Oil production in McKenzie County has certainly been a mixed blessing of job creation and tax revenues, balanced by strained infrastructure and quality of life challenges. One of those challenges has involved the accelerated construction of homes, businesses, and other buildings. The county is required to adhere to state building codes which are essential to protecting the long-term safety and welfare of the people of McKenzie County. It is also an important part of insuring that buildings maintain their value and usefulness long into the future. How and what we build in our community today, matters to our residents tomorrow.
Earlier this year, the county commission unanimously adopted the North Dakota State Building Code as the standard for construction within the county. The next step in the process was the establishment of a building department and permitting process. Effective July 9th a permit will be required for all new construction projects within the jurisdiction of McKenzie County. Agricultural buildings, of course, will be exempt from the permitting process in accordance with state and county code. Also, all commercial and residential projects currently under construction prior to that date must be registered with the McKenzie County Building Department by October 1st. There is no charge for registration of existing projects. However, builders may request a Certificate of Occupancy for their on-going project at their option.
When do I need a permit? There are multiple types of building permits to meet different needs including:
Residential Construction: Standard building permit required.
Commercial Construction: Standard building permit required.
Modular Construction: Standard building permit required.
Manufactured Construction (Real Property): Setting permit required. No permit required for “Titled” (non-real) property.
Temporary Housing including skid units, industrial modular buildings, park model trailers (trailer homes), manufactured homes, etc. Man camps: Temporary housing is regulated by the State of North Dakota, and must also be permitted with the County. Temporary housing permits must be renewed annually.
Recreational Vehicles: No county permit required, however, recreational vehicles are not approved as a permanent residential housing option.
Please contact the building department to discuss your plans with the code official before beginning construction if you are uncertain whether or not you need a permit. Even if a permit is not needed, the code official will answer code questions and may provide valuable advice. All work regardless of permit requirements must be completed in accordance with all applicable state and local codes.
How does the permitting process work? Permits are relatively simple to obtain. Fill out the appropriate permit application and submit it with the necessary drawings (2 sets) to the Building Department. Please be aware that, depending on the degree of difficulty, 1st time plan reviews can vary from 2 days to 2 weeks (for larger commercial buildings). If you would like to meet directly with an Inspector, call the Building Department to schedule an appointment
Building permit applications and plans will be reviewed by both the planning and Building department staffs. Once the reviews have all been done, the listed contact person will be notified to pick up plans and comments, make the appropriate corrections, and resubmit. Once all requirements have been met, your plan will be stamped approved, issued a permit number, fees assessed, and the permit will be released for construction. The work is then inspected during construction to confirm adherence to the approved plans and codes. A Certificate of Occupancy or approved final inspection is issued when the work is completed and found to be in substantial compliance with code requirements.
Forsgren Associates Engineering: Under the direction of the county, Forsgren Associates Engineering is assisting with the startup and operation of the new building department. Forsgren Associates is celebrating their 50th year in business and the opening of their newest (eleventh) office in Watford City. They have extensive experience providing building inspection and plan review services from many communities, as well as state and federal agencies.
What about Zoning? McKenzie County currently has no zoning ordinance. However, the county is currently in the process of developing zoning requirements. It is anticipated that the new zoning ordinance could be adopted as early as late August of this year. Questions regarding proposed zoning regulations should be directed to the County Planner, Mr. Walter Hadley, at 701-444-6494.
Building Department Location and Contacts: The new building department office is located in the McKenzie County Courthouse, Suite 699 (second floor), 201 5th Street NW in Watford City. The building department office is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm each weekday (office phone: 701-444-3616 ext. 1045).
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