North Dakota building permits

Where to get a building permit in North Dakota

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

North Dakota state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in North Dakota

For homes, the residential code is the North Dakota State Building Code: 2024 International Residential Code⁵, in effect since January 1, 2026¹ (adopted locally⁸).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on North Dakota building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

N.D.C.C. § 54-21.3-04; State Building Code amendments to IBC/IRC § 105.2

• Exemption does not excuse code compliance. Exemption from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.⁵
• IBC list: fences up to 8.5 ft. 2. Fences not over 8.5 feet high.⁵
• IBC list: sidewalks and driveways. Sidewalks and driveways…⁵
• IBC list: swings and playground equipment. Swings and other playground equipment…⁵
• IBC list: window awnings. Window awnings…⁵
• IBC list: reroofing. Reroofing…⁵
• IRC list: swimming pools. Swimming pools.⁵
• IRC list: small low detached decks. 10. Decks not exceeding 120 square feet in area, that are not more than 7 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door required by Section R318.4.⁵
• Buildings neither heated nor cooled are exempt from the chapter. Buildings which are neither heated nor cooled.⁸
• Agricultural buildings exempt from the chapter. Any building used for agricultural purposes, unless a place of human habitation or for use by the public, is exempt from this chapter.⁸
• Electrical work of $500 or more needs a wiring certificate. All electrical installations, including power limited system installations defined by the National Electrical Code Special Occupancies, articles 500 through 517, with a value of five hundred dollars or more, shall have an electrical wiring certificate submitted by the master, class B or power limited electrician supervising the installation on a form prescribed by the board.³
• Minor plumbing repair and fixture replacement need no inspection. No inspection is required for any repair work or plumbing fixture replacement which requires only minor alteration, or to buildings that are not connected to a public system of waterworks or sewerage, and does not apply to maintenance work conducted by regularly employed maintenance personnel on the business premises of their employer.⁹

Applies to

Local governments enforcing the State Building Code¹⁰

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes⁸

Homeowners doing their own work

N.D.C.C. § 43-18-11 (plumbing); N.D.A.C. § 24.1-05-01-01(6) (electrical)

• Owner-occupant may do own plumbing unless local ordinance forbids it. Anyone not so licensed may do plumbing work which complies with the provisions of the minimum standards prescribed by the board on premises or that part of premises owned and actually occupied by the person as a residence, or may do plumbing repair on premises where the person is employed in full-time maintenance work, unless otherwise forbidden to do so by a local ordinance.⁹
• Homeowner completes Plumbing Installation Certificate for inspected work. The Master or Journeyman plumber or homeowner that is installing the plumbing should complete the Plumbing Installation Certificate and return it the board office along with the appropriate fees.⁴
• Owner self-wiring steps apply. Property owners who are self-wiring or doing their own electrical work shall comply with the following before any electrical work commences…¹¹
• Owner must apply to the board. Submit an application to the board.¹¹
• Owner must own and occupy. Must own and occupy the residential property or farmstead where the electrical work will be done.¹¹
• Plans reviewed with local electrical inspector. Review plans or drawings depicting wiring to be done with the local electrical inspector.¹¹
• Owner inspection fee minimum $50. Inspection fees must be calculated as stated in this section with a minimum of fifty dollars.¹¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes⁹

Contractor licensing

N.D.C.C. ch. 43-07; ch. 43-09; ch. 43-18

• $4,000. A person may not engage in the business nor act in the capacity of a contractor within this state when the cost, value, or price per job exceeds the sum of four thousand dollars nor may that person maintain any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state related to the person's business or capacity as a contractor without first having a license as provided in this chapter.¹²
• $4,000. When the cost, value, or price of a job exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota (NDCC ch. 43-07).⁶
• Class A: no limit on single contract value. The holder of a class A license is subject to no limitation as to the value of any single contract project.¹²
• $500,000. The holder of a class B license is not entitled to engage in the construction of any single contract project of a value in excess of five hundred thousand dollars.¹²
• $300,000. The holder of a class C license is not entitled to engage in the construction of any single contract project of a value in excess of three hundred thousand dollars.¹²
• $100,000. The holder of a class D license is not entitled to engage in the construction of any single contract project of a value in excess of one hundred thousand dollars.¹²
• $450. For a class A license, the sum of four hundred fifty dollars.¹²
• $300. For a class B license, the sum of three hundred dollars.¹²
• $225. For a class C license, the sum of two hundred twenty-five dollars.¹²
• $100. For a class D license, the sum of one hundred dollars.¹²
• Annual renewal by March 1. If you are a licensed contractor, you must renew your license on or before March 1 of each year.⁶
• Unlicensed work is a class A misdemeanor. Any person acting in the capacity of a contractor without a license is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.¹²
• Electrical work for others requires a board license. A person may not undertake or plan to undertake with another person to plan, lay out, supervise, install, make additions, make alterations, or make repairs, in the installation of wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electric light, heat, or power or for a power limited system, unless licensed by the board.¹³
• Plumbing business licensure where public water or sewer exists. No person, firm, corporation, or limited liability company shall engage in the business of a master plumber, journeyman plumber, or plumber's apprentice in any location of this state having a public system of waterworks or sewerage unless registered and licensed to do so by the board.⁹
• Other licenses are separate. These specialized licenses or permits are not part of the contractor license issued by the Secretary of State.⁶
• Look up contractors in FirstStop. Search contractors who are registered in North Dakota to see if their license is in good standing.⁶

Handyman limits

N.D.C.C. § 43-07-02(1)

• $4,000. A person may not engage in the business nor act in the capacity of a contractor within this state when the cost, value, or price per job exceeds the sum of four thousand dollars nor may that person maintain any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state related to the person's business or capacity as a contractor without first having a license as provided in this chapter.¹²
• $4,000. When the cost, value, or price of a job exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota (NDCC ch. 43-07).⁶

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

N.D.C.C. § 58-03-19

• 60 days. A township that regulates the construction, erection, reconstruction, repair, or alteration of buildings and structures and issues building permits shall respond to a building permit application within sixty days of receiving the application either by approving the…¹⁴
• Deemed approval and fee return if the township misses the deadline. If the building or structure for which a permit is requested meets all applicable zoning regulations and the board of township supervisors or other appropriate official fails to respond as required under subsection 1, the application is deemed to be approved and the applicant may proceed with the construction, erection, reconstruction, repair, or alteration of the building or structure and the township shall return any permit fee submitted with the application.¹⁴
• Township must note the date received and give the applicant a copy. Upon receipt of a building permit application, a township shall note on the application the date of receipt and shall provide a copy of the submitted application to the applicant with the date of receipt noted.¹⁴

Applies to

Townships that issue building permits¹⁴

Private plan review and inspections

N.D.C.C. §§ 54-21.3-05, 54-21.3-07

• Local governments may contract for private enforcement. Cities, townships, and counties may provide by agreement for joint administration and enforcement and may contract for private enforcement of the state building code.⁸
• Modular factories use certified third-party inspectors. The manufacturer of a modular residential or commercial structure that is built in a factory shall contract with a third party for the inspection of the structure for compliance with all applicable building, electrical, fire, and plumbing codes and standards during the manufacturing process in the factory.⁸
• Modular third-party program. Community Services offers a Third-party Inspections Program for manufacturers of modular residential and commercial structures.¹⁵

Selling a home with unpermitted work

N.D.C.C. § 47-10-02.1

• Covers residential dwellings of up to four units sold by the owner. The real property is a residential dwelling with no more than four units located in this state being sold or exchanged by the owner.¹⁶
• Seller prepares a written form before final acceptance. Except as otherwise provided in an offer to purchase agreement, before the parties sign the final acceptance of the purchase agreement for the sale, exchange, or purchase of the real property, the seller in a transaction subject to subsection 1 shall prepare a written disclosure form and shall make the written disclosure form available to the prospective buyer.¹⁶
• Content standard: material facts. The written disclosure form must include all material facts the seller is aware could adversely and significantly affect an ordinary buyer's use and enjoyment of the property or any intended use of the property of which the seller is aware.¹⁶
• Without a licensee, the seller must still disclose in writing. …the seller in a transaction subject to this subsection shall disclose to the buyer, in writing, all material facts the seller is aware could adversely and significantly affect an ordinary buyer's use and enjoyment of the…¹⁶
• Form asks about work needing permits. During your ownership, has there been work on the property which required building permits?¹⁷
• Form asks if the permit was obtained. If “Yes,” was a permit obtained?¹⁷
• Form asks about alterations. Has the structure been altered? (for example, additions, altered roof lines, changes to load-bearing walls)…¹⁷
• Exempt: new homes with no prior occupancy. If the real property is newly constructed residential real property with no previous occupancy.¹⁶
• Without a licensee, the seller may use this form. If the parties are not represented by real estate salesperson or broker, the seller may use this form.¹⁷
• Licensee violations can bring discipline. If a real estate broker, real estate broker associate, or real estate salesperson who is associated with a real estate brokerage firm violates this section, the state real estate commission may investigate and take disciplinary action under section 43-23-11.1.¹⁶