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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESNORTH DAKOTACASS COUNTY
FILE 38017 · COUNTY OF CASSSEAT · FARGOPOPULATION · 190KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Cass.

Cass 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
Fargo
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Cass County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatFargo
Population (est.)190K
FIPS38017
Building departmentCity-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.
Permit portalCity-by-city; each municipality manages its own permit portal or paper-based application process.
Fire marshalCass County Fire Marshal
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Cass
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 38017
Article I · County Baseline

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

Most municipalities in Cass County have adopted the 2021 International Building Code series with local amendments.

The county government primarily handles zoning and building permits for unincorporated areas, while incorporated cities like Fargo and West Fargo maintain their own independent building and planning departments. Development in unincorporated areas may be subject to additional review for floodplains managed by the Red River Joint Water Resource District.

Development within the Red River floodplain is subject to strict elevation and setback requirements enforced by both the county and the Red River Joint Water Resource District.

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 · City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.Last 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 hold a valid North Dakota state contractor license, and many individual cities require an additional local registration or business license to perform work within their jurisdiction.

Building

City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.

Permits, plans, inspections

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

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

City-by-city; each municipality manages its own permit portal or paper-based application process.

Apply, track, pay

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

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Cass County Planning Department

Land use, plan review

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

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Cass 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 Cass 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
City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
License class/local/project bonds vary
State or county
County overlayContractors must maintain general liability and workers' compensation insurance as required by North Dakota state law, with no additional county-specific bond requirements beyond standard state licensing.
Verify
Varies
City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.
Source · City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.Verify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN CASS COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Cass 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.

FargoCass County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN CASS COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Cass 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

City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

City-by-city; each municipality manages its own permit portal or paper-based application process.
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Cass County Planning Department

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Cass 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 Cass County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through North Dakota Secretary of State; state trade boards. Cass 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 (City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · City-by-city; Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities operate independent building departments.
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.

Cass 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←