrator before work begins17.
  5. Confirm water supply and access before construction. A North Dakota water-appropriation permit is required when annual withdrawal exceeds 12.5 acre-feet, while lower specified uses must be reported6.

What should you check before buying land in Williams County?

Start with jurisdiction and zoning: Williams County regulates land use in unincorporated areas, while incorporated places may have their own authority211. Then place a possible house, septic field, well and access route on the same concept plan. Only about 39.1% of mapped soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so septic feasibility can control where the house goes14.

Check flood mapping before closing because work in a Special Flood Hazard Area requires local floodplain approval before it begins17. Confirm the water source and remember that higher-volume withdrawals cross the state appropriation-permit threshold6. Finally, budget for carrying costs: the county’s effective property-tax rate is about 0.7%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $1,9131819.

Watch-outs

  • A county building permit does not replace zoning review; confirm the proposed use and subdivision status with Planning and Zoning before design work5.
  • Only about 39.1% of mapped soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so arrange septic review before fixing the house location1413.
  • Long-term RV living, private-land camping, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks and minimum dwelling size could not be confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning about the specific parcel5.
  • Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs approval from the local Floodplain Administrator before work begins17.

Sources

  1. Williams County Building Permits (2026 county census)
  2. Williams County Planning and Zoning Division (2026 county census)
  3. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  4. NDPDES Permits, quoted and re-checked
  5. Williams County Development Services – Planning and Zoning Division (williamsnd.com)
  6. Water Appropriation Permits (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 54-21.3, State Building Code (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Williams County Development Services – Building Division (williamsnd.com)
  9. Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  10. 2026 North Dakota State Building Code Book (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Codes (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 11-33, County Zoning (North Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Upper Missouri District Health Unit – Environmental Health (umdhu.org)
  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. Floodplain Management, quoted and re-checked
  18. Effective property tax rate: 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

Williams County in North Dakota

51
County map
Williams County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Williams County scores

Seclusion90100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency20100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost75100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$356kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$1,383Land / acre
15.4"Annual rain
19% of yrsSevere drought
4.8 / yr (+4)Mid-century 100°F days
20.2 daysMid-century dry spell
1.2" (+4.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.37×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,923Home insurance / yr
0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.74%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
171People within 30 min
64,421People within 2 hr
2,305Radius comparison (15 mi)
18.8People / sq mi
11%Federal land
90.3%Land at 15% slope or less
39.1%Septic soil without severe limits
503,162 acWorkable land screen
1.4%Wooded land
24.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
40.9°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Williams County

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

Williams County rules

  • Who permits septicLocal

    Septic systems in Williams County, administered within the Upper Missouri District Health Unit's four-county jurisdiction.

    • The Upper Missouri District Health Unit also licenses septic installers.
    • The district covers Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail, and Williams Counties.
    “The Upper Missouri District Health Unit is the agency with authority to permit septic systems and license installers in the four counties of Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail and Williams.”
  • Building permitRequired

    County requires a building permit before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure, administered by the county Building Division.

    Williams County Building Permits ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningPresent

    County Planning and Zoning Division regulates land uses and subdivisions in unincorporated Williams County under the county Comprehensive Plan and zoning regulations, with a Planning and Zoning Commission.

    Williams County Planning and Zoning Division ↗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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — North Dakota jurisdictions that elect to adopt and enforce building codes, including counties if they make that election.
      “If a city, county, or township elects to adopt and enforce building codes, it must adopt and enforce the State Building Code. However, a jurisdiction is permitted to further amend the State Building Code to conform to local needs.”
  • 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.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    On-site wastewater treatment system installation in Williams County.

    • Installers must obtain a state license.
    • Installers must obtain a local public health permit before beginning work.
    • The local public health permitting agency for Williams County is the Upper Missouri District Health Unit.
    “Installers must obtain both a state license and a local public health permit before beginning work.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Installation of an onsite wastewater treatment system anywhere in North Dakota.
      “Installers must obtain both a state license and a local public health permit before beginning work.”
  • 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

    Development within a Special Flood Hazard Area in Williams County or another North Dakota NFIP-participating community.

    • A floodplain development permit must be obtained from the local Floodplain Administrator before beginning work in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
    • Each NFIP participating community is responsible for managing floodplain development.
    • North Dakota Department of Water Resources review is required before a floodplain development permit is issued for development within the regulatory floodway.
    • Structures substantially damaged or improved by more than 50 percent must fully comply with applicable floodplain regulations.

    substantial improvement or damage threshold: > 50 percent (Structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas.)

    “Each NFIP participating community is responsible for managing floodplain development in compliance with state and federal laws. NFIP communities appoint a Floodplain Administrator to fulfill this function. The Floodplain Administrator is the local resource for any floodplain management questions. A floodplain development permit must be obtained from the local Floodplain Administrator before beginning any work in a Special Flood Hazard Area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction or modification of North Dakota water-control structures regulated by the Department of Water Resources.
      “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-builders constructing a residence in unincorporated Williams County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in unincorporated Williams County.
  • Local zoning — Local zoning across Williams County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts for unincorporated Williams County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Williams County.
13 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • 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 Williams County, North Dakota

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

Williams County scores 51/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 171 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (15.4″/yr rainfall).

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

Williams County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Upper Missouri District Health Unit (Environmental Health). 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 Williams County, North Dakota?

Land in Williams County runs about $1,383 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Williams County?

Williams County gets about 15.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 19% of years.

How remote is Williams County?

A representative private-land location has about 171 people within a 30-minute drive and 64,421 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Williams compares in North Dakota

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