Roofing in West Fargo, North Dakota

Required

The City of West Fargo has elected to enforce a building code and adopts the 2024 International Residential Code by its own ordinance. West Fargo City Ordinance Title V (Buildings), Chapter 5-07, Section 5-0701 adopts by reference "that certain code known as the International Residential Code, recommended and compiled by the International Code Council, being particularly the 2024 edition thereof," and applies it "within the city limits of West Fargo, North Dakota, as well as for any area within the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of the City" - so a job in West Fargo's ETJ is under the same code as one inside the city. Its printed enactment chain is Ordinance 1011 (2014), Ordinance 1088 (2017), Ordinance 1230 (2023) and Ordinance 1274 (2026). On the commercial track, Chapter 5-01, Section 5-0101 adopts the 2024 International Building Code, chain Ordinance 1006 (2014), Ordinance 1081 (2017 and 2021), Ordinance 1224 (2023) and Ordinance 1265 (2026). Section 5-0701 also reserves to the City Commission the power to adopt amendments to the 2024 edition by resolution, so a resolution can move a West Fargo requirement without a new ordinance number appearing in the code. Two points of North Dakota context a roofer should hold. First, North Dakota imposes no building code on a municipality that has not elected one: NDCC 54-21.3-03(6) provides that a city, township or county "that elects to administer and enforce a building code shall adopt and enforce the state building code", and then adds that "the state building code may be amended by cities, townships, and counties to conform to local needs" - with no stringency limit, no state approval and no notice requirement attached. Second, and because of that, a neighbouring city's answer is never West Fargo's answer. West Fargo happens to sit on the same ICC vintage as the City of Fargo next door, but it got there on its own instrument, Ordinance 1274 of 2026, and its roofing provisions must be read from West Fargo's Title V rather than borrowed. West Fargo's other adopted codes in Title V are the International Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 5-05), the International Existing Building Code (Chapter 5-08) and the International Energy Conservation Code (Chapter 5-09); its Fire Department separately reports adopting the 2021 International Fire Code with amendments, codified at Title VI.

Re-roofing is handled inside West Fargo's ordinary building-permit system, not outside it. The City's Building Inspection Division names re-roofing as one of the permits it can issue on the spot: "Some permits, such as mechanical, residing, and reroofing, can be issued at the time you apply if time allows." Applications go through the City's online citizen portal, which offers exactly four application types - Commercial Building Permit, Residential Building Permit, Mechanical Permit and Sign Permit - so a residential re-roof is filed as a Residential Building Permit. The fee is driven by project valuation (materials and labour), and under Section 5-0702 the building official may deny a permit where the valuation is underestimated, so state the real job value. Most other building permit applications take up to two business days, and plan-reviewed projects three to five. Inspections are requested from the Building Department at 701-515-5380 and no work may be covered until the requested inspection has been signed off. Note two things that are NOT West Fargo's to issue: electrical permits and inspections come from the North Dakota State Electrical Board, and plumbing permits and inspections from the North Dakota State Plumbing Board. Appeals from a decision of the Code Official go to the West Fargo City Commission sitting as the Board of Appeals, in writing within 20 days, heard within 30 days, and reversible only by at least three Commission votes; the Commission has no authority to waive a Code requirement. The Building & Inspections Division is at West Fargo City Hall, 2515 6th Street E., open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.