Richland County government has no zoning or building department, so who issues a building permit depends on where the land is. Wahpeton’s Building Official (701-642-6565) permits work in the city and within one mile of it; Hankinson, Colfax, Wyndmere and several other cities run their own permits, and a dozen townships have zoning officers. The county adopted a floodplain management ordinance in February 2026, and septic permits come from Fargo Cass Public Health.
What needs a permit in Richland County?
There is no countywide building permit, so the rules come from the city or township that governs the parcel. The published local rules show how far they reach:
Hankinson
- Any structure over 100 sq ft, including sheds, garages and decks
- Residential interior remodels costing more than $2,000 in a calendar year
- Commercial interior remodels, other than cosmetic work
- Fences, demolition and moving a building
- Window replacement over $2,000
Township zoning (DeVillo example)
- Building, rebuilding or relocating a building
- Alterations
- Mobile homes
- Excavation for any of these, which waits for the permit
Hankinson does not require a permit for re-shingling or new siding. Walcott’s ordinance requires an approved permit before any building is built or moved into the city, and Wyndmere requires council approval of a building permit before construction starts.
Who issues building permits in Richland County?
The county courthouse at 418 2nd Ave N, Wahpeton (701-642-7700) keeps parcel records and the county floodplain ordinance, but the county’s department list has no zoning or building office. Permits come from these local offices:
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| City | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Wahpeton (pop. 8,141) | Building Official Todd Johnson, 1900 4th Street North (701-642-6565). The city code also requires a city zoning permit and building permit for structures within one mile of the city limits. |
| Hankinson (pop. 936) | City Hall, 319 Main Ave S (701-242-7885). A building inspector hired by the city reviews plans and inspects new construction. |
| Colfax (pop. 217) | City Council approves permits at its monthly meeting; the applicant collects the developer’s and building inspector’s approvals first. The application lists Wahpeton’s Building Official as the city inspector. |
| Wyndmere (pop. 442) | City Council approves permits; fees under Resolution 2026-1 (for example $1,000 for a new house). City Hall: 701-439-2412. |
| Abercrombie (pop. 269) | The city’s zoning administrator (the City Auditor or a designee) issues building permits. |
| Mooreton (pop. 177) | City building permit with a sliding-scale fee. |
| Walcott (pop. 268) | A permit approved by the city before any building is built or moved in; the council approves setbacks. |
| Lidgerwood (pop. 585) | The City Council reviews and approves building and fence permit applications at its monthly meetings, as its June, July and August 2026 minutes show. City office: 701-538-4135. |
| Barney, Christine, Dwight, Fairmount, Great Bend and Mantador | The published sources do not say who issues building permits; ask the city auditor. |
Townships: the county’s township directory lists a zoning officer for Brightwood, Center, Danton, DeVillo, Fairmount, Greendale, Isben, Mooreton, Viking, Walcott, Waldo and West End townships, with names and phone numbers. DeVillo’s zoning regulations, posted on the county site, are an example: a township Code Administrator issues building and repair permits, charges the fee set by the township board’s resolution, issues a certificate of occupancy after inspecting the finished building, and refers appeals to the Board of Supervisors.
Applications by jurisdiction
- Wahpeton: the Building Official’s page posts the Building Permit Application, a 2026 contractor requirements letter and contractor license application, residential plan requirements, required residential and commercial inspection lists, a commercial checklist, zoning setback requirements, fence regulations, a moving permit application and a variance form.
- Hankinson: a building permit application with a $25 rate for minor projects, $750 for a new house and a separate schedule for commercial and industrial work.
- Colfax: separate residential and commercial applications (both revised in 2026), emailed as one complete file or brought to a council meeting.
- Wyndmere: a building permit application (dated July 6, 2026, with the fee resolution attached) that is valid for six months once issued; a North Dakota One-Call locate is required for every building permit.
- Townships: applications go to the township’s zoning officer or code administrator. DeVillo asks for a legal description, a map with the lot and building dimensions, the type of building and materials, and the probable building cost.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →What permits cost
Each city and township sets its own fees; there is no county building permit fee. The published city figures:
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hankinson basic residential permit (decks, garages, remodels, demolition, fences, windows) | $25 |
| Hankinson new single-family house | $750 |
| Hankinson new multi-family building | $1,000 |
| Hankinson addition with a foundation, or accessory building over 901 sq ft | $150 per inspection |
| Wyndmere new dwelling (Resolution 2026-1) | $1,000 |
| Wyndmere addition, remodel or basement finish | $300 |
| Wyndmere residential garage | $200 |
| Wyndmere other residential structure over 12×12 ft | $100 |
| Wyndmere 12×12 shed, fence, pavement, sidewalk, patio or smaller structure | $50 |
| Wyndmere work started before council approval | $50 late fee |
| Mooreton, work valued $501–$20,000 (December 2015 sliding scale) | $25; higher values pay more |
Wyndmere’s fees come from Resolution 2026-1, effective July 6, 2026, attached to its building permit application. Wahpeton charges every permit, and Wyndmere its commercial and industrial permits, on the same valuation scale (Wahpeton’s posted sheet is dated June 1, 2018):
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Valuation | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $1–$500 | $26 |
| $501–$2,000 | $26 for the first $500, plus $1.50 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001–$25,000 | $49 for the first $2,000, plus $9.45 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001–$50,000 | $266 for the first $25,000, plus $6.85 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001–$100,000 | $437 for the first $50,000, plus $4.05 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001–$500,000 | $640 for the first $100,000, plus $3.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001–$1,000,000 | $2,040 for the first $500,000, plus $3.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $3,540 for the first $1,000,000, plus $2.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
In both cities the plan review fee is half the building permit fee. Wahpeton’s first re-inspection is free and later ones cost $50. Abercrombie, Colfax and the zoning townships set their fees by resolution.
Electrical and plumbing permits
Electrical and plumbing work is permitted and inspected by the North Dakota State Electrical Board (701-328-9522) and State Plumbing Board (701-328-9977). Hankinson’s permit guide states that electrical and plumbing inspections must be done by state officials, and Wahpeton’s and Colfax’s applications ask for the electrician and plumber on the job.
Plans and documents
Hankinson: new homes and new commercial and industrial buildings need a site plan, truss drawings, a foundation plan, a floor plan and elevations, which the city’s licensed building inspector reviews for placement and setbacks before construction inspections begin.
Colfax: the application must be complete, with the developer’s and building inspector’s approvals attached, by 5 p.m. the day before the council meeting.
Abercrombie: two copies of a scaled plot plan showing the lot, the building and any accessory buildings.
Rather not deal with the Richland County building department?
Get a free quote →Wahpeton: the application asks for the legal description, yard depths, building size and floor area by level, and whether the site is in a designated flood hazard area.
How to get a building permit in Richland County
Use the county parcel viewer to see whether the land is in a city, within a mile of Wahpeton, or in a township.
For a new home in a township, ask County Emergency Management (courthouse, 701-642-7700) about floodplain and flood mapping, as the county has asked townships to do.
The city auditor or building official, or the township zoning officer listed in the county township directory.
Use that jurisdiction’s application and attach the site plan and drawings it asks for.
In council-approval cities such as Colfax and Wyndmere, the permit is decided at the next council meeting.
Septic permits come from Fargo Cass Public Health; electrical and plumbing from the state boards.
Inspections
Inspections follow the permit. Hankinson’s building inspector checks footings, foundation walls, concrete slabs and framing and does a final inspection before the house is occupied. Wahpeton publishes required residential and commercial inspection lists. In DeVillo Township, the code administrator inspects the finished building before issuing a certificate of occupancy. Electrical and plumbing inspections are done by the state boards’ inspectors.
Local Richland County details
Floodplain: the County Commission gave final passage to a Model “D” Floodplain Management Ordinance on February 17, 2026. In June 2026 the Emergency Manager reported that it put the county in compliance and said townships would be reminded to contact the county about floodplain and flood mapping for new builds.
Septic systems: Richland County Health Department contracts environmental health work to Fargo Cass Public Health, which permits and inspects new and existing septic systems in Richland County and licenses every septic installer in the county. The application fee is $200 for a tank and drain field and $100 for a holding tank. A drain field needs a valid soil sample first, and the open-trench inspection must be requested 24 hours ahead; the system stays uncovered until it is approved. Contact the Environmental Health Division at 701-476-6729.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Colfax council schedule: the council meets at 7 p.m. at the Colfax Community Center on the third Monday of each month, and on the first Wednesday when needed in summer. Approved permits are mailed to the owner and expire one year after issue.
North Dakota building code
North Dakota has one State Building Code, but enforcing it is a local choice: where no city, township or county enforces it, there is no building code permit for private work, though a zoning permit may still apply. North Dakota rules
Official resources for Richland County
County, city, township, health and state sources:
- NDCC chapter 54-21.3, North Dakota State Building Code
- North Dakota Department of Commerce building codes
- City of Wahpeton Building Official
- Richland County courthouse contacts
- Richland County township directory (zoning officers)
- DeVillo Township Zoning Regulations (updated March 2024)
- Richland County Commission minutes, February 17, 2026 (floodplain ordinance)
- Richland County Health Department environmental health and septic
- City of Hankinson building permits
- City of Colfax building permits
- City of Wyndmere forms and building permit
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Richland County permit FAQs
Does Richland County issue building permits?
No. The county has no zoning or building department; permits come from the city or the township that governs the land.
Who issues building permits in Wahpeton?
The city Building Official, 1900 4th Street North (701-642-6565), for the city and for land within one mile of its limits.
How much is a building permit in Hankinson?
$25 for most residential projects such as decks, garages and remodels, $750 for a new house and $1,000 for a new multi-family building.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Hankinson?
Yes, if it is over 100 sq ft, whether or not it is fixed to the ground.
Who issues septic permits in Richland County?
Fargo Cass Public Health’s Environmental Health Division, under contract with the county health department (701-476-6729). The fee is $200 for a tank and drain field or $100 for a holding tank.
How much is a building permit in Wyndmere?
Under Resolution 2026-1, $1,000 for a new house, $300 for an addition or remodel, $200 for a garage and $50 for a fence or small shed, with council approval before work starts.
Who inspects electrical and plumbing work?
The North Dakota State Electrical Board and State Plumbing Board.
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More North Dakota permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Richland County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.