Bismarck building department

The City of Bismarck Building Inspections Department enforces the building code and zoning, issues permits, reviews plans, performs inspections, manages the floodplain, licenses mechanical contractors, and assigns addresses. Its jurisdiction is the City of Bismarck and the city’s extraterritorial area (ETA). One exception: the city does not handle electrical inspections in the ETA. Electrical work there is inspected by the North Dakota State Electrical Board. The office at 221 N. 5th Street is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Adopted codes

Bismarck has adopted the 2021 International Building, Residential, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Energy Conservation, and Existing Building Codes, plus ICC A117.1-2017. Electrical work follows the National Electrical Code and state wiring standards adopted by the State Electrical Board. Plumbing follows the Uniform Plumbing Code and state plumbing standards adopted by the State Plumbing Board.

The city is updating to the 2024 editions of the IBC, IRC, IEBC, IECC, IMC, and IFGC. Proposed amendments were due August 17, 2026, and a contractor meeting on the draft amendments was set for September 16, 2026.

What needs a permit

The city lists these projects as needing a permit: new construction, change of occupancy, additions, renovations and remodels, basement finishes, decks, sheds, garages, pools, sunrooms, gazebos, electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC, fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, boilers, air conditioners, and unit heaters. Construction may not begin without a permit. See also deck permits.

Separate applications exist for decks, accessory structures, basement finishes, in-ground pools, demolition, manufactured homes, floodplain development, private sewage systems, signs, and change of occupancy. A deck application must include a scaled site plan showing property lines, easements, setbacks, existing structures, and the deck location. The accessory structure form sorts sheds under 200 square feet from garages over 200 square feet. Sheds of 200 square feet or less may sit on crushed rock or a slab. Larger structures need a monolithic slab or a 4-foot perimeter foundation. Pole structures require engineering.

Fees

Residential permit fees are based on valuation. For new construction, the city multiplies each area’s square footage by a set rate. For alterations, the valuation is the total bid amount.

Area	Value per sq. ft.
First floor	$165.67
Second floor	$79.50
Finished basement	$36.75
Basement finish (alteration)	$21.50
Unfinished basement	$15.25
Garage, or detached shop/garage	$25.00
Deck	$15.75
Covered deck	$22.50
Detached shed	$15.00

The fee on that valuation starts at $40 for jobs up to $500. A $25,000 job costs $260.95. A $100,000 job costs $623.45. Above $100,000, add $3.40 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000. Plumbing and mechanical permits start at $40 for jobs up to $2,000. Electrical permits are $25. Septic permits are $75, demolition $75, and manufactured home permits $150.

Applying through eTRAKiT

Permit applications and documents can be submitted in eTRAKiT or emailed to the department. Members of the public create their own eTRAKiT account. Contractors must contact a city office to set up an account with billing. A permit must reach APPROVED status before you can pay fees and ISSUED status before you can schedule inspections. Commercial applications have their own submittal checklist, an ADA conformance statement, and a utility service agreement.

Inspections

The permit holder must tell the department when each phase is ready. You can request inspections in eTRAKiT, by calling 701-355-1465, or by contacting your district inspector directly. eTRAKiT requests must be made the day before. Phone requests made before 3:30 p.m. may be scheduled the same day. Final inspections need 24 hours’ notice. Inspectors are usually in the office from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Trade	Required inspections
Building	Footing, foundation, foundation drain tile, framing, building thermal envelope, fire-resistance-rated construction (where required), final
Electrical	Temporary power, rough-in, service, final
Plumbing	Underground, rough-in, final
Fuel gas and mechanical	Gas piping (20 psi air test), mechanical, final
Private sewage	Site, final

Property pins must be located and visible for footing and foundation inspections. Framing won’t be approved until the trade rough-ins pass, the roof covering is on, and the windows, doors, and weather barrier are in. Projects in a special flood hazard area need an elevation certificate before the final inspection is scheduled.

Zoning verification

For a zoning verification letter, submit the parcel ID. The fee is $100, and a response can take up to 10 business days. The letter can also cover nonconforming status, certificates of occupancy, and code violations.

Licensing

The city licenses mechanical/HVAC installers, sign installers, and mobile home parks. North Dakota requires a state contractor license from the Secretary of State for any job over $4,000. Class D covers jobs up to $100,000, Class C up to $300,000, Class B up to $500,000, and Class A over $500,000. State law lets a homeowner do code-compliant plumbing on a home they own and live in, unless local ordinance forbids it. The State Electrical Board must be notified of electrical work over $500, new or altered service entrances, and moved buildings.