North Dakota has no statewide preemption on plastic bags, leaving cities and counties free to adopt their own bag bans, fees, or recycling rules.
Unlike many states, North Dakota does not preempt local regulation of single-use plastic bags. Neither NDCC Title 23 environmental statutes nor home rule provisions prohibit cities, counties, or park districts from adopting bag bans, point-of-sale fees, or mandatory recycling programs. As a result, local governments retain full authority to enact ordinances addressing plastic bag distribution at retail. Most North Dakota communities have not adopted such measures, but the option remains open under existing home rule authority. Any future statewide preemption would require explicit legislative action by the state legislature.
Because no statewide standard exists, penalties depend entirely on the local ordinance adopted. Typical municipal plastic bag ordinances impose civil fines per violation on retailers, often starting around 100 dollars. Compliance is generally enforced by city inspectors. State law does not preempt or override locally established penalties.
West Fargo, ND
West Fargo regulates amplified music and outdoor sound systems primarily through quiet-hour enforcement. Amplified sound audible beyond the property line dur...
West Fargo, ND
West Fargo regulates persistent barking dogs as a public nuisance under local animal control ordinances. Continuous barking beyond 10 to 15 minutes may trigg...
West Fargo, ND
West Fargo limits construction to 7 AM to 10 PM as one of North Dakota's fastest-growing cities. Extensive new subdivision and commercial development drives ...
West Fargo, ND
West Fargo enforces quiet hours generally from 10 PM to 7 AM under local municipal ordinances. North Dakota Century Code provides broad nuisance authority fo...
West Fargo, ND
West Fargo Section 4-441 limits front-yard fences to 2 ft 6 in (4 ft if open-style with 50%+ visibility). Side and rear yard fences may reach 6 ft. Corner-lo...
West Fargo, ND
West Fargo follows North Dakota boundary fence law under NDCC §47-26 which establishes shared responsibilities for partition fences between neighboring prope...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cass County.
See how West Fargo's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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