Embden, ND

North Dakota has adopted the International Residential Code (most recently the 2021 IRC) as its statewide residential construction standard. Most pool barrier enforcement happens at the city level - Fargo, West Fargo, and other Cass County municipalities issue residential building permits and enforce IRC pool barrier rules. In unincorporated Cass County, pool installations should be coordinated with the County Planner and the applicable township. The IRC requires pool barriers around residential pools deeper than 24 inches.

North Dakota has no statewide short-term rental preemption or licensing program. Cass County has not adopted a county-wide STR ordinance for unincorporated areas. Where rural townships have adopted zoning under NDCC Title 58, lodging or transient rental uses may be regulated through township zoning. STR operators must collect and remit North Dakota state sales tax (5%) and any applicable local lodging or gross receipts tax. Inside Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities, city ordinances apply.

Cass County, ND has no county short-term rental occupancy cap in unincorporated areas. North Dakota has no statewide STR preemption or occupancy formula. The North Dakota State Building Code (IRC-based) limits occupant load by bedroom and exit capacity, and any septic system on-site limits practical occupancy by design flow.

Cass County does not impose a county STR registration fee in unincorporated areas. North Dakota's 5% state sales tax applies to lodging stays under 30 days, plus the 0.5% Cass County local sales tax (NDCC §57-39.2). Fargo, West Fargo, and other cities apply their own lodging taxes within city limits.

Cass County, ND does not impose short-term rental parking standards in unincorporated areas. Parking is generally on the property's driveway or rural acreage. ND Cent Code §39-10-51 prohibits parking that obstructs traffic on township roads; township zoning may add setback or right-of-way rules.

Cass County, ND does not impose a countywide fence-height limit. In unincorporated Cass County, fence regulation is delegated to organized townships under NDCC Chapter 58-03 and to township zoning ordinances adopted under NDCC Chapter 11-33. Some Cass County townships (e.g., Rich Township) have adopted zoning that includes setback and accessory-structure rules that affect fences; others have no fence rules at all. Cities within Cass County - Fargo, West Fargo, Horace - apply their own fence ordinances. Property-line fence disputes are governed by NDCC Chapter 47-26.

Cass County, ND has not adopted a countywide noise ordinance with decibel limits or fixed quiet hours for unincorporated areas. Noise complaints in unincorporated Cass County are handled under North Dakota's general nuisance law at NDCC Chapter 42-01, which makes any unreasonable noise that disturbs others a public or private nuisance. Cities within the county - Fargo, West Fargo, Horace - apply stricter municipal codes (Fargo requires reasonable noise levels between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.). The Cass County Sheriff's Office handles disturbance calls in the unincorporated portions and on township roads.

Cass County, ND does not have a countywide dog leash ordinance and does not operate an animal control department for unincorporated areas. The Cass County Sheriff's Office handles dog-at-large complaints under state law - primarily NDCC 42-03 (vicious dogs) and NDCC 36-21.1 (animal welfare). Owners are expected to keep dogs under control and on the owner's property. Cities within Cass County - Fargo, West Fargo, Horace, Casselton - have their own leash ordinances and animal control services that supersede this general rule within city limits.

Cass County faces serious Red River flooding (most notably the 2009 historic flood) and participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program. The Cass County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance authorizes the County Engineer and designees to grant or deny development permit applications in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas. Any development - structures, fill, grading - in a FEMA-mapped floodplain requires a development permit. Statewide floodplain authority sits at NDCC Chapter 61-16.1 (Department of Water Resources).