County Building Permits
Morton County, ND - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Morton County, North Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Covers unincorporated rural areas of Morton County only. Incorporated cities issue their own permits. Planning and Zoning for unincorporated areas is handled separately at 2916 37th St NW, Mandan, ND 58554, phone (701) 667-3361.
- Department
- Morton County Tax Equalization Office - Building Inspector
- Address
- 210 2nd Ave NW, Mandan, ND 58554
- Phone
- (701) 667-3325
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Morton County website (custom CivicLive platform) • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact Planning and Zoning at (701) 667-3361 to verify zoning eligibility and setbacks for the parcel.
- Confirm utility service availability (water, electric) with the relevant providers.
- Obtain an Approach Permit from the Morton County Highway Department at (701) 667-7969 if a new driveway access is needed.
- Obtain a Septic Permit from Western Plains Public Health at (701) 667-3370 if on-site wastewater is required.
- Download the Building Permit Application from https://www.mortonnd.gov/applications or request it from the Tax Equalization Office.
- Complete and submit the application by mail, in person, or by email to mortoncountytax@mortonnd.gov. Approach permit and septic permit must be in hand before a building permit will be issued.
- Pay permit fees by credit card online or in person at 210 2nd Ave NW.
- Permit is issued; construction may begin. Work must remain accessible for inspection.
- Schedule required inspections through the Building Inspector's office.
- Obtain Certificate of Occupancy before occupying the structure.
Typical processing time: Not publicly specified. Contact (701) 667-3325.
Source: Morton County Tax Equalization Office - Building Inspector
General Requirements
Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure must obtain a permit first.
Required Documents
- Completed Building Permit Application (or Demo Permit Application for demolition)
- Approach permit and septic permit (must be obtained beforehand for new residential construction in rural areas)
- Site plan or construction drawings (confirm with office)
- Permit validity
- Governed by adopted International Codes which typically allow 180 days from issuance before expiration for lack of work. Confirm with office at (701) 667-3325.
- Building code
- 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). New ND State Building Code (based on 2024 editions) effective January 1, 2026.
- Owner-builder
- Not publicly stated. Contact office.
- Contractor requirements
- North Dakota state contractor license required for projects exceeding $4,000 in value. License classes: Class A (over $500,000), Class B (up to $500,000), Class C (up to $300,000), Class D (up to $100,000). Licensed through ND Secretary of State at https://www.sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Not publicly stated. Contact (701) 667-3325.
- Payment note
- Credit card payments accepted online at the NPS POS portal. In-person payment accepted at 210 2nd Ave NW, Mandan.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Morton County Tax Equalization Office - Building Inspector to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (701) 667-3325 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Contact Building Inspector during office hours.
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (excluding holidays)
Typical inspection sequence: Construction or work must remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. Final Certificate of Occupancy required before occupancy. Specific inspection sequence (foundation, framing, etc.) not publicly listed; confirm with office.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). New ND State Building Code (based on 2024 editions) effective January 1, 2026.
- Verify contractor license: ND Secretary of State Contractor Licensing
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Building a Home in Rural Morton County
- Approach Permits
- Morton County Land Use Code
- Planning and Zoning
- License lookup guide: North Dakota Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: North Dakota Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- North Dakota hub: North Dakota Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Morton County Tax Equalization Office - Building Inspector before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Morton County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Morton County, ND?
- Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure must obtain a permit first.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Morton County, ND?
- Fees are calculated as: Not publicly stated. Contact (701) 667-3325..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Morton County, ND?
- 1. Contact Planning and Zoning at (701) 667-3361 to verify zoning eligibility and setbacks for the parcel. 2. Confirm utility service availability (water, electric) with the relevant providers. 3. Obtain an Approach Permit from the Morton County Highway Department at (701) 667-7969 if a new driveway access is needed. 4. Obtain a Septic Permit from Western Plains Public Health at (701) 667-3370 if on-site wastewater is required. 5. Download the Building Permit Application from https://www.mortonnd.gov/applications or request it from the Tax Equalization Office. 6. Complete and submit the application by mail, in person, or by email to mortoncountytax@mortonnd.gov. Approach permit and septic permit must be in hand before a building permit will be issued. 7. Pay permit fees by credit card online or in person at 210 2nd Ave NW. 8. Permit is issued; construction may begin. Work must remain accessible for inspection. 9. Schedule required inspections through the Building Inspector's office. 10. Obtain Certificate of Occupancy before occupying the structure.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Morton County, ND?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly specified. Contact (701) 667-3325..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Morton County, ND?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: (701) 667-3325. Contact Building Inspector during office hours..
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