North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 61 - Pharmacy, Board of
Article 61-02 - Pharmacies
Chapter 61-02-02 - Building Standards for Pharmacies
Section 61-02-02-01 - Building standards for pharmacies

1. Approval of plans. The prescription area, merchandising area, waiting area, storeroom, restroom, and all partitions, doors, windows, and fixtures shall be indicated on floor plans showing appropriate elevations submitted to the board at the time the application for a new pharmacy is filed, or prior to remodeling. Such plans shall be submitted to the board prior to proceeding with the new construction. Before a pharmacy permit is issued, the plans submitted must meet the approval of the board.

2. Minimum size of the prescription area. The minimum size of the prescription area, including adjacent patient consultation and information area and drug storage areas shall be not less than one thousand square feet [92.90 square meters], with an additional two hundred fifty square feet [23.23 square meters], to be used but not restricted to prescription receiving, checkout, and entrance area, but in all cases shall be large enough to carry out efficiently the elements of the practice of pharmacy at the level of activity of that operation. All of the allotted square footage space, including adequate shelving, shall lend itself to efficient pharmaceutical practice so as to permit free movement and visual surveillance. A patient consultation and information center must be provided. This patient consultation and information center may not be located in the prescription area or drug storage area. The patient consultation and information center must afford the patient privacy from visual or auditory detection or surveillance by any unauthorized person or persons. The patient consultation and information center must be accessible by a patient by provision of an entrance and exit that does not require the patient to enter or traverse the prescription area or drug storage areas.

3. Prescription compounding counter. There shall be a prescription compounding counter which shall provide a minimum of sixteen square feet [1.49 square meters] of unobstructed working space for one pharmacist, and a minimum of twenty-four square feet [2.23 square meters] of unobstructed working space where two or more pharmacists are on duty at any one time.

The floor area to be occupied by the dispensing pharmacists shall extend the full length of the prescription compounding counter, and shall be clear and unobstructed for a minimum distance of thirty inches [76.2 centimeters] from the counter.

4. Prescription area. The prescription area shall be separated from other areas in such a manner that prescription or nonproprietary drugs or devices are inaccessible to the reach of any unauthorized person.

5. Light and ventilation. The prescription area and all storerooms shall be well-lighted, ventilated, and kept free of obnoxious odors.

6. Storage of medications. Systems at pharmacy location must ensure medications are stored within the manufacture-recommended temperatures.

7. Change in location of a pharmacy. Before a licensed pharmacy changes the location of its business, or its physical dimensions or elements of physical security, it shall first submit the changes to the board for its approval that the changes do conform with all rules of the board.

8. Storage of other merchandise - Telephone. The prescription department shall not be used for storage of merchandise other than that used in the preparation or dispensing of medical needs. If such stored material is present, such area shall not be included as part of the prescription department. A telephone shall be immediately accessible in the prescription area, and the telephone number shall coincide with the telephone number on prescription labels.

9. Building standards variations. The board of pharmacy recognizes that the building standards for pharmacies will depend on the type of pharmaceutical services offered, and therefore, variations for required building standards may be granted by the board of pharmacy.

10. Remodeling or improvement variations. When the pharmacy is remodeling within existing permitted space or when a pharmacy is attempting to improve toward the standards in section 61-02-02-01 or chapters 61-02-03 or 61-02-04, the board may grant approval to move toward the standards even though the amount of space available does not allow complete compliance with the standards.