Williston building department

The City of Williston Department of Building Safety is part of Development Services. It reviews plans and issues building, demolition, sign, site grading, temporary use, plumbing, mechanical, and fuel/gas permits, and it runs the city’s code enforcement division. The office is in the City of Williston Center for Development, 2nd floor, and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Williams County runs its own building division for areas outside the city’s jurisdiction, so check which one covers your parcel before you apply.

City limits and the extraterritorial area

Williston Planning and Zoning oversees land use within the city limits and a one-mile extraterritorial area. Under North Dakota law (NDCC 54-21.3-05), a city may enforce the state building code only within its “jurisdictional area,” which the statute defines as the area where the city has zoning jurisdiction. A county may enforce the code where no city or township does. If your property is just outside the city limits, ask Building Safety at (701) 577-8115 whether the city or Williams County handles your permit.

What needs a permit

The city’s FAQ says permits are required for any new construction, addition, remodel, or structural alteration, and for mechanical and plumbing work. It specifically lists sheetrock, siding, re-roofing, window replacement, and decks as needing a permit. You don’t need a permit for finish work such as new cabinets or painting, or for brick or paver patios and concrete slabs.

Project	Permit?	Rule from city handouts
Shed of 120 sq ft or less	No	One such shed is allowed in addition to the accessory-building limit
Shed over 120 sq ft, detached garage	Yes	At least 3 ft from side and rear lot lines, 6 ft from other structures, not in the front yard
Deck, attached or freestanding	Yes, regardless of size or height	Open decks may project up to 4 ft into a side or rear setback, but must stay at least 4 ft from the lot line
Concrete or paver patio on grade	No
Fence	No	Residential: 7 ft maximum in side and rear yards, 4 ft in front yards. Commercial and industrial: 9 ft. No fences on city property
Sidewalks, aprons, approaches	Not from Building Safety	Public Works Engineering issues these, (701) 577-6368

On residential lots under 24,000 sq ft, the garage handout allows up to two accessory buildings totaling 1,200 sq ft. For more background, see do I need a permit for a deck.

An auxiliary propane tank for an RV needs a fuel/gas permit and must be installed by a city-licensed fuel/gas installer.

How to apply

Applications are fillable PDFs on the city’s Building Permit Applications page. Separate packets cover commercial new construction, commercial alterations, residential new construction, residential alterations (additions, remodels, re-roofing, siding, windows, and doors), decks, accessory structures, demolition, signs, site grading and erosion control, temporary uses, and permit extensions. Email completed applications and plans to [email protected].

Since January 1, 2025, incomplete applications are rejected. Commercial plans must be drawn to scale. Professionally drafted plans are not required, but the city encourages them. Residential alterations need one set of plans plus a digital copy. Electrical, plumbing, gas piping, and HVAC each need their own permit. Commercial demolition applications must include an asbestos form.

The FAQ says simple permits usually take less than an hour. For new homes and garages, allow at least three weeks. A new home needs two sets of drawings, a full set of truss drawings, and a site plan. Starting work before approval can lead to a fine. A permit expires if work is suspended for more than 180 days after issuance or after the last inspection.

Fees

Remodeling fees are based on job value (materials and labor). New-structure fees are based on square footage, using ICC Building Safety Journal valuation data. The plan review fee is up to half the permit fee and is due at submittal.

Job valuation	Permit fee
$1 to $500	$15
$501 to $2,000	$15 + $2 per additional $100
$2,001 to $25,000	$45 + $9 per additional $1,000
$25,001 to $50,000	$252 + $6.50 per additional $1,000
$50,001 to $100,000	$414.50 + $4.50 per additional $1,000
$100,001 to $500,000	$639.50 + $3.50 per additional $1,000
$500,001 to $1,000,000	$2,039.50 + $3 per additional $1,000
Over $1,000,000	$3,539.50 + $2 per additional $1,000

Plumbing permits cost $25, plus $10 per inspection and $5 per fixture. Fuel or gas piping permits are $35. Mechanical permits are $25 per residential unit (up to four units) or $100 for commercial work. Sign, moving, and demolition permits are $30.

Codes in effect

Since January 1, 2026, Williston has enforced the North Dakota State Building Code. It includes the 2024 IBC, IRC, IFC, IMC, IFGC, and IECC, the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code, the 2026 NEC, and the 2018 Life Safety Code. Design criteria are 110 mph ultimate wind speed, seismic 0, and 48-inch frost depth.

Inspections

The permit holder must schedule inspections. The FAQ lists foundation, framing, energy efficiency, plumbing, heating, electrical, and final inspections, with no added charge. Give at least 24 hours’ notice. Inspections are booked as AM or PM. If you need an exact time, say so when you call and be on site.

Post the permit and orange inspection card on site. Before a framing inspection, rough plumbing and heating must already be approved, and engineered truss drawings must be on site. The final inspection requires address numbers at least 4 inches tall.

Contractor and trade licensing

Building Safety needs a copy of the contractor’s North Dakota contractor license and liability insurance before it issues a permit. The ND Secretary of State requires a contractor license when a job exceeds $4,000. Master and journeyman plumbers, fuel/gas installers, mechanical contractors, and sign hangers also need a City of Williston license before working in city limits. The city publishes a list of license holders. Electricians are licensed by the ND State Electrical Board, which requires electrical contractors and self-wirers to notify the board of installations for inspection, including work over $500 and any new or altered service entrance.

Related offices

• Code Enforcement: same building, (701) 713-3838. Complaints can be filed online.
• Planning and Zoning: (701) 577-8104. A pre-application meeting with a planner must be held at least a week before any zoning application, and applications are due the Friday four weeks before the monthly meeting.