West Fargo, ND Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

West Fargo lies in the Red River basin, with the Sheyenne River - a major Red River tributary - running through the city. Title V of the West Fargo Municipal Code (Buildings) incorporates the city's Flood Proofing Code, which establishes the Floodway and Special Flood Hazard Area, requires development permits, and sets general and specific flood hazard reduction standards. The basis for SFHA designation is the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for the City of West Fargo (Cass County). North Dakota Century Code chapter 61-16.1 governs water resource and flood control districts statewide and authorizes the ND Department of Water Resources to administer NFIP coordination. Federal NFIP rules at 44 CFR Parts 59-60 set minimum standards: lowest floor elevation at or above the base flood elevation (BFE) for residential structures, and elevation or dry-floodproofing for non-residential structures. Substantial improvements (repair/reconstruction equal to or exceeding 50% of pre-improvement market value) must bring the entire structure into compliance. The Metro Flood Diversion Authority (Cass County, Clay County MN, Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and the Cass County Joint Water Resource District) is constructing the 30-mile FM Area Diversion channel around West Fargo and Fargo, which when complete will reduce 100-year flood risk for the metro. West Fargo property owners can verify flood zone status via the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the North Dakota Risk Assessment Map Service (NDRAM).