County Building Permits
Mountrail County, ND - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Mountrail County, North Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Mountrail County. Note: Approximately 988,000 acres of Fort Berthold Indian Reservation overlap Mountrail County. Jurisdiction depends on land status (tribal-owned vs. fee simple).
- Department
- Mountrail County Planning & Zoning Department
- Address
- County Recorder's Office, PO Box 248, Stanley, ND 58784
Application Process
- Submit building permit application with required documentation to Mountrail County Planning & Zoning
- County planner reviews application and site plans
- Approval or denial is issued
- Upon approval, construction may commence
- County inspector conducts inspections at various construction stages
General Requirements
All structural and mechanical work in unincorporated Mountrail County.
- Building code
- North Dakota State Building Code (based on International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, and International Fuel Gas Code). Mountrail County Land Development Code (effective September 20, 2022).
Fees
- Payment note
- Contact Mountrail County Planning & Zoning for current fee schedule.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Mountrail County Planning & Zoning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: County inspectors conduct required inspections at construction phases. Electrical and plumbing work require state-licensed contractors and separate state board inspections.
Additional Resources
- Building code: North Dakota State Building Code (based on International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, and International Fuel Gas Code). Mountrail County Land Development Code (effective September 20, 2022).
- Verify contractor license: North Dakota State Electrical Board
- North Dakota State Plumbing Board
- North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality
- 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 Mountrail County Planning & Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mountrail County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Mountrail County, ND?
- All structural and mechanical work in unincorporated Mountrail County.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Mountrail County, ND?
- 1. Submit building permit application with required documentation to Mountrail County Planning & Zoning 2. County planner reviews application and site plans 3. Approval or denial is issued 4. Upon approval, construction may commence 5. County inspector conducts inspections at various construction stages
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