Stark County’s zoning ordinance requires a county building permit before any building is built, altered or converted, and the county directs all building permit applications to the City of Dickinson, which it names as the official Building Department for Stark County. You apply on Dickinson’s online form and choose the city, its extraterritorial area (within 4 miles of city limits) or Stark County as the location. Zoning, subdivision and floodplain approvals stay with the county Planning & Zoning office at the courthouse (701-456-7672).
What needs a building permit in Stark County?
Permit required
- Starting construction, alteration or conversion of any building or structure
- Any building used for human habitation or by the public, on a farm of any size
- Farm buildings put up by anyone who does not qualify for, or has not filed for, the Farm Residence Property Tax Exemption (NDCC 57-02-08)
No county permit
- Buildings directly used in farm operations and built by farmers who qualify for the exemption
The ordinance requirement was amended by the county commission on December 5, 2023. Dickinson’s application handles residential buildings, accessory structures, decks, commercial buildings and emergency repairs.
Who issues building permits in Stark County?
The county’s permits page and its Planning & Zoning page both say the City of Dickinson handles all building permits for Stark County and is its official Building Department. Dickinson’s Buildings & Codes division, under Building Official Leonard Schwindt (701-456-7803), reviews and inspects the work. The county Planning & Zoning Department enforces the zoning and subdivision rules, supports the Planning & Zoning Commission and oversees floodplain development in unincorporated areas. Its director works for both the county and Dickinson, so office hours are split.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Building permits (county land, Dickinson and its extraterritorial area) | City of Dickinson Building Official, 701-456-7803; inspection hotline 701-456-7035, option 1 |
| County Planning & Zoning | Stark County Courthouse, Auditor’s Office, 1st floor, 51 3rd St E, Dickinson, ND 58601 (mail: PO Box 130, Dickinson, ND 58602-0130); 701-456-7672 |
| County hours for Planning & Zoning | Monday 8:00 a.m. to noon, Tuesday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. |
| Addresses for new buildings | Stark County Emergency Services, 701-456-7609 |
| Septic and well plans | Southwestern District Health Unit, 528 21st St. West, Dickinson; 701-483-0171 |
| City | Who permits |
|---|---|
| Dickinson (pop. 25,870) | City Building Department, for the city and land within 4 miles of city limits |
| Belfield (pop. 999) | Apply to the City Auditor; the City Building Inspector approves and sets the fee. City Hall, 208 Main Street North, 701-575-4235 |
| Richardton (pop. 695) | City permit under its Chapter 14 building code; city office 701-974-3399, Monday to Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Gladstone (pop. 283) | Building Permit Application to the City Auditor, 701-483-4523 |
| Taylor (pop. 230) | City permit. Taylor adopted the State Building Code by ordinance in August 2012, with fees set by council resolution. Building Permit Application to the city, PO Box 68, Taylor; 701-974-4382 |
| South Heart (pop. 419) | The published sources do not say; ask city hall before you build. |
Applications for Stark County land
- Building Permit Application (City of Dickinson online form): choose “Stark County (outside ETZ and city limits)” for county land. Dickinson’s portal also has separate demolition, moving and fence permit applications.
- Floodplain applications: the county has one form for structural development and another for non-building work in a flood area.
- Conditional use, standard rezoning, PUD rezoning and subdivision applications, filed with county Planning & Zoning.
- Approach permit for construction in a county right-of-way, from the county Road Department (revised September 4, 2025).
Stark County fees
Building permit fees are charged by Dickinson under its own schedule; its application portal offers a Building Permit Estimate Calculator. The county’s Planning & Zoning Application Fees, adopted in April 2017, cover the zoning side:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard rezoning | $200 |
| Planned unit development rezoning | $500 |
| Conditional use permit, agricultural or residential | $200 |
| Conditional use permit, commercial, industrial, mobile home park or RV camp | $500 |
| Conditional use permit, temporary crew housing or wind energy | $1,000 |
| Conditional use renewal or extension | $200 |
| Variance | $200 |
| Temporary use permit | $500 |
| Minor subdivision | $200 |
| Preliminary plat | $500 up to 10 lots, $750 for 11–25, $1,500 for 26–40, $2,000 over 40 |
| Final plat | $350 |
| Zoning confirmation letter | $50 |
| Zoning compliance letter | $100 |
| Lot line adjustment review | $100 |
| Temporary crew housing | $400 a unit per year, occupied or unoccupied |
| Commercial sign zoning compliance review | $50 |
| Rescheduling a hearing at the applicant’s request | $200 plus certified mailing costs |
The county’s engineering consultants set the cost of reviewing subdivision improvements and any stormwater, traffic, grading or soil studies, and final plats go to the board only after those costs are paid. Under the zoning ordinance, applicants for conditional uses, variances and building applications also pay the county’s processing costs, such as publication, attorney fees, mileage and copying.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Trade work, subcontractors and septic
Dickinson’s building application asks for the contractor’s licence number and the plumbing, mechanical, electrical, concrete, right-of-way concrete, excavation and water and sewer subcontractors, and whether the project connects to city water and sewer. Dickinson’s application portal also lists separate Plumbing Permit and Sprinkler Permit applications.
Onsite sewer plans are approved by the Southwestern District Health Unit in Dickinson (701-483-0171) on its Application for Sewage & Water Facilities. Plan pre-approval is free, the unit charges $150 for the onsite inspection of the installed system, and a lot needs at least 40,000 sq ft (about 1 acre) for an onsite sewer system.
What the application needs
- Property location type (city, extraterritorial area or county), project type and construction type
- Owner, applicant, contractor and any design firm details
- Parcel number, legal description, estimated cost and desired start date
- Plans and drawings as PDF files at 1/4-inch scale
- For new construction, an address verification letter from Stark County Emergency Management (not needed for accessory structures or decks)
- For a new house or commercial building in the extraterritorial area or on county land, the Southwestern District Health Unit’s Application for Sewage & Water Facilities
How to get a building permit for Stark County land
Inside a city, use that city’s permit; within 4 miles of Dickinson the city’s extraterritorial rules apply.
Call county Planning & Zoning to check the zoning district, setbacks and floodplain status; a zoning confirmation letter costs $50.
Request the 911 address from Emergency Services and any approach permit from the Road Department.
Conditional uses, variances and floodplain development go through county Planning & Zoning before building.
Submit the Building Permit Application, selecting Stark County as the location, with PDF plans.
A permit issued under the county ordinance expires one year after issue; book inspections on Dickinson’s hotline.
Rather not deal with the Stark County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections
Building inspections for permits issued through Dickinson are booked on the city’s inspection hotline, 701-456-7035 (option 1 for building inspection). Under the county ordinance, any building used for human habitation or by the public needs an occupancy permit as well as a building permit.
Stark County site rules and city details
Setbacks and access: buildings must sit at least 125 feet from the centerline of county roads and section lines and 250 feet from the centerline of state highways, and tree plantings at least 125 feet from county roads and section lines. Highway access is limited to four points per mile per side.
Residential lots: a residential lot may hold only one principal single-family dwelling and must abut a public right-of-way or private access easement. New subdivisions must connect to an approved on-site sewage system.
Floodplain: new or substantially improved homes in a special flood hazard area need the lowest floor, including the basement, at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.
Richardton: the city adopts the State Building Code and sets fees by resolution. Under Resolution 7-2024, a building of 201 sq ft or less is $20 and a larger one costing under $5,000 is $50; above that the fee rises by value tier, starting at $70 for the first $5,000 plus $15 for each additional $1,000 up to $25,000. The same schedule also lists a $50 residential and $100 commercial building permit row (Resolution 03-2023), so ask the city which applies.
Belfield and Gladstone: Belfield applicants call the City Building Inspector after each phase and at completion. Gladstone requires a valid Stark County address for all new construction.
North Dakota building code
North Dakota has one State Building Code, but enforcing it is a local choice: where no city, township or county enforces it, there is no building code permit for private work, though a zoning permit may still apply. North Dakota rules
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official resources for Stark County
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- NDCC chapter 54-21.3, State Building Code
- North Dakota Department of Commerce, building codes
- Stark County permits, licensing and applications
- Stark County Planning & Zoning
- Stark County Zoning Ordinance compilation (January 2026)
- Stark County Planning & Zoning fee schedule (April 2017)
- City of Dickinson Building Permit Application
- City of Dickinson Buildings & Codes
- City of Belfield government and permits
- City of Richardton fee schedule
- City of Gladstone permits and applications
- City of Taylor website, including building permits
- Southwestern District Health Unit environmental health and sewer applications
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Stark County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in rural Stark County?
The City of Dickinson, which the county names as its official Building Department. Apply on Dickinson’s Building Permit Application and select Stark County as the location.
Do farm buildings need a permit in Stark County?
Buildings used directly in farming and built by farmers who qualify for the Farm Residence Property Tax Exemption do not. Any building people live in or the public uses needs a building permit and an occupancy permit, whatever the farm’s size.
How far from a county road must I build?
At least 125 feet from the centerline of a county road or section line, and 250 feet from the centerline of a state highway.
How long is a Stark County building permit valid?
One year from the date it is issued.
What does a variance or rezoning cost?
A variance or standard rezoning is $200 and a planned unit development rezoning is $500, under the county’s April 2017 fee schedule.
Who approves septic systems in Stark County?
The Southwestern District Health Unit (701-483-0171). Plan pre-approval is free, the onsite inspection costs $150, and the lot must be at least 40,000 sq ft.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call Dickinson’s inspection hotline at 701-456-7035 and choose option 1 for building inspection.
Simplify Stark County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in North Dakota. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Stark County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Stark County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More North Dakota permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Stark County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.