Mandan building department

The City of Mandan Building Inspection Department issues building permits and inspects the work for code compliance. It also gives guidance on zoning, lot coverage, site requirements and allowed uses, and decides when a substandard structure needs a demolition permit. Its permits apply inside city limits and in the City’s 2-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction, so some properties outside the corporate limits still get their permit from Mandan, not Morton County. The office is at City Hall and is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It stays open over the noon hour.

What needs a permit in Mandan

The City requires a permit before any work starts. The FAQ and the City’s Building Guide list these common triggers:

• Any commercial remodel
• Any structural alteration, residential or commercial
• Residential construction over $2,000
• Window replacements that change the window size
• Any structure over 120 sq ft
• Retaining walls over 4 ft tall that affect the stability of a structure
• Furnace and water heater changeouts, water and sewer hookups, and fireplace installs

The City lists this work as not needing a permit:

Project	Mandan rule
Fence	No permit up to 8.5 ft tall. Call Engineering at 701-667-3225 for residential fence rules.
Deck	Exempt only if it is 120 sq ft or less, no more than 7 in. above grade at any point, not attached to the house, and not serving the required exit door
Shed	Permit needed over 120 sq ft (10’ x 12’). A shed that size must sit at least 3 ft from side and rear lot lines and 6 ft from the house, and not in front of the house.
Retaining wall	No permit if it won’t disturb a structure
Sidewalks and driveways	No permit on private property if not over 30 in. above grade. Boulevard sidewalks need one through Engineering.
Finish work	Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, countertops and millwork are exempt
Other	Landscaping, swimming pools and wall-supported awnings

The residential application states that electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning each need a separate permit. See also do I need a permit for a deck.

Applying

The City posts fillable PDF applications for residential building permits, new commercial permits with a site plan, sheds and other small structures, and manufactured home placement. It also posts an insulation form and a floodplain development form. The Building Guide says digital submittals are accepted. A residential application must include:

• The project address and legal description
• ND contractor license numbers for every contractor and subcontractor
• Zoning information showing lot size, setbacks, height and parking compliance
• A lot survey for new homes and additions (a plot plan for accessory structures and decks), showing water and sewer access
• Full plans with dimensions, square footage, foundation and truss details, and the deck design if there is one
• The City insulation form for new construction, additions and exterior remodels. REScheck is also accepted.

Most permits take less than an hour to issue. A permit becomes void if work doesn’t start within 180 days or stops for 180 days. All residential permits expire after 365 days.

In new subdivisions, no building permit is issued until curb, gutter and an approved street surface are in place.

Contractors with active permits can get a free login to the City’s web-based permit program to check projects and charges. Call 701-667-3230 to set one up.

Commercial projects and architectural review

Commercial, industrial and public buildings need approval from the Mandan Architectural Review Commission (MARC) before they are built, altered, remodeled or repainted a different color. MARC usually meets the second and fourth Tuesdays at 1 p.m. at City Hall. Applications are due to Building Inspection by noon on the Wednesday before the meeting. Paper copies can be no larger than 11x17. A zoning variance application is due at least 21 days before the City Commission meeting and costs $400, nonrefundable.

Fee schedule

Building permit fees are based on the total value of the job:

Job value	Fee
$0 to $500	$45.00
$501 to $2,000	$45.00 + $1.94 per additional $100
$2,000 to $25,000	$74.10 + $8.82 per additional $1,000
$25,001 to $50,000	$276.96 + $6.41 per additional $1,000
$50,001 to $100,000	$437.21 + $4.41 per additional $1,000
$100,001 to $500,000	$657.71 + $4.20 per additional $1,000
$500,001 to $1,000,000	$2,337.71 + $3.36 per additional $1,000
Over $1,000,000	$4,017.71 + $3.15 per additional $1,000

Plumbing is $55 for the first bathroom in a one- or two-family home plus $27.50 for each additional one. Water heater replacement, fuel/gas, moving and demolition permits are $55 each, and water or sewer permits are $80. An extra inspection is $50, and park dedication is $500 per single-family home. Plan review can add up to 50% of the permit fee. Penalties can reach double the fee. The certificate of occupancy is included in the permit fee. Septic permits come from the Health Department. See also building permit cost.

Adopted codes and local amendments

Mandan adopts the current North Dakota State Building Code with local amendments in Chapter 111 of the Municipal Code. Its Building & Design Criteria page lists the 2021 IBC, IRC, IFC, IFGC, IMC, IECC and IEBC, plus ICC A117.1-2017 for all new bathrooms. Electrical work follows the NEC and the State Electrical Board’s wiring standards. Plumbing follows the Uniform Plumbing Code and the State Plumbing Board’s standards. Design values include a 40 psf ground snow load, a 4 ft frost depth and climate zone 6A.

Local amendments in the Building Guide:

• No door may open from a garage directly into a sleeping room.
• Basement egress windows can have a sill no more than 44 in. above the finished floor. A step or ladder can’t be used to reduce that height.
• Lots must slope away from the foundation at least 6 in. in the first 10 ft.

Inspections

The permit holder must arrange inspections, and there is no extra charge for them. Typical inspections are water/sewer, foundation/wall, framing, plumbing, fuel/gas, attic insulation, deck and final. Call 701-667-3230 as the work is being finished. The guide asks for at least 4 hours’ notice. Inspectors take the first open slot, with a minimum wait of 30 minutes.

Contractors and trade licensing

The City tells owners to check a contractor’s license through the ND Secretary of State. State law requires a contractor license for any job over $4,000. North Dakota’s plumbing law lets an unlicensed person do code-compliant plumbing on a home they own and live in. Electrical contractors and self-wirers must notify the State Electrical Board for inspection when work costs more than $500, a service is installed or altered, or a building is moved. Morton County is in State Electrical Board inspection district 11 (701-516-6475).