Fargo, ND Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)
Key Facts
- Ground-floor glass
- At least 35% of sidewalk facade
- Street-facing materials
- Brick, glass, stone, or stucco required
- Prohibited materials
- Vinyl, metal panels, cinder block barred
- Review process
- Site Plan Review under § 20-0910
Summary
Fargo's Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) zoning district imposes design standards on new and renovated buildings, covering exterior materials, ground-floor windows, and vacant-lot screening, all reviewed through Site Plan Review before permits are issued.
At least 35 percent of the ground-floor facade of buildings along sidewalks shall be comprised of windows, doors and other transparent elements (e.g. glass block) that allow views into buildings, plazas or arcades. Calculations shall be based on the linear footage of the ground floor, and said transparent elements shall be a minimum of four feet in height.(1)Existing buildings along sidewalks to which interior renovations or structural improvements are proposed shall be excluded from this requirement only if they do not already meet the 35 percent transparency requirement. In those cases, the transparency requirement shall meet or exceed the percentage of ground floor transparency provided by the existing structure.(2)The Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to allow less than 35 percent ground floor transparency adjacent to sidewalks, provided that the subject wall of the structure includes architectural features which offer visual relief from a blank wall through the use of texture, recessed patterns, or other design features that add visual relief. The decision of the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment.(3)Residential development, where dwelling units occupy the first floor, shall be excluded from these requirements.4.Parking
Full Breakdown
Under Fargo Municipal Code § 20-0212, the DMU, Downtown Mixed-Use district carries design standards meant to keep downtown buildings visually consistent and pedestrian-oriented. Street-facing walls must use durable materials like brick, glass, stone, ceramic, stucco, or curtain walls; metal panels, non-residential-grade siding, asphalt, and plain concrete or cinder block are barred on walls visible from the street. At least 35 percent of a building's ground-floor sidewalk facade must be windows, doors, or other transparent elements at least four feet tall. Sites left vacant after demolition must be screened, paved or landscaped, and lit to sidewalk standards. Compliance is checked during Site Plan Review under § 20-0910.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant plans can be denied at Site Plan Review before a building permit issues; violations of the Land Development Code, including approved design conditions, are subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions of Article 20-011.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the DMU design standard apply to my downtown building?
What materials are barred on a downtown storefront wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fargo
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