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§ ND Williams County
City building permits

City of Williston

How to apply for a building permit in City of Williston, North Dakota. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

City of Williston Building Safety Department

Street address
113 4th Street East, 2nd Floor, Williston, ND 58801
Phone
701-577-8115
Email
buildingapps@ci.williston.nd.us
Coverage
All properties within the incorporated City of Williston.
Online portal
City of Williston Building Safety Department
Email, In-Person, Mail
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Williston

A building permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of a building or structure.

One-story detached accessory structures under 120 sq ft
Fences under 8.5 feet in height
Retaining walls under 4 feet in height
Sidewalks and driveways
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, counter tops, similar finish work
Swing sets and playground equipment
  • Exempt One-story detached accessory structures under 120 sq ft
  • Exempt Fences under 8.5 feet in height
  • Exempt Retaining walls under 4 feet in height
  • Exempt Sidewalks and driveways
  • Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, counter tops, similar finish work
  • Exempt Swing sets and playground equipment

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from City zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Safety Department before proceeding.

Required documents
  • Completed building permit application
  • All required drawings and plans
  • Construction plans drawn to scale (for commercial projects)
  • Project scope information
  • Additional documentation as requested by Building Department
Building code
2026 North Dakota State Building Code (effective January 1, 2026), which consists of the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Source: City of Williston Building Safety Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Residential new homes and garages: minimum 3 weeks; commercial projects with professional plans: typically within 1 hour (depending on complexity)

  1. 01
    Complete building permit application fully before submission
  2. 02
    Include all required drawings with application; incomplete applications will be rejected
  3. 03
    Submit applications electronically to buildingapps@ci.williston.nd.us, in person, or by mail
  4. 04
    For residential new homes and garages: allow minimum 3 weeks for processing
  5. 05
    For commercial projects with professional plans: typically processed within 1 hour (depending on complexity)
  6. 06
    City reviews applications for compliance with the 2026 North Dakota State Building Code
  7. 07
    Respond to any review comments and provide revised plans if required
  8. 08
    Pay permit fees and obtain permit issuance before starting work

Typical processing time: Residential new homes and garages: minimum 3 weeks; commercial projects with professional plans: typically within 1 hour (depending on complexity)

Source: City of Williston Building Safety Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Williston building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$35 to $100 depending on permit type
02
Permit fee formula
Varies by project type and valuation
03
Trade permit fee
$25 to $100 depending on trade

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • 701-577-8115 (phone)
  • buildingapps@ci.williston.nd.us (email)
  • Visit Building Safety Department (inperson)
Inspection hours
Monday-Friday; contact Building Department for specific hours

Typical sequence: Typical inspection sequence: Foundation inspection, Framing inspection, Energy efficiency inspection, Plumbing inspection, Heating inspection, Electrical inspection, Final inspection. Permit holder is responsible for arranging inspections. No additional charge for inspections.

Source: City of Williston Building Safety Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Williston permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Williston, ND? ▸
A building permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of a building or structure.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Williston, ND? ▸
Building permit fees in Williston, ND are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $35 to $100 depending on permit type. Fees are calculated as: Varies by project type and valuation.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Williston, ND? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Williston, ND, follow these steps: 1. Complete building permit application fully before submission 2. Include all required drawings with application; incomplete applications will be rejected 3. Submit applications electronically to buildingapps@ci.williston.nd.us, in person, or by mail 4. For residential new homes and garages: allow minimum 3 weeks for processing 5. For commercial projects with professional plans: typically processed within 1 hour (depending on complexity) 6. City reviews applications for compliance with the 2026 North Dakota State Building Code 7. Respond to any review comments and provide revised plans if required 8. Pay permit fees and obtain permit issuance before starting work
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Williston, ND? ▸
Building permit processing times in Williston, ND typically run Residential new homes and garages: minimum 3 weeks; commercial projects with professional plans: typically within 1 hour (depending on complexity). Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Williston, ND? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Williston, ND. The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached accessory structures under 120 sq ft; Fences under 8.5 feet in height; Retaining walls under 4 feet in height; Sidewalks and driveways; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, counter tops, similar finish work; Swing sets and playground equipment. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from City zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Safety Department before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Williston, ND? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Williston, ND via: 701-577-8115, buildingapps@ci.williston.nd.us, Visit Building Safety Department.
last verified April 2026 source City of Williston Building Safety Department ↗ entry id permits/north-dakota/williams/williston
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Williston Building Safety Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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