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Rental Inspections

How Fargo Handles Rental Inspections: A Practical Guide

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Fargo maintains 140 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with rental inspections. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Fargo falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tenant Complaint Process

Any Fargo resident can flag a dangerous building condition to the health department, which is legally required to inspect and order repairs.

Key details: Trigger: Complaint to health department. Response: Mandatory thorough inspection. Notice method: Written order by registered mail. Non-compliance: Misdemeanor complaint filed.

Failure to abate within the notice period is a misdemeanor; the health officer files a complaint with the police magistrate against the owner.

Inspection Programs

Fargo requires a secondary Certificate of Occupancy, issued only after a city inspection, for every dwelling unit rented to a non-owner, not just complaint-driven checks.

Key details: Governing section: Fargo PMC § 105.9. Trigger: Any non-owner-occupied dwelling unit. Renewal trigger: Voided on title transfer. Enforcer: Fargo Inspections Department. Adopted: Ord. 5352 (2022), amended 5492 (2025).

The Inspections Department can suspend or revoke a rental's certificate under § 105.9.2 if it was issued in error, based on bad information, or the unit is later found in violation: renting without a valid certificate is a Property Maintenance Code violation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Fargo actively enforces its inspection programs requirements.

The Bottom Line

Fargo's rental inspections rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Fargo is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Fargo can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.