Grand Forks, ND Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

The electrical code lives in Chapter XIX, Article 2, established at § 19-0201 to "regulate the installation of all electrical conductors, fittings, devices, fixtures, and appliances" in the city. Section 19-0208 adopts by reference "the latest edition of the National Electrical Code, American National Standards, NFPA No.70 and the rules, regulations, and standards as promulgated and adopted by the North Dakota State Electrical Board," timed "to coincide with the state's adoption date," with three copies required to be kept on file with the city engineer.

Rather than issuing a document labeled a permit, Grand Forks uses a plan-approval step: § 19-0210 requires that "complete plans and specifications of the proposed electrical installation shall be filed with and approved by the city engineering office" before work starts, with at least two corrected sets filed if the first submission needs revision, and one approved set kept "at such building or work at all times during which the work authorized is in progress." Any electrical firm doing city work must also hold an annual "Grand Forks city electrical contractor's license" under § 19-0220, issued for a council-set fee and expiring December 31 each year, and installations worth "three hundred dollars ($300.00) or more" separately require a North Dakota State wiring certificate under § 19-0222.

The city electrical inspector created at § 19-0206 must be a state-licensed master electrician and administers both the plan approval and the resulting field inspections under this article.