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Information Guides
Brief information guides may be downloaded for various practical subjects relevant to residents of Bismarck. Printed copies are also available from the Community Development Department at 221 North 5th Street.
Information guides are updated periodically with a published dated in the header. However, accuracy and timeliness of these documents is not guaranteed, and City ordinances or relevant state law should be consulted as the final authority.
New guides are created as need arises, and Planning staff are open to suggestions on new topics of interest.
| Name | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Accessory Buildings Rural.pdf | A guide for homeowners outside of city limits considering building a detached garage, shed, shop, or other outbuilding. | 2/7/2024 |
| Accessory Buildings Urban.pdf | A guide for homeowners inside of city limits considering building a detached garage, shed, shop, or other outbuilding. | 3/18/2024 |
| Accessory Dwelling Units.pdf | A guide for homeowners considering building an additional dwelling unit in conjunction with a single-family home (either inside an existing structure or as a new structure). | 3/13/2024 |
| Calculating Heights for Buildings.pdf | A guide for calculating the overall height of a building or it’s sidewall | 2/7/2024 |
| Child Care Facilities.pdf | A guide for opening a child care facility, from a small family child care to a larger child care center. | 6/8/2018 |
| Garage Sales.pdf | A guide to operating a temporary garage sale from a residential property. | 10/11/24 |
| Historic Preservation Guide.pdf | A guide for homeowners of historic properties for remodeling and maintaining historic integrity | 3/15/2024 |
| Home Occupations.pdf | A guide for business owners or employees working out of their own home | 9/3/2024 |
| Parking Information Requirements.pdf | A guide to assist design professionals and property owners with requirements for requests for the Administrative Approval of Parking and Stacking Alternatives. | 2/9/2021 |
| Rental Housing Standards Complaint Process.pdf | A guide for submitting a compliant for minimum habitability standards for rental housing | 2/21/2020 |
| Section 106 Consultation.pdf | A guide for review of historic preservation items in accordance with federal law | 2/8/2023 |
| Setbacks in Context.pdf | A guide for determining front yard setbacks in established neighborhoods where setbacks are measured based on surrounding context. | 1/11/2018 |
| Sight Triangles.pdf | A guide for understanding sight triangles at the corners of intersections that need to remain open and visible. | 6/23/2020 |
| Signs Downtown.pdf | A guide to designing and installing signs in the downtown zoning districts | 6/18/2020 |
| Signs Electronic Message Center.pdf | A guide for on-premise signs with digital capabilities known as electronic message centers (EMCs) | 6/8/2020 |
| Signs Off-Premise.pdf | A guide for all off-premise advertising signs, also known as billboards. | 2/26/2024 |
| Signs Temporary.pdf | A guide for all types of temporary signs, including portable signs, site signs, yard signs, banners, air-blown signs, feather flag signs, and others. | 8/11/2020 |
| Slope Protection.pdf | A guide for requirements within slope protection easements and best practices to protect against erosion and landslides | 5/10/2023 |
| Solar Energy Systems.pdf | A guide for homeowners considering installing a solar energy system for household energy generation. | 11/21/2017 |
| Standard Plat Language.pdf | A guide for surveyors and engineers preparing subdivision plats for review by the City of Bismarck | 4/9/2024 |
| Wind Energy Systems.pdf | A guide for homeowners considering installing a small wind turbine for household energy generation. | 3/2/2017 |