Zoning Ordinance Analysis & Update – Beulah, ND

The City of Beulah, located in western North Dakota near Lake Sakakawea, asked SRF to complete a comprehensive review and modernization of its Planning and Zoning Ordinance. Like many small cities, Beulah faced challenges related to outdated language, inconsistent amendments, and unclear formatting that limited the ordinance’s effectiveness as a planning tool.

SRF began the project with an in-depth review of the existing ordinance, identifying provisions that could be strengthened, clarified, or eliminated. One major challenge was the number of standalone amendments made over the years, many of which had not been integrated into the base document. SRF worked to reconcile these inconsistencies and ensure compliance with the North Dakota Century Code.

Input from a local planning and zoning task force played a key role in the ordinance update process. Together with SRF’s experience in zoning and land use regulations, this collaboration helped:

Identify provisions in need of alignment with current State law.
Highlight sections that were still effective and should be retained.
Pinpoint regulations that required revision or removal.
Recommend new content, diagrams, and formatting approaches to meet local goals.

The outcome of this analysis was a clear roadmap to modernize Beulah’s ordinance and align it with community values and planning priorities. The updated ordinance will include:

A user-friendly layout with consistent structure and cross-referencing
Tables, graphics, and diagrams to improve readability and usability
Updated zoning definitions, procedures, and standards
Clearer language to support enforcement and interpretation

SRF also worked with the City to systematically revise each article of the ordinance. This collaborative, article-by-article approach ensures that each section is shaped by thoughtful review and local input. The ordinance is now a modern, accessible tool that supports Beulah’s long-term growth and development goals.

Resource Links:
City of Beulah, ND
North Dakota Century Code

Internal Categories:
Community Planning & Urban Design
Community & Public Engagement
Municipal Engineering & Utilities