Blog · October 14, 2026 · North Dakota
Using the Dickinson Zoning Map
A parcel's zoning district shapes building, splitting and business use near Richardton.
Main page: Stark County, ND GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
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Ahead of any building plan near Richardton, look at the Dickinson zoning map first: a district label can make or break the plan. This Dickinson guide covers: who controls zoning for a given parcel, how to match a parcel to its district, and when a variance or rezoning comes up.
The Dickinson zoning map: start here
Within municipal limits, the local government adopts its own zoning map, so property inside Dickinson is governed there. Past the city line, around Taylor, the county's ordinance, if any, takes over; the county planning or zoning office can confirm. To find out which side of the line a parcel is on: look for a city limits layer in the Stark County ArcGIS parcel map.
Pulling up a parcel
Your first stop is the Stark County ArcGIS parcel map; it maps each assessed parcel in the county, Richardton included. For property near Richardton, type a street address, an owner's name or a parcel number, and the matching parcel lights up. On ground around South Heart, the parcel card normally shows the owner of record, acreage on the tax roll, the parcel number and in many cases the last transfer.
Dickinson, ND: the basics
Dickinson is part of Stark County, North Dakota, which means parcel data comes from the county. Dickinson is also the county seat, so deeds and plats are filed in town. For acreage around Richardton, city or town hall handles things like zoning, permits and utilities for lots inside the boundary, and the county still keeps the parcel and deed records. Land beyond the city limits near Taylor usually follows county rules rather than the town's.
A quick look at the area
Dickinson holds the county offices, where most land records are kept. You'll also find South Heart, Gladstone, Taylor, and Belfield, where town lots give way to larger tracts. Around 33,001 people live in Stark County (Census estimate, 2023) across roughly 1,335 square miles. Stark County was organized in 1879, so old deeds can run back a long way.
Backing up the map with records
For anything that matters, request the recorded deed through the County Recorder; the parcel map near Belfield only summarizes it. If the land is near Belfield, use the document number from the tax record to skip a name search.
Calling planning staff
When you call about land near South Heart, give the parcel number and your intended use; staff can point to the right section of the ordinance. Ask whether a parcel near South Heart meets current minimum size, because nonconforming lots can carry limits.
Finding a parcel's zoning district
Start by finding the parcel on the Stark County ArcGIS parcel map, copy its parcel ID, and match it to the adopted zoning map. If the land is near South Heart, district codes like R-1, C-2 or A-1 aren't self-explanatory, so read the ordinance chapter for each; the letters vary from place to place.
Building permits and inspections
Once zoning clears a project near South Heart, you still need building permits and inspections; health and road departments may weigh in on land near Taylor.
What the map can't tell you
Tax maps are drawn for assessment, not measured on the ground, so a tree line near Gladstone may sit several feet off the line on screen. For land near South Heart, records update in batches, so a deed recorded last month might lag behind.
Legal descriptions in North Dakota
North Dakota uses the Public Land Survey System, which means a tract near Belfield is described by section, township and range. A standard section is about one square mile, roughly 640 acres, and a township holds 36 of them, though sections near Gladstone can be irregular. Keep the legal description for land near Richardton for any title or survey request.
Neighboring parcel maps
Stark County meets Billings County, Dunn County, Grant County, Hettinger County, and Mercer County, all with their own assessor records. A tract near the line by Richardton may be split across two assessors' files, so look at the adjacent map before you assume the acreage. Our state page lists each bordering county map for North Dakota.
Rules tied to a district
For a tract near Taylor, the ordinance spells out uses allowed by right, uses needing a permit, and uses not allowed. For a home near Gladstone, overlay districts, such as floodplain, historic or airport zones, can add rules on top of the base district.
Variances and rezoning
For land near Gladstone, expect an application, a fee, notice to neighbors and a public hearing.
Quick answers
Can I get an exception to a setback near Belfield?
Good question; variances near South Heart are usually decided by a board after a hearing; neighbors get notice.
What are setbacks in Dickinson?
Good question; setbacks near South Heart depend on the zoning district.
How long does rezoning take in Dickinson?
In most cases, the governing body near Taylor decides after hearings; ask about fees and timelines early.
Are HOA rules the same as zoning around Richardton?
In most cases, recorded restrictions in Dickinson can be stricter than zoning, so follow whichever is stricter.
Where do I ask about an assessment near Gladstone?
For land near Taylor, assessment goes to the Director of Tax Equalization and deeds to the County Recorder, while zoning questions go to planning
Open the official Stark County, ND parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.