Watford City City Zoning Code

A.

Purpose. Subdivision regulations are adopted to safeguard the best interests of the City of Watford City and to assist the subdivider in harmonizing their interests with those of the City at large. Because each new Subdivision becomes a permanent unit in the basic structure of the expanding community, the design and arrangement of Subdivisions must correlate to the unified scheme of community interests. In order to provide for the proper arrangement of Streets; for adequate and convenient Open Spaces; for traffic, utilities, and Access; for a development pattern that is consistent with the goals of Watford City's Comprehensive Plan; and to improve public health, safety, and general welfare of Watford City, this Section has been adopted by the City in accordance with the laws of the State of North Dakota. These regulations are hereby adopted for the following purposes:

1.

To establish standard procedures, requirements and conditions for the preparation, submission, and approval of Plats of the Subdivision of land within the City and its Extraterritorial Area, as provided in Chapter 40-48 of the North Dakota Century Code, and to enable the City Planning Commission to exercise the authority granted therein;

2.

To require that Plats conform satisfactorily to the Comprehensive Plan; and

3.

To discourage the subdividing of lands that are far in advance of the needs of the community; or that by their location cannot be efficiently served by public utilities, schools, fire protection, police protection or other municipal service; or that are located in areas subject to Flooding or that are topographically unsuitable for Development; or that for any other reason are unwisely or prematurely subdivided; and to encourage the replatting of lands deemed to be unsatisfactorily subdivided or underdeveloped.

B.

Conformity Required.

1.

All Subdivisions and Development within the City or its designated extraterritorial area shall conform to these regulations and shall be consistent with the City's adopted plans for such territory. It shall be unlawful for any person or agent to subdivide land except as specifically permitted by the provisions of this article.

2.

No Building Permit shall be issued for the erection of any Building or Structure on any land conveyed in violation of the provisions of this Chapter. No construction shall proceed until Final Subdivision Plat approval by the City Council.

C.

Plat Approval and Right-of-Way Dedication.

1.

Plat approval as required herein shall be considered by the Planning Commission, with final action by the City Council.

2.

In all cases where land is offered for dedication of Streets, utilities, or other public purposes, the City Council shall act to accept, reject, or hold open acceptance of the offer of dedication and the deed for the fee to such lands.

D.

Exemptions.

1.

Aliquot Lots may be recorded outside the City Subdivision Regulations if the following conditions are met:

a.

Legal access is established;

b.

The division of land is not less than 40 acres and can be described as a ¼-¼ portion of a Public Land Survey System section; and

c.

The division of land does not require an auditor's irregular tract designation from McKenzie County.

2.

Government Lots may be recorded outside the City Subdivision Regulations if legal access is established. A government Lot is an irregular Parcel within Public Land Survey System sections created to account for survey corrections.

3.

Lands transferred to governmental entities such as the City of Watford City, McKenzie County, State of North Dakota, United States government, McKenzie County Water Resource District, Western Area Water Supply Authority, and Watford City Park District; public utilities including power companies, communications companies, and railroads may be exempt from these regulations provided the transfers are for the purpose of public roadway and/or utility expansion.

a.

Surveys creating such Lots must include a statement signed by the Zoning Administrator or designee that indicates the property is exempt from the Subdivision Regulations of this article.

b.

This exemption shall be retroactive and include Lots previously created in violation of the Subdivision Regulations at such time as the Zoning Administrator records an affidavit against the offending parcels that states that they are not subject to the subdivision regulations of the City of Watford City.

4.

Any proposed use of the exemptions above must be presented by the landowner to; and where appropriate, approved by; the Zoning Administrator prior to the recording any document that will subdivide the land.

E.

Professional Assistance. The City Council or the Planning Commission may request such professional assistance as deemed necessary to properly evaluate the plats and plans submitted. Expenses for such necessary professional assistance shall be paid by the owner or subdivider.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

A.

Purpose. Minor Subdivisions are intended to expedite the platting process for Subdivisions that create a limited number of Lots, consolidate Lots, and/or modify Lot Lines. This reduces costs and uncertainty for applicants and promotes efficient use of City resources.

B.

Criteria. To be eligible for approval, a Minor Subdivision Plat shall not:

1.

Create more than three additional Lots;

2.

Dedicate, vacate, or otherwise modify any Right-of-Way;

3.

Require new public infrastructure located within a public Right-of-Way. An individual service line that connects to a trunk line shall not be considered public infrastructure for this criterion; and

4.

Be one Minor Subdivision Plat in a series of Minor Subdivision Plats proposed for contiguous Lots to circumvent the Major Subdivision Plat process or that would otherwise fail to meet the all of the above-listed criteria if done in one Subdivision.

C.

Procedure.

1.

Pre-application Meeting. Before submitting an application for Minor Subdivision Plat, the applicant is encouraged to discuss the proposal with City Officials. The purpose of this meeting is to identify and address potential issues prior to submission of the application.

2.

Minor Subdivision Application Submittal. The applicant shall apply in writing for tentative approval of the Minor Subdivision Plat utilizing the City Division of Land application form. The Minor Subdivision Plat and application must be received and accepted by Planning staff on or before the deadline date as set by the Planning Department. The application shall not be processed nor considered complete until the application fee has been paid in full. The application fee for a Minor Subdivision Plat is determined by Watford City's Fee Schedule, as approved by City Council resolution. No application fees shall be refunded. Applications that were not processed due to insufficiencies shall only be available for resubmission without additional application fees during the fiscal year in which the application was initially submitted. Application submittals shall include:

a.

An acknowledgement from the owner(s) of record of the application;

b.

The Minor Subdivision Plat, submitted as a 24" by 36", scaled document in .PDF format;

c.

A copy of a title insurance policy or an attorney's opinion of title, running to the benefit of the governing body affected by the Plat, stating the name of the owner of record.

As determined by the City, a third-party review may be required. It will be the responsibility of the subdivider to pay any additional fees associated with third party review for the project.

3.

Staff Report. The Zoning Administrator shall prepare a report setting out whether or not said Plat meets the requirements of this Ordinance and the City of Watford City Comprehensive Plan. The Zoning Administrator shall present said report together with recommendations thereon to the next meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council.

4.

Public Hearing. After receipt of the application for Minor Subdivision Plat approval, the Zoning Administrator shall give notice of a public hearing on such proposed Subdivision by advertising the time and place of such hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Watford City as required by Section 9-6 (Public Hearing and Public Notice Requirements). The subdivider will furnish the name and address of the owner of the land, or the owner's agent, at the time of application, and the Zoning Administrator shall send to said address by registered mail a notice of the time and place of such public hearing not less than five days before the date fixed for the hearing. The public hearing may be held at a regular meeting or a special meeting of the Planning Commission.

5.

Recommendation. Within 30 days after the submission of the complete Minor Subdivision Plat application, the Planning Commission shall make recommendation to approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve the Plat to the City Council. If the Plat is not recommended for approval or disapproval within such time, it shall be deemed to have been approved and shall be forwarded to the City Council for final action on demand of the subdivider. The applicant, however, may waive the requirement that the Planning Commission shall act within the 30 days and consent to an extension of such period. The grounds upon which any Plat is approved or disapproved shall be stated upon the records of the Planning Commission.

6.

Approval or Denial, Conditions and Findings of Fact. The Planning Commission shall embrace a motion, which shall include all conditions if required for approval, and shall set forth the reasons for the approval or denial given. Such action, together with the reasons for the action, will be entered in the official records of the Planning Commission and a copy of such record will be sent to the subdivider. A copy of the motion shall also be sent to the City Council together with the Plat for final action.

7.

City Council Decision. The City Council shall review the Minor Subdivision Plat and the recommendations of the Planning Commission at its next scheduled meeting following the action of the Planning Commission and shall take action on such Plat and recommendations within sixty (60) days from such meeting. Procedures for approval, approval with conditions, or denial shall be as prescribed by the Planning Commission.

8.

Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the City Council on a proposed Minor Subdivision Plat may appeal the decision to the Board of Appeals within seven days, following the procedures of Section 9-11 (Appeals).

9.

Recording. A Minor Subdivision Plat that is unconditionally approved by the City Council shall be filed by a City Official for record with the McKenzie County Recorder. Any conditions of approval must be met prior to recording a Minor Subdivision Plat. Applicant shall be responsible for delivering the recordable document(s) to the City within 12 months from initial approval.

10.

Approval Duration. Within 12 months of initial approval, the Minor Subdivision Plat shall be recorded at the McKenzie County Recorder's Office, otherwise the City Council approval will expire at the end of that period. An extension of the approval duration of the Minor Subdivision Plat may only be granted once for a total period of not more than 12 additional months. A request for extension must be made in writing not more than 30 days after the expiration of the original approval. An extension of approval may be only granted if the Minor Subdivision Plat requires no modification, including owners' signatures (to be proven by an up-to-date title option or title insurance policy), and remains consistent with the purpose and intent of the originally approved Minor Subdivision Plat. If the approval of a Minor Subdivision Plat expires and an extension to the approval is not, or cannot be granted, the applicant must begin the process over with a new Minor Subdivision Plat application and associated fees.

D.

Specifications for Minor Subdivision Plats.

1.

Contents. The Minor Subdivision Plat shall contain the following:

a.

Proposed name of the Plat, which name shall not duplicate or too closely approximate the name of any Plat or existing Subdivision heretofore recorded in McKenzie County.

b.

Location by section, township and range, or by other legal description.

c.

Name and address of the engineer, and/or Developers or designer of the Plat, the surveyor, and the surveyor's registration number.

d.

Graphic scale, not less than one inch to one hundred feet, or other scale as approved by City Officials.

e.

North arrow.

f.

Date of preparation.

g.

Font size shall be a minimum of 10-point font (0.138 inches in height). Font type shall be Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Verdana.

h.

Boundary line survey, including measured distances and angles which shall close by latitude and departure with an error of closure not exceeding one foot in ten thousand feet.

i.

Total acreage in said Plat computed to one one-hundredth of an acre.

j.

Total square footage and acreage of each Lot.

k.

Location and names of existing platted Streets or other public ways, Easements, and section and corporate lines within the Development and within a distance of one hundred feet beyond the property at the time of submission of the Plat.

l.

If the proposed Minor Subdivision Plat is a rearrangement or replat of any former Plat, the Lot and block arrangement of the Plat of record along with its original name shall be indicated by dotted or dashed lines. Also, any revision or vacated roadway of the original Subdivision Plat of record shall be so indicated.

m.

If the proposed Minor Subdivision Plat requires a change of Zone, a separate application for a Zoning Map Amendment must be made in accordance with Section 9-9 Zoning Map Amendments, and the Minor Subdivision Plat may not be approved unless and until (including concurrently) the Zoning Map Amendment is finally approved.

n.

Boundary lines and ownership of adjoining platted or unplatted land within one hundred feet beyond the Development.

o.

Spaces for the following certifications of approval are required to be provided on the Minor Subdivision Plat:

i.

Notarized certification by all owners of record consenting to the Plat.

ii.

Notarized certification and stamp by the registered land surveyor to the effect that the Plat represents a survey made by said surveyor and that the monuments and markers shown therein exist as located or will be set following recording, and all dimension and geodetic details are correct.

iii.

Notarized certifications of the following: Chairman of the Planning Commission, City Auditor, Mayor, McKenzie County Tax Director and McKenzie County Recorder and any other signatures that are deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator.

[p.]

Additional information as requested by City Officials.

Exact Minor Subdivision Plat dedication and signature block language shall be provided by the Zoning Administrator.

2.

Submittal Format. If the Final Subdivision Plat has been approved by City Council, it shall be submitted on polyester film, such as matte film or Mylar, in a sheet size of 24 by 36 inches with original signatures from the owners and land surveyor.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

A.

Criteria. A Major Subdivision Plat is required for any Subdivision that does not meet the criteria of a Minor Subdivision Plat, as set forth in Subsection 8-2(B), or the criteria for exemption, as set forth in Subsection 8-1(D).

B.

Procedure.

1.

Pre-application Meeting. Before submitting an application for a Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat, the applicant is encouraged to discuss the proposal with City Officials. The purpose of this meeting is to identify and address potential issues prior to submission of the application.

2.

Preliminary Plat Application Submittal. The applicant shall apply in writing for preliminary approval of the Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat utilizing the City Division of Land application form. The application shall not be processed or considered complete until the application fee has been paid in full. The application fee for Major Subdivision Preliminary Plats is determined by Watford City's Fee Schedule, as approved by City Council resolution. No application fees shall be refunded. Applications that were not processed due to insufficiencies shall only be available for resubmission without additional application fees during the fiscal year in which the application was initially submitted. Application submittals shall include:

a.

An acknowledgement from the owner(s) of record of the application;

b.

Acknowledgment that the Developer has reviewed the City's template Development Agreement and Subdivision Improvement, Maintenance, and Warranty Agreement and agrees that the documents shall be finalized by the time the Major Subdivision Final Plat is reviewed by the City Council; and

c.

The Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat, submitted as a 24" by 36", scaled document in .PDF format.

3.

Existing Topography Exhibit. The applicant shall provide an exhibit showing existing topographical data with any water courses, lakes, wetlands, limits of floodplains and Floodways, and other significant physical features within the project boundary with any conceptual Lots, blocks, and Streets.

4.

Staff Report. The Zoning Administrator shall prepare a written report that summarizes the application, analyzes the Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat for conformity with the requirements of this Ordinance and consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, and provides a recommendation to the Planning Commission. The Zoning Administrator shall present the report at the next meeting of the Planning Commission.

5.

Public Hearing. After receipt of the application for a Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat approval, the Zoning Administrator shall give notice of a public hearing on such proposed Subdivision by advertising the time and place of such hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Watford City as required by Section 9-6 (Public Hearing and Public Notice Requirements). The subdivider will furnish the name and address of the owner of the land, or the owner's agent, at the time of application, and the Zoning Administrator shall send to said address by registered mail a notice of the time and place of such public hearing not less than five days before the date fixed for the hearing. The public hearing may be held at a regular meeting or a special meeting of the Planning Commission.

6.

Recommendation. Within 30 days after the submission of the complete Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat application, the Planning Commission shall make preliminary recommendation to approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve the Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat to the City Council. If the Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat is not recommended for approval or disapproval within such time, it shall be deemed to have been preliminarily approved and shall be forwarded to the City Council for further consideration on demand of the subdivider. The applicant, however, may waive the requirement that the Planning Commission shall act within the 30 days and consent to an extension of such period. The grounds upon which any Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat is approved or disapproved shall be stated upon the records of the Planning Commission.

7.

Approval or Denial, Conditions and Findings of Fact. The Planning Commission shall embrace a motion, which shall include all conditions required for final approval, and shall set forth the reasons for the preliminary approval or denial given. Such action, together with the reasons for the action, will be entered in the official records of the Planning Commission, and a copy of such record will be sent to the subdivider. A copy of the motion shall also be sent to the City Council together with the Plat for final action.

8.

City Council Decision. The City Council shall review the Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat and the preliminary recommendations of the Planning Commission at its next scheduled meeting following the action of the Planning Commission and shall take action on such Plat and recommendations within sixty days from such meeting. Procedures for preliminary approval, approval with conditions, or denial shall be as prescribed by the Planning Commission.

9.

Approval Duration. Preliminary approval of the Major Subdivision Plat by the City Council shall be effective for a maximum period of 12 months. If the complete application for the Major Subdivision Final Plat has not been submitted for final approval within this time limit, a Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat application and associated fees must again be submitted to the Planning Commission before the Major Subdivision Final Plat can be considered.

C.

Specifications for Major Subdivision Preliminary Plats. Major Subdivision Preliminary Plats shall be submitted as a 24" by 36", scaled document in .PDF format.

Preliminary Subdivision Plats shall identify the following:

1.

Proposed name of Subdivision, which shall not duplicate or too closely approximate the name of any Plat or existing Subdivision heretofore recorded in McKenzie County.

2.

Location by section, township and range, or by other legal description.

3.

Name and address of the engineer, and/or Developers or designer of the Plat, the surveyor, and the surveyor's registration number.

4.

Graphic scale, not less than 1 inch to 100 feet, or other scale as approved by the Zoning Administrator.

5.

North arrow.

6.

Date of preparation.

7.

Font size shall be a minimum of 10-point font (0.138 inches in height). Font type shall be Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Verdana.

8.

Boundary line survey, including measured distances and angles which shall close by latitude and departure with an error of closure not exceeding one foot in ten thousand feet.

9.

Total acreage in said Plat computed to one one-hundredth of an acre.

10.

Total acreage in each block computed to one one-hundredth of an acre.

11.

Conceptual Lot layout.

12.

Location and names of existing or platted Streets or other public ways, Easements, and section and corporate lines immediately outside the boundary of the Subdivision.

13.

If the proposed Subdivision is a rearrangement or a replat of any former Plat, the Lot and block arrangement of the Plat of record shall be indicated by dotted or dashed lines, and the original name of the Subdivision shall be indicated. Also, any revision or vacated roadway of the original Plat of record shall be so indicated.

14.

Boundary lines and ownership of adjoining platted or unplatted land within one hundred feet beyond the Development.

15.

Layout of proposed Streets, Alleys, and potential stormwater conveyance areas.

16.

Vicinity sketch, at a scale of one-inch equals one thousand feet or less for an area one-half mile in radius of the Development, to show the relation of the Plat to its surroundings.

17.

Spaces for the following certifications of approval are required to be provided on the Preliminary Subdivision Plat:

a.

Notarized certification by all owners of record consenting to the Plat.

b.

Notarized certification and stamp by the registered land surveyor to the effect that the plat represents a survey made by said surveyor and that the monuments and markers shown therein exist as located or will be set following recording, and all dimension and geodetic details are correct.

c.

Notarized certifications of the following: Chairman of the Planning Commission, City Auditor, Mayor, McKenzie County Tax Director and McKenzie County Recorder and any other signatures that are deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator.

18.

Additional information as requested by City Officials.

Exact Subdivision Plat dedication and signature block language shall be provided by the Zoning Administrator.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

A.

Procedure.

1.

Pre-application Meeting. Before submitting an application for Major Subdivision Final Plat, the applicant is encouraged to discuss the proposal with City Officials. The purpose of this meeting is to identify and address potential issues prior to submission of the application.

2.

Final Plat Application Submittal. The applicant shall apply in writing for approval of the Major Subdivision Final Plat utilizing the City Division of Land application form. The application shall not be processed or considered complete until the application fee has been paid in full. The application fee for a Major Subdivision Final Plat is determined by Watford City's Fee Schedule, as approved by City Council resolution. No application fees shall be refunded. Applications that were not processed due to insufficiencies shall only be available for resubmission without additional application fees during the fiscal year in which the application was initially submitted. Application submittals shall include:

a.

An acknowledgement from the owner(s) of record of the application;

b.

The Major Subdivision Final Plat, submitted as a 24" by 36", scaled document in .PDF format;

c.

A copy of a current title insurance policy or an attorney's opinion of title, running to the benefit of the governing body affected by the Plat, stating the name of the owner of record;

d.

An approved Zoning Map Amendment if the proposed Major Subdivision Final Plat requires a change of Zone, in which case a separate application for a Zoning Map Amendment must be made in accordance with Section 9-9 Zoning Map Amendments, and the Major Subdivision Final Plat may not be approved unless and until (including concurrently) the Zoning Map Amendment is finally approved;

e.

Recordable Development Agreement and associated exhibits;

f.

Recordable Subdivision Improvement, Maintenance, and Warranty Agreement as required and associated exhibits;

g.

Public Improvement Plans as described in Section 8-5 (Public Improvement Plans); and

h.

Easement agreements and exhibits not shown on the Major Subdivision Final Plat as required.

3.

Staff Report. The Zoning Administrator shall prepare a written report that summarizes the application, analyzes the Major Subdivision Final Plat for conformity with the requirements of this Ordinance, consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, consistency with the preliminarily approved Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat, and provides a recommendation to the Planning Commission. The Zoning Administrator shall present the report at the next scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission.

4.

Public Hearing. After receipt of the application for Major Subdivision Final Plat approval, the Zoning Administrator shall give notice of a public hearing on such proposed Subdivision by advertising the time and place of such hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Watford City as required by Section 9-6 (Public Hearing and Public Notice Requirements). The subdivider will furnish the name and address of the owner of the land, or the owner's agent, at the time of application, and the Zoning Administrator shall send to said address by registered mail a notice of the time and place of such public hearing not less than five days before the date fixed for the hearing. The public hearing may be held at a regular meeting or a special meeting of the Planning Commission.

5.

Recommendation. Within 30 days after the submission of the complete Major Subdivision Final Plat application, the Planning Commission shall make recommendation to approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve the Major Subdivision Final Plat to the City Council. If the Plat is not recommended for approval or disapproval within such time, it shall be deemed to have been approved and shall be forwarded to the City Council for consideration on demand of the subdivider. The applicant, however, may waive the requirement that the Planning Commission shall act within the 30 days and consent to an extension of such period. The grounds upon which any Major Subdivision Final Plat is approved or disapproved shall be stated upon the records of the Planning Commission.

6.

Approval or Denial, Conditions and Findings of Fact. The Planning Commission shall embrace a motion, which shall include all conditions if required for final approval, and shall set forth the reasons for the approval or denial given. Such action, together with the reasons will be entered in the official records of the Planning Commission and a copy of such record will be sent to the subdivider. A copy of the motion shall also be sent to the City Council together with the Plat for final action.

7.

City Council Decision. The City Council shall review the Major Subdivision Final Plat and the recommendations of the Planning Commission at their next scheduled meeting following the action of the Planning Commission and shall take action on such Plat and recommendations within 60 days from such meeting. Procedures for approval, approval with conditions, denial, or denial remanding to the Planning Commission for an additional public hearing shall be as prescribed by the Planning Commission.

8.

Public Property Dedication. If the City Council shall determine to accept the Plat, the Plat shall provide for the dedication of all Streets, Alleys, Easements or other public ways, parks, and other spaces for public purposes. All Streets, Alleys, Easements or other public ways, parks, and other spaces dedicated to public purposes shall not be construed as accepted, but the offer is to remain open indefinitely or until such time as City Council shall determine to accept such dedication(s). All public property dedication shall be subject to the applicable Development Agreement, Subdivision Infrastructure, Maintenance, and Warranty Agreement, and Infrastructure Improvement, Maintenance, and Warranty Agreement.

9.

Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Upon final approval of a Subdivision involving the creation of new Streets or Alleys, the widening of existing Streets or Alleys, or the creation or enlargement of other lands devoted to public use, the Planning Commission shall thereby and without further public hearing have recommended approval of such change in Streets, Alleys, or public lands as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to the City Council when such amendment impacts the functional class map in the Long Range Transportation Plan or requires a Future Land Use Map amendment. The Planning Commission will transmit notice of such action to the City Council of the City of Watford City together with appropriate recommendations concerning the acceptance of dedicated Streets and Alleys, and of the acceptance of other dedicated lands.

10.

Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the City Council to conditionally approve or deny a Major Subdivision Final Plat may appeal the decision to the Board of Appeals within seven days, following the procedures of Section 9-11 (Appeals).

11.

Recording. A Major Subdivision Final Plat that is unconditionally approved by the City Council shall be filed by a City Official for record with the McKenzie County Recorder. Any conditions of approval must be met prior to recording a Major Subdivision Final Plat. Applicant shall be responsible for delivering the recordable document(s) to the City within 12 months from initial approval.

12.

Approval Duration. Within 12 months of initial approval, the Major Subdivision Final Plat shall be recorded at the McKenzie County Recorder's Office, otherwise the City Council approval will expire at the end of that period. An extension of the approval duration of the Major Subdivision Final Plat may only be granted once for a total period of not more than 12 additional months. A request for extension must be made in writing not more than 30 days after the expiration of the original approval. An extension of approval may be only granted if the Major Subdivision Final Plat requires no modification, including owners' signatures (to be proven by an up-to-date title option or title insurance policy), and remains consistent with the purpose and intent of the originally approved Major Subdivision Final Plat. If the approval of a Major Subdivision Final Plat expires and an extension to the approval is not, or cannot be granted, the applicant must begin the process over with a new Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat application and associated fees.

B.

Specifications for Final Plats.

1.

Contents. The Major Subdivision Final Plat shall contain the following:

a.

The Major Subdivision Final Plat prepared for recording purposes shall be prepared in accordance with provisions of North Dakota state statutes and applicable City and County regulations.

b.

Proposed name of Subdivision, which shall not duplicate or too closely approximate the name of any Plat or existing Subdivision heretofore recorded in McKenzie County.

c.

Location and description and North Dakota State Plane Coordinates of cardinal points to which all dimensions, angles, bearings, and similar data on the Plat shall be referenced; each of two corners of the subdivision traverse shall be tied by course and distance to separate section corners, quarter-section corners, or to existing recorded physical monuments.

d.

Location by section, township, range, county and state, and including descriptive boundaries of the Subdivision, based on an accurate traverse, giving angular and linear dimensions which must mathematically close. The allowable error of closure on any portion of a Final Plat shall be one foot in ten thousand feet. The location of monuments shall be noted or shown on the Final Plat. Location of such monuments shall be shown in reference to existing official monuments or to the nearest established Street lines, including true angles and distances to such reference point or monuments. Permanent monuments shall be placed at each corner of each Lot or portion of a Lot, points of curvature, points of Street intersection, and points of tangents on Street lines, at each angle point on the boundary of the Subdivision, at each intersection of a Lot Line with the centerline of an Easement for a public utility or an Easement for public use, and at each angle point or point of curvature for an Easement for a public utility or an Easement for public use. A permanent monument shall be deemed to be a steel rod, one-half inch in diameter extending at least two feet below the finished grade. In situations where conditions prohibit the placing of monuments in the location prescribed above, offset markers are permitted. Permanent monuments placed within the paved portion of a Street shall be a brass or aluminum cap monument set on top of a thirty inch long by five-eighths inch diameter steel rebar contained in a cast iron monument case.

e.

Total acreage in said Plat computed to one one-hundredth of an acre.

f.

Locations of Lots, Streets, Alleys, Open Space, Easements, and other features with accurate dimensions in feet and decimals of feet, with the length of radii and/or arcs of all curves, and with all other information necessary to produce the Plat on the ground. Dimensions shall be shown from all angle points and points of curve to Lot lines.

g.

Lots shall be numbered clearly, and the square footage and acreage of each Lot shall be shown. Block numbers shall be shown clearly in the center of each block and all Streets shall be named.

h.

Location and names of existing platted Streets or other public ways, Easements, and section and corporate lines within the Development and within a distance of one hundred feet beyond the property at the time of submission of the Plat.

i.

If the proposed Minor Subdivision Plat is a rearrangement or replat of any former Plat, the Lot and block arrangement of the Plat of record shall be indicated by dotted or dashed lines, and the original name of the Subdivision shall be indicated. Also, any revision or vacated roadway of the original Subdivision Plat of record shall be so indicated.

j.

Boundary lines and ownership of adjoining platted or unplatted land within one hundred feet beyond the Development.

k.

Name and address of the firm responsible for the Plat as well as its surveyor and the surveyor's registration number.

l.

The scale of the Plat shall be not less than one inch to 100 feet or other scale as approved by City Officials to be shown graphically.

m.

North arrow.

n.

Date of preparation.

o.

Font size shall be a minimum of 10-point font (0.138 inches in height). Font type shall be Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Verdana.

p.

Statement dedicating all Easements as required by City Officials.

q.

Statement dedicating all Streets, Alleys, and other public areas not previously dedicated as required by City Officials.

r.

The following certifications of approval are required on the Final Subdivision Plat:

i.

Notarized certification by all owners of record consenting to the Plat.

ii.

Notarized certification and stamp by the registered land surveyor to the effect that the Plat represents a survey made by said surveyor and that the monuments and markers shown therein exist as located or will be set following recording, and all dimension and geodetic details are correct.

iii.

Notarized certifications of the following: Chairman of the Planning Commission, City Auditor, Mayor, McKenzie County Tax Director and McKenzie County Recorder and any other signatures that are deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator.

s.

Additional information as requested by City Officials.

Exact Subdivision Plat dedication and signature block language shall be provided by the Zoning Administrator.

2.

Submittal Format. If the Major Subdivision Plat has been approved by City Council, the Major Subdivision Final Plat shall be submitted on polyester film, such as matte film or Mylar, in sheet size of 24 by 36 inches with original signatures from the owners and land surveyor.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

A.

Criteria. Public Improvement Plans are required for all Major Subdivisions that will include construction or modification of public roadways or utilities. No Major Subdivision Final Plat shall be approved until the City Engineer has certified that all improvements required under this section, together with the agreements and documents required herein, will meet the minimum requirements of this Ordinance.

B.

Plan Submittal. All Public Improvement Plans shall be submitted and designed by a Registered Professional Engineer licensed in the State of North Dakota in conformance with the City of Watford City Engineering Design Standards. Public Improvement Plans shall include all required specifications as provided by Subsection 8-5(C), and the cost estimate for improvements, to be prepared at the Developer's expense and subject to City approval.

C.

Specifications for Public Improvement Plans.

1.

General Specifications. Public Improvement Plans shall conform with all applicable NDDOT and/or Watford City standards as determined by the City Engineer. Public Improvement Plans shall include the following:

a.

Title page.

b.

List of standard drawings.

c.

Plan datum shall be NAD 83, State Plane North Dakota North.

d.

Plan notes.

e.

Construction/standard details.

f.

Typical sections.

g.

Specifications.

h.

Quantitates and the basis of estimate.

i.

A stormwater management report if the Project creates more than 20,000 square feet of impervious area and shall be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer licensed in the state of North Dakota.

j.

Erosion control review and checklist.

k.

Any road centerline, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and water main plan and profiles.

l.

Digital (.PDF) plan sets on non-reduced sheets (minimum scale 1"=50').

m.

Contact information for property owners, Developer, engineer, surveyor, and architect.

n.

Date shown on all sheets (original and all revisions).

o.

Existing Parcel boundaries with existing dimensions and areas.

p.

Location of any existing Easements whether public or private.

q.

Existing topographical features.

r.

Locations and sizes of all existing utilities, whether public or private, within the Lot(s) and/or serving the Lot(s).

s.

Existing boundaries of existing Floodway, floodplains, streams/rivers, and wetlands.

t.

Temporary traffic control plan.

u.

Additional information as requested by City Officials.

2.

Grading Plans. Grading plans shall include the following:

a.

Proposed topographical features.

b.

Erosion control plans.

3.

Street Plans. Street plans shall conform with all standards in the currently adopted Watford City Long Range Transportation Plan. Street plans shall include the following:

a.

Street plan and profile sheets.

b.

Horizontal and vertical curve information.

c.

Angle of intersection measured 100 feet from the intersection.

d.

Striping and marking plans.

e.

Locations and widths of trails and sidewalks.

f.

Lighting plans.

g.

Cross sections.

h.

Length of Street identified by centerline stationing.

i.

A geotechnical report for pavement design.

j.

Impact analysis of anticipated daily trip count as related to the existing transportation network.

k.

Approved Street names.

l.

Approved mailbox locations and configurations in conformance with Section 7-10 (Mailbox Regulations).

4.

Utility Plans. Utility plans shall include the following:

a.

Utility plan and profile sheets.

b.

Location, width, size, type, and invert elevations of existing and proposed sanitary sewers, water mains, storm sewers, culverts, manholes, lift stations, hydrants, valves, and any other underground facilities within the project and within a distance of 100 feet beyond the Subdivision.

c.

The minimum slopes for the gravity sanitary sewer shall be as provided by Table 8-1 (Sanitary Sewer Specifications), unless approved otherwise by the City:

Table 8-1. Sanitary Sewer Specifications

Any deviation from these minimum slopes will require a justification with calculations from a licensed engineer showing that a 2 ft/s velocity can be maintained even in low flow conditions. If the gravity pipe slope, regardless of pipe diameter, is less than 0.5%, the City will hire an independent engineer with experience in local soils to evaluate the geotechnical report and provide concurrence or recommendations for a change to the design slope to maintain positive drainage after installation.

d.

Utility usage requirements.

e.

Coordination with other public or private utility providers.

D.

Financing.

1.

Required Guaranties. Public Improvement Plans shall include a performance guaranty and warranty guaranty, as required by Subsection 9-3(D).

2.

Review and Approval Procedures. The City Engineer shall review Public Improvement Plans for completeness and conformity with the requirements of this Section and will notify the applicant of necessary on-site or off-site improvements. The City will provide an approval letter to the applicant following approval.

3.

Approval Duration. Construction must commence within the dates agreed upon in the associated Subdivision Improvement, Maintenance, and Warranty Agreement and/or Development Agreement. If construction has not commenced by the agreed upon deadlines, the approval shall expire unless an extension is granted. If the approval expires, the City may at its sole discretion call any and all guaranties due and use such funds to perform some or all of the public improvements as identified in the Public Improvement Plans, or wholly cancel the project.

4.

Approval Extension. An extension of approval may only be granted if the documents require no modification and remain consistent with the purpose and intent of the originally approved documents.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

A.

Land Dedication or Fee in Lieu.

1.

Criteria. Land dedication or a fee in lieu shall be required for any Subdivision containing more than nine Lots or more than five acres of contiguous land intended for Development in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, or R-2M District, or for Residential Uses included as part of a Planned Unit Development.

2.

Land Dedication Amount. Open Space shall be required in the amount of eight percent of the Gross Area of the Subdivision.

3.

Fee Alternative. In lieu of providing Open Space within a Development, the City may require the Developer to make payment to the City of Watford City for improvement or acquisition of Open Space at an alternative area or areas. The formula for determining the payment in lieu of Open Space shall be calculated as eight percent of the Development's Gross Area multiplied by its appraised, unimproved value. The City shall not be under any deadline to acquire Open Space funded by this fee, and it may hold the funds in its general fund.

4.

Postponement. The required land dedication or determination of the payment in lieu may be postponed if the proposed Subdivision is for the purpose of land transfer and not for Development purposes. Such postponement shall be determined by the required Development Agreement.

B.

Location and Improvement of Open Space Parcels.

1.

Location of Open Space Parcels. Open Space Parcels shall be convenient to the Dwelling Units they are intended to serve. However, because of noise generated by certain recreational activities, they shall be sited with sensitivity to surrounding Uses.

2.

Developed Open Space. The City may require the installation of recreational facilities, taking into consideration:

a.

The character of the open space land;

b.

The estimated age and the recreational needs of people likely to reside in the Development;

c.

The proximity, nature, and capacity of existing municipal recreation facilities; and

d.

The cost of the recreational facilities.

3.

Undeveloped Open Space. As a general principle, undeveloped Open Space should be left in its natural state. A Developer may make certain improvements such as the cutting of trails for walking or jogging, equestrian use, or the provision of picnic areas, etc. In addition, the City may require a Developer to make other improvements, such as removing dead or diseased trees, thinning trees or other vegetation to encourage more desirable growth, and grading and seeding.

C.

Open Space Use Restrictions. Any lands reserved for open space purposes shall have appropriate restrictions approved by City Officials ensuring:

1.

The Open Space area will not be further subdivided in the future;

2.

The use of the Open Space will continue in perpetuity for the purpose specified;

3.

Provisions will be made for the maintenance of the Open Space; and

4.

Common undeveloped Open Space shall not be turned into a commercial enterprise.

D.

Open Space Ownership. The type of ownership of land dedicated for Open Space purposes shall be determined by the City. Type of ownership may include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

1.

The City of Watford City, the Watford City Park District, McKenzie County Public School District No. 1, or McKenzie County;

2.

Property owner, condominium, or cooperative associations or organizations; or

3.

Easements as part of adjacent Lots.

E.

Property Owners Association. If the Open Space is owned and maintained by a property owner, condominium, or cooperative association or organization, the Developer shall file a declaration of covenants, codes, and restrictions or other suitable document that will govern the association, to be submitted with the application for the Major Subdivision Final Plat approval. The provisions shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

1.

The property association or organization shall be established before any Lots are sold;

2.

Membership shall be mandatory for each property owner;

3.

The Open Space restrictions shall be permanent, not just for a period of years;

4.

The association or organization shall be responsible for liability insurance, local taxes, and the maintenance of recreational and other facilities;

5.

Property owners shall pay their pro rata share of the cost; and

6.

The assessment levied by the association can become a lien on the property if allowed in the document establishing the association or organization.

F.

Maintenance of Open Space Areas. The Person or entity identified as having the ownership or control over the Open Space shall be responsible for its continuing upkeep and proper maintenance.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

A.

Purpose. The purpose of this Section 8-7 is to maintain a uniform Street name and property/Building numbering system within Watford City and its ETA in order to provide for emergency response, postal service, and the provision of utility services.

B.

Interpretation and Scope.

1.

The provisions of this section shall apply to all Streets—whether public or private—properties, and Buildings within the City of Watford City or its ETA.

2.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the authority to make decisions on Street names and addressing shall lie with the City of Watford City.

C.

Fees. Fees sufficient to recover incurred costs shall be charged pursuant to a Resolution adopted by the City Council.

D.

Appeals. Appeals shall be made in conformance with the requirements of Section 9-11 (Appeals).

E.

Naming Conventions.

1.

All developed Lots and Buildings in the City shall be numbered in accordance with the following plan:

a.

The Road platted and heretofore known as Main Street shall continue to be known as Main Street. All numbered Roads west of Main Street shall be identified as "West" or "W", and all numbered Roads east of Main Street shall be identified as "East" or "E".

b.

The Street platted and heretofore known as Park Avenue shall continue to be known as Park Avenue. All numbered Roads north Park Avenue shall be identified as "North or "N", and all numbered Roads south of Park Avenue shall be identified as "South" or "S".

c.

As determined by City Officials, a Road name shall be initially based on its placement on a naming grid and the Road's physical ability to be continued.

d.

Addressing shall conform with the following:

i.

The east side of Streets running north and south shall bear the even numbers;

ii.

The west side of Streets shall bear the odd numbers;

iii.

The north side of Avenues running east and west shall bear the even numbers; and

iv.

The south side of Avenues shall bear the odd numbers.

2.

With the exception of an ordinal number (i.e., second, third, etc.) or a continuation of an existing Street, proposed Street names shall not duplicate or closely resemble existing Street names within McKenzie County.

3.

Street names must follow common planning nomenclature. Specific requirements are as follows:

a.

"Streets" must run generally north and south;

b.

"Avenues" must run generally east and west;

c.

"Courts" may refer to cul-de-sacs;

d.

"Trails" and "ways" refer to smaller Roads, while "parkways", "drives", and "boulevards" refer to larger, higher use Roads;

e.

"Alley" may not be used in a Street name; and

f.

Street names shall not be confusing, obscene, or suggestive. Pun names will not be allowed.

F.

Procedure for Naming Streets.

1.

The applicant shall submit to City Officials a written list of desired Street names. The applicant shall include a map or other acceptable document indicating where the Street names are proposed to be used.

2.

Street names shall be approved by the City prior to recording of the Final Subdivision Plat.

3.

Street name Signs must be installed at the cost to the Developer prior to the full release of the performance guaranty for the Development, as outlined in Subsection 9-3(D). If there is no Developer or performance guaranty for the Development associated with the Street, Street name Signs must be installed by the landowner(s) prior to issuance of any Building Permit for the Lots served or to be served by the subject Street.

4.

Property owners and other affected agencies shall be notified of approved Street names by written notice from the City Administrator.

G.

Procedure for Renaming Streets.

1.

An applicant desiring to have a Street name changed shall submit to City Officials a written list of desired Street names. The applicant shall include a map or other acceptable document indicating where the Street names are proposed to be used. In addition to any application fee set by resolution of the City Council, the applicant shall submit a deposit for the City Official-estimated cost to change the Street name.

2.

When a Street is proposed to be renamed, the City Council must, by majority vote of the members present, determine whether to proceed with a public hearing to consider the renaming of a Street. Should the vote to proceed with a hearing fail, the applicant shall be advised in writing and no further action shall be taken unless the applicant appeals the decision of the City Council in the manner required by Section 9-11 (Appeals).

3.

If City Council votes to proceed with a public hearing on the Street name change, City Officials will prepare a report. This staff report shall include at minimum the feasibility of the selected Street name; a vicinity map depicting location; a list of impacted, existing addresses; and if necessary, alternative Street name suggestions. City Officials shall then provide, by mail, written notice to all property owners abutting on the Street. The notice shall provide the proposed Street name change(s), date and time of the public hearing, and deadline for written comments.

4.

All Street renames approved by the City Council shall become effective following expiration of a 60-day period commencing from the date of approval.

5.

Property owners and other affected agencies shall be notified of approved Street renames by written notice from the City Administrator.

6.

All requirements for naming Streets stated in Subsection 8-7(E), above, shall apply to changing Street names.

H.

Commemorative Street Names.

1.

Commemorative Street names shall recognize past residents of McKenzie County, North Dakota. Individuals must be deceased for a minimum of 10 years before being eligible to have a Street commemoratively named for them.

2.

There shall be no more than one commemorative name per each Street segment or intersection.

3.

A current member of City Council must recommend the commemorative Street name for consideration to City Council.

4.

When approved by City Council, a Street may have a secondary name for commemorative purposes that shall not be used for addressing purposes.

5.

The City shall be responsible for the installation, maintenance, and replacement of commemorative Signs.

6.

Commemorative Signs may be reviewed and potentially removed or relocated by the City upon significant alteration of the Street, redevelopment, or community request, subject to review and approval by City Council.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

Procedure

Subdivision Plat vacation shall comply with the vacation proceedings set forth in Chapter 40-50.1 of the North Dakota Century Code. The landowner or the landowner's representative shall present a proposal to the Planning Commission containing the legal description and Subdivision Plat of record, along with the justification for vacation. The proposal to vacate will not be considered by City Officials until a complete application is submitted, along with the application fee, as determined by the fee schedule approved by resolution of the City Council. The Planning Commission shall study the proposal and provide a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council shall approve or deny the proposal. If the proposal is approved, it shall then be recorded in the office of the County Recorder. All fees for the recording of such vacation shall be paid by the subdivider. If the proposal is declined, the Subdivision Plat shall remain effective unless the decision is overturned through the appeals process of Section 9-11 (Appeals).

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

Procedure

Vacation of Streets, Alleys, public Easements, and other Rights-of Way, shall comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 40-39 of the North Dakota Century Code. A petition to vacate will not be considered by City Officials until a complete application is submitted, along with the application fee, as determined by the fee schedule approved by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

Procedure

A petition for annexation or exclusion of Property from City limits shall comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 40-51.2 of the North Dakota Century Code. A petition for annexation or exclusion will not be considered by City Officials until a complete petition is submitted, along with the application fee, as determined by the fee schedule approved by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)

Procedure

Condominium ownership, whether Residential or Commercial, shall comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 49-04.1 of the North Dakota Century Code. The procedures and fees shall follow the requirements outlined in Section 8-3 (Major Subdivision Preliminary Plats) and Section 8-4 (Major Subdivision Final Plats).

(Ord. No. 692, 1-5-2026)