Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in North Dakota (2026)
8 rules on the books across North Dakota, 3 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Sidewalk Repair
Who pays for sidewalk repair, the city or the property owner, including cost-sharing programs, inspection triggers, and timelines for fixing damaged sidewalks.
Fargo
Some RestrictionsFargo law makes the adjoining property owner responsible for reconstructing and maintaining sidewalks in good repair…
Read full rule →Grand Forks
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Grand Forks, the owner or occupant of any property abutting a sidewalk must maintain that sidewalk in…
Read full rule →Obstruction Rules
What you can and cannot place on sidewalks, including newspaper boxes, planters, sandwich boards, trash cans, and minimum pedestrian clearance widths.
Cass County
Significant RestrictionsUnder Ordinance #2015-2, Cass County orders anyone who places signs, timbers, rocks or other hazards in a county road…
Read full rule →Fargo
Significant RestrictionsFargo bans placing goods, merchandise, or displays on public sidewalks citywide unless the owner first gets a city…
Read full rule →Grand Forks
Some RestrictionsGrand Forks bars anyone from obstructing a street, alley, sidewalk, gutter, public park, or highway with named…
Read full rule →Encroachment Permits
Permits required when construction, landscaping, or other activities temporarily or permanently encroach on public sidewalks or rights-of-way.
Cass County
Significant RestrictionsCass County does not issue encroachment permits. Ordinance #2015-2 bans signs, hay, and other obstructions in county…
Read full rule →Fargo
Significant RestrictionsFargo requires a planning-director-issued encroachment agreement before any structure, outdoor dining setup, or…
Read full rule →Grand Forks
Some RestrictionsDigging, tunneling, drilling, or boring in a Grand Forks public right-of-way requires a permit from the city engineer…
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