North Dakota

North Dakota Permit Guide for Metal Carports, Garages and Barns

In North Dakota, whether a metal carport or garage needs a permit depends on where you build, because the state building code is only enforced by the cities, townships and counties that choose to enforce it. Where a local office does enforce it, a carport, garage or shop usually needs a building permit before it goes up. In rural areas with no local program, there may be no building permit at all, though zoning rules can still apply. The state lists only a dozen or so counties as code enforcing jurisdictions, so a North Dakota carport permit is mostly a city or county question. Start by calling the city or county where the land sits and asking who handles building permits there.

Building code in effect

The North Dakota State Building Code is the 2024 edition of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Energy Conservation Code and International Existing Building Code, with state amendments. It took effect on January 1, 2026, replacing the 2021 codes. The Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services keeps the code up to date but does not enforce it. Under NDCC 54-21.3-03, a city, township or county that chooses to enforce a building code must adopt the state code, though it can amend it for local needs. So the code is statewide, but enforcement is a local option.

Who issues permits

Permits come from the city, township or county, not the state. Under NDCC 54-21.3-05, a city or township enforces the code within its zoning jurisdiction, and a county can enforce it in the parts of the county where no city or township does. Cities and townships can also hand that job over to the county. The Division of Community Services posts a directory of code enforcing jurisdictions (dated 2022), which is a good starting point. Zoning and setbacks are a separate check, and some places with no building inspector still have a zoning or land use permit.

County permit guides

County guides are coming soon.

Don't see your county? Call 919-725-8176 and we'll help you find the right office.

When you need a permit

Inside a city that enforces the code: Many North Dakota cities enforce the state code, so a carport, garage or barn in town will usually need a building permit and an inspection. Ask the city for its size cutoff, since local amendments can change it.
Rural land with no local program: If neither the county nor the township enforces a building code where you build, there may be no building permit. Zoning, setback or floodplain rules may still apply, so call before you order.
Small accessory buildings: The state's 2023 code limited the permit exemption for one-story detached accessory buildings to 120 square feet. The 2026 state amendments no longer list that change, so ask your local office what size is exempt where you live.
Enclosing or adding on later: Closing in a carport to make a garage, or attaching it to the house, is new work in the eyes of most building offices. Plan on a permit for the change if your jurisdiction enforces the code.
Business or public use: Buildings used by the public or for a business are reviewed under the commercial building code where it is enforced, and they don't get the farm exemption.

Farm buildings

North Dakota law exempts farm buildings from the state building code. NDCC 54-21.3-04(3) says any building used for agricultural purposes is exempt, unless it is a place of human habitation or for use by the public. That covers a pole barn or equipment shed on a working farm, even in a county that enforces the code. A pole barn permit may still be needed under local zoning, and the building has to actually be used for farming. Electrical work is covered by separate state rules (the statute lists the state electrical standards apart from the building code), so ask before wiring a farm building.

Wind and snow

North Dakota buildings deal with open prairie wind and heavy, drifting snow, plus deep frost. The state amendments don't set their own snow or wind numbers, and they leave structural requirements to the designer, so the local building official will tell you what wind speed and ground snow load your building must be engineered for. Ask that question first, especially in the north and east where snow sits longer. Our partnered manufacturers offer certified buildings rated for 140 MPH wind and 35 PSF snow load, and higher ratings can be quoted where required.

Before you order

Call the city, township or county and ask two things: do you enforce the building code here, and what wind and snow load does a detached garage or carport need?
If you build on farm land and plan to use the exemption, ask the county how they want farm use shown, since zoning can still apply.
Ask whether the building needs footings below frost depth or can sit on a slab or anchors, because the 2026 state code has frost exceptions for some small free-standing accessory buildings.
Check your lot lines, utility easements and any subdivision covenants before picking a spot, and keep engineered drawings handy for the permit file.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in North Dakota?
It depends on the city, township or county. Places that enforce the state building code usually require a building permit, while rural areas with no local program may require none. Call the local office first.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage in North Dakota?
Usually, if your city or county enforces the code. A North Dakota metal garage permit comes from the city or county building office where the code is enforced, and the garage must meet the 2024 state code that took effect January 1, 2026.

Are farm buildings exempt in North Dakota?
Yes. NDCC 54-21.3-04(3) exempts buildings used for agricultural purposes from the state building code, unless people live in them or they are used by the public. Local zoning can still apply.

Who do I call about a North Dakota carport permit?
Start with the city or county where the land is. The Division of Community Services keeps a list of code enforcing jurisdictions, but it does not issue permits itself.

Sources

Permit rules change. Always confirm with your local permit office before you build.

Looking at buildings? See our metal carports, metal garages and metal buildings.

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