Septic permit rules and requirements in North Dakota
In North Dakota, the state sets the rule. The septic permit comes from your local public health unit. The code is N.D. Admin. Code art. 33.1-21, ch. 33.1-21-01. North Dakota Century Code § 23.1-07.1-01 and § 23.1-07.1-02 · checked 2026-09-12
Division of Water Quality
Writes the rules
checked 2026-09-23
Your local public health unit
Issues the permit
checked 2026-09-12
N.D. Admin. Code art. 33.1-21, ch. 33.1-21-01
Code section
checked 2026-09-23
Who decides a septic permit in North Dakota
Your local public health unit issues the permit. The state sets the floor through the Division of Water Quality, North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
Only the state may write rules for septic systems under this chapter. Local public health units, not the state, give the permit.
North Dakota Century Code § 23.1-07.1-01 and § 23.1-07.1-02 · checked 2026-09-12
The office's phone number is 701-328-5210.
The page gives this number for the Division of Water Quality. It also lists a direct line for one septic contact.
North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality — Septic Systems · checked 2026-09-23
The office publishes its own page on this: North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality — Septic Systems.
This is the address for the department's septic systems page.
North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality — Septic Systems · checked 2026-09-23
The floor state law sets
The rules that govern every septic system in North Dakota are N.D. Admin. Code art. 33.1-21, ch. 33.1-21-01 — Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Installers Licensing. Every local permit is issued under them.
Section 33.1-21-01-01 sets rules for septic installers.
North Dakota Administrative Code, Article 33.1-21, Chapter 33.1-21-01 · checked 2026-09-23
North Dakota counties on this site
We have not published a North Dakota county page yet. A county earns a page when we hold facts unique to it. Until then this page is the answer for every county in the state.
Telling us your county is how we decide which one to build next.
Sources
State records only. Each figure above has a government source and a checked-on date. County figures live on the county pages.
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here with your local public health unit before you spend money on it.