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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESNORTH DAKOTABURLEIGH COUNTY
FILE 38015 · COUNTY OF BURLEIGHSEAT · BISMARCKPOPULATION · 98KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Burleigh.

Burleigh County in North Dakota. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Bismarck
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Burleigh County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatBismarck
Population (est.)98K
FIPS38015
Building departmentBurleigh County Building Inspection Department
Permit portalBurleigh County Online Permit Portal
Fire marshalBurleigh County Fire Marshal
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Burleigh
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 38015
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

Burleigh County utilizes the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code with local amendments.

The City of Bismarck operates its own building inspection department for all work within city limits. Burleigh County Building Inspection handles permits for all unincorporated areas of the county. Development in the Missouri River floodplain requires additional review and compliance with specific flood hazard area regulations.

Burleigh County enforces specific zoning regulations for rural subdivisions and requires special use permits for certain commercial activities in agricultural districts.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is North Dakota Secretary of State; state trade boards. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · Burleigh County Building Inspection DepartmentLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must be licensed by the North Dakota Secretary of State, and some jurisdictions within the county require additional local registration.

Building

Burleigh County Building Inspection Department

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

Burleigh County Online Permit Portal

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Burleigh County Planning and Zoning Department

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Burleigh County Fire Marshal

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Burleigh County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Required with employees; verify exemptions
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
Burleigh County Building Inspection Department
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
License class/local/project bonds vary
State or county
County overlayContractors must provide proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage as required by North Dakota state law.
Verify
Varies
Burleigh County Building Inspection Department
Source · Burleigh County Building Inspection DepartmentVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN BURLEIGH COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Burleigh County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

BismarckBurleigh County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN BURLEIGH COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Burleigh County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

North Dakota Secretary of State; state trade boards

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/north-dakota
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

Burleigh County Building Inspection Department

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

Burleigh County Online Permit Portal
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Burleigh County Planning and Zoning Department

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Burleigh County Fire Marshal

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Burleigh County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through North Dakota Secretary of State; state trade boards. Burleigh County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · North Dakota Secretary of State; state trade boards
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (Burleigh County Building Inspection Department). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · Burleigh County Building Inspection Department
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Burleigh County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←