Dunn County, North Dakota wind ordinance
Wind: 1.1 × height from property lines, 1.1 × height from roads. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 8, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Wind rules
10 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbackEach wind turbine shall be set back not less than 1.1 times the height of the turbine from any non-participating parcel. | 1.1 × height |
Setback from homesexisting non-participating residences and commercial or public buildingsand at least 2000 feet from existing non- participating residences and commercial or public buildings | 2,000 ft |
Road setbackEach wind turbine shall be set back (measured from the center of the turbine monopole) not less than 1.1 times the height of the turbine from interstate or state roadway right-of-way | 1.1 × height |
Road setbackadded to 1.1 times heightnot less than 75 feet greater than 1.1 times the height of the turbine from the centerline of any county or township road or from a section line without a road. | 75 ft |
Setback from park, boat ramp, swimming beach or other public recreation areaThe horizontal distance between the center of a turbine monopole and any park, boat ramp, swimming beach or other public recreation area shall not be less than one-half (½) mile (2,640 feet). | 0.5 miles |
Setback from railroad right-of-way or above ground communication or electrical lineEach wind turbine shall be set back not less than 1.1 times the height of the turbine from any railroad right-of-way or from any above ground communication or electrical line | 1.1 × height |
Setback from homes, participating ownerparticipating residencesEach wind turbine shall be set back (measured from the center of the turbine monopole) at least 1500 feet from participating residences | 1,500 ft |
Setback from homes, participating ownerparticipating residence where owner agrees to lesser distanceunless the participating property owner agrees to a lesser distance in which case the minimum distance shall be 1.1 times the height of the turbine | 1.1 × height |
Noise limit100 feet from any non-participating residence and commercial or public buildingsThe modeled sound levels caused by wind turbines at a distance of 100 feet from any non-participating residence and commercial or public buildings shall not exceed 40 dBA (leg). | 40 dBA |
Noise limit100 feet from any participating residenceThe modeled sound levels caused by wind turbines at a distance of 100 feet from any participating residence shall not exceed 50 dBA (leg). | 50 dBA |
Source: Dunn County ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
North Dakota state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All North Dakota rules and counties.
State siting: North Dakota Public Service Commission
A PSC certificate of site compatibility is required for wind over 0.5 MW, solar and other generation over 50 MW, and grid storage of 5 MW or more; it does not override county or township zoning, so the project needs both.
NDCC 49-22-03 and 49-22-07 (storage added by HB 1097 (2023)). Source
Wind standards in state law
Applies to wind projects the PSC sites (over 0.5 MW): these areas must be excluded from the site unless the neighbor agrees to a variance; counties and townships may require more.
| Homes (non-participating) | 3 × tip height |
| Property line (non-participating) | 1.1 × tip height |
| Public roads (interstate and state) | 1.1 × tip height from right-of-way |
| Public roads (county and township) | 1.1 × tip height + 75 ft from centerline |
| Railroads | 1.1 × tip height from right-of-way |
| Transmission lines (115 kV and up) | 1.1 × tip height from right-of-way |
| Noise | 45 dBA within 100 ft of a home or community building (owner may waive) |
| ICBM launch facilities | 1,200 ft |
NDCC 49-22-05.1(4); N.D. Admin. Code 69-06-08-01(1), (2), (4) (rule last amended effective Jan 1, 2022). Source
Wind standards in state law
Applies statewide to every commercial wind facility of 500 kW or more, whether or not the PSC sited it.
| Decommissioning | Start within 12 months, finish within 24 months of abandonment or end of life |
| Decommissioning (removal depth) | Foundations to 4 ft (built on or after July 1, 2017) |
N.D. Admin. Code ch. 69-09-09 (NDCC 49-02-27; effective Oct 1, 2008, amended July 1, 2017). Source
Every North Dakota figure in one spreadsheet
156 figures from 16 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 1 of those places is not on this site. Plus the moratorium or ban on file and North Dakota state law.
How these figures were read
We found Dunn County's own ordinance and had two AI models read it separately. A figure is shown only when both read the same number and the sentence it comes from was found in the document. Moratoria and bans are checked against the adopting document. Ordinances change and many figures apply only in some cases, so check the cited section with the county before relying on one.
Common questions
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Dunn County, ND?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 2,000 ft (existing non-participating residences and commercial or public buildings) from homes, 1.1 × height from roads, 75 ft (added to 1.1 times height) from roads and 1.1 × height from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.