Fargo, ND Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- 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)
Summary
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.
105.9 Certificate of Occupancy for Rental. For any property that has dwelling units or sleeping units occupied by anyone other than the owner or their family members and regardless if rent, services, or other means of payment are collected or not, a secondary Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued showing compliance with this code and any other codes and ordinances adopted by the city of Fargo. If the property title is transferred to another person or entity, the current or previous secondary Certificate of Occupancy shall be void and a new secondary Certificate of Occupancy shall be obtained.
Section 105.9.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
105.9 Certificate issued. After the building official inspects the building or structure and does not find violations of the provisions of this code or other laws that are enforced by the department, the building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy containing the following:
Full Breakdown
Under Property Maintenance Code § 105.9, any Fargo property with a dwelling or sleeping unit occupied by someone other than the owner or the owner's family, whether or not rent is charged, must carry a secondary Certificate of Occupancy proving compliance with the Property Maintenance Code and other city codes. The building official inspects the unit first; the certificate issues only if no violations are found. Selling the property voids the old certificate, forcing a new inspection before the next owner can rent it out.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Fargo rental need a city inspection?
Does selling a rental property carry the certificate over?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fargo
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