Bismarck Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Bismarck Building Inspections Department handles permitting, plan review, building-code and zoning enforcement, floodplain management, inspections, and occupancy certificates within Bismarck and the City’s extra-territorial area. Burleigh County does not replace the City as the permitting authority for a Bismarck address.

How to apply for a Bismarck building permit

Review the City’s permit applications and “permits are required” guidance before applying. Bismarck identifies new construction, additions, renovations, change of occupancy, accessory structures, demolition, and many electrical, plumbing, and mechanical projects as permit-related work. Registered public users and contractors can submit eligible applications and documents through the City’s eTRAKiT portal.

The application should identify the property, project scope, valuation, responsible contractor, and plans or supporting documents required for the permit type. Site-plan, floodplain, utility, fire, or zoning review may be needed in addition to building-code review. Construction must not begin before the required permit is issued.

Bismarck inspections and certificate of occupancy

The permit holder is responsible for notifying Building Inspections when each phase is ready. The City says eTRAKiT inspection requests generally must be submitted one day before the requested date, and the permit must have an ISSUED status. Final inspections must occur after permitted work is complete and before occupancy. A certificate of occupancy verifies that the work complies with the approved permit; Bismarck’s business-development guidance states that occupancy is not legally authorized without the required final or temporary certificate.

Bismarck zoning and plan review

Use the City’s zoning verification process when a lender, agency, owner, or project team needs formal confirmation of a parcel’s zoning classification or related information. A zoning verification request requires the parcel ID and may address nonconforming status, certificates of occupancy, and code violations. Larger commercial, industrial, and multifamily projects may require site-plan review before the building permit is issued.

Official Bismarck contact information

The City lists Building Inspections at 221 N. 5th Street, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, phone 701-355-1465. Use eTRAKiT to apply, search permit records, and schedule eligible inspections; contact the department when a project crosses the City’s extra-territorial boundary or needs a zoning, floodplain, or occupancy determination.