Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I obtain a driver's license?

Q. How do I obtain a raffle permit?

Q. Who do I call for a copy of my birth certificate?

Q. Where do I go to register to vote and where is my polling place?

Q. How do I obtain a hunting or fishing license in North Dakota?

Q. How do I obtain a marriage license?

Q. Do I need a building permit and how do I obtain one?

Q. How do I find out if a particular parcel of land is located in the floodplain?

Q. Are there any county regulations that apply when buying or selling land?

Q. Who regulates the land use zoning?

Q. How do I obtain an address for a new home or lot?

Q. Who maintains and clears snow from my road or street?

Q. When are real and personal property tax payments due and is there a discount for early payment of taxes? Is there a penalty for late payment?

Q. When will I receive my tax bill and where can I pay it in person?

Q. Is there an option to pay my property taxes online, and is it safe?

Q. Is there a charge for reviewing property tax information online and can other people view my public records?

Q. How do I get a copy of my divorce decree?

Q. How do I get a copy of my military discharge?

Q. How do I obtain a driver's license?

A. Contact the North Dakota Department of Transportation at (701) 239-8940. The office is located at 503 38th Street Southwest in Fargo.

Q. How do I obtain a raffle permit?

A. Contact the city auditor where the actual drawing for a raffle prize is to be held. For a raffle drawing which will be held outside the city limits of an incorporated city where the actual drawing will be held, contact the county auditor at (701) 241-5601.

Q. Who do I call for a copy of my birth certificate?

A. Birth records are only available from the North Dakota Division of Vital Records in Bismarck. They can be ordered from the North Dakota State home page www.health.state.nd.us/ndhd/admin/vital.

Q. Where do I go to register to vote and where is my polling place?

A. North Dakota does not have voter registration. You only need to go to your polling place on election day to cast your ballot. You can find your polling place by reviewing the election section of the county's website or by calling the County Auditor's Office at (701) 241-5601.

Q. How do I obtain a hunting or fishing license in North Dakota?

A. You may purchase some licenses on line at North Dakota State Game and Fish or by calling 1-800-406-6409. Licenses are also available at the County Auditor's Office, located at 211 9th Street South in Fargo from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and at various license vendors throughout Cass County. For a listing of the vendors and times they are open, visit the Game and Fish section of the county's website.

Q. How do I obtain a marriage license?

A. A marriage license must be applied for in person at the office of the Cass County Treasurer, 211 9th Street South in Fargo. Applicants do not have to be Cass County residents, however, both parties are required to be present and complete the application. In order to obtain a marriage license, you must be 18 years of age or older. You must provide the following information for both parties:

- Full names
- Addresses
- Dates of birth
- Counties where each person lives
- Social security card
- Names the bride and groom want to use after marriage
- If previously married, a certified copy of the divorce decree
- Proper identification (need social security cards and driver's licenses)
- $65.00 (check or cash only) is payable at the time of applying for the license

In the State of North Dakota, there is no waiting period after you apply for the license before the marriage may take place. The license must be used within 60 days and may be used anywhere in North Dakota. For further information, contact the County Treasurer at (701) 241-5608 or treasurer@casscountynd.gov.

Q. Do I need a building permit and how do I obtain one?

A. A building permit is required for nearly all building projects from the city or township where a project is located. For lots within the City of Fargo or extraterritorial (ET) boundary contact the Fargo Building Inspection Department at (701) 241-1561. For other areas use the cities and townships links .

Q. How do I find out if a particular parcel of land is located in the floodplain?

A. Cities and townships who are participants in the National Flood Insurance Program usually have maps which can be reviewed to determine relationship to the floodplain. You may obtain your own copy of a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) by contacting FEMA at 1-800-358-9616. For properties within the City of Fargo or extraterritorial (ET) boundary, contact the City Engineer's Office at (701) 241-1545 or feng@ci.fargo.nd.us. For other areas, use the following city or township contact lists to find the appropriate Flood Plain Administrator or contact the County Planner at (701) 298-2375

Q. Are there any county regulations that apply when buying or selling land?

A. If the sale of land involves the splitting of property so that the parcel being sold has a separate legal description, the county and cities have applicable regulations. For land within the City of Fargo, or extraterritorial (ET) boundary, contact the Fargo Planning Office at (701) 241-1474. For land within the City of West Fargo, or extraterritorial (ET) boundary, contact the West Fargo Planning Office at (701) 282-3837. For rural property, contact the County Planner at (701) 298-2375 or visit the Planning Page.

Q. Who regulates the zoning of land?

A. The City of Fargo regulates zoning within their city limits and extraterritorial (ET) boundaries: (701) 241-1474. The City of West Fargo regulates zoning within their city limits and extraterritorial (ET) boundaries: (701) 282-3837. Land located within all other cities can use the following cities link. If the property is located outside the jurisdiction of a city, contact the appropriate township for their zoning regulations.

Q. How do I obtain an address for a new home or lot?

A. Contact the County Planner at (701) 298-2375 or use the Address Request Form and provide the following information in order for an appropriate address to be assigned: legal description of the property location, distance from the nearest section corner to the driveway into the property for which an address is being requested, your name and daytime phone number where you can be reached if there are any questions.

Q. Who maintains and clears snow from my road or street?

A. Streets within cities and towns: Maintained by the City Public Works Departments

Fargo Streets: (701)241-1453 or www.ci.fargo.nd.us/PublicWorks/Street/streetdept.htm

West Fargo Streets: (701) 282-3099

Other towns in Cass County: Call the City Hall in your town

Designated Cass County Highways: Maintained by the Cass County Highway Department: (701) 282-2226 or highway@casscountynd.gov

Interstate Highways and State Highways: Maintained by the State Highway Department at (701) 239-8900. For interstate road conditions, call (701) 239-8950 or www.state.nd.us/dot/rrs_mapc.html

Rural roads that are not State or County highways: Maintained by the township. Click here for a directory of township officials in Cass County

Rural roads within rural subdivisions: Generally maintained by the township. In a few instances, the townships have not taken over the subdivision roads so the subdivision residents are responsible for their own road maintenance. Click here for a directory of township officials in Cass County.

Q. When are real and personal property tax payments due and is there a discount for early payment of taxes? Is there a penalty for late payment?

A. Due dates for taxes in Cass County are as follows: Taxes for the first installment are due March 1 and are considered late on March 2. Taxes for the second installment are due October 15 and are considered late on October 16. If you pay your tax bill in full by February 15, you will receive a 5 percent discount calculated on your consolidated tax. If you miss the deadline for a tax payment, the penalties for real estate and mobile home installments are listed on the following website: http://cass.nd.ezgov.com/property/faq_process.jsp#1_4

Q. When will I receive my tax bill and where can I pay it in person?

A. Property tax bills are mailed during the first part of December each year to the owner of record as of November 1. If there is a mortgage on the property, the mortgage holder receives a copy of the tax bill. Depending upon when a property was transferred, new owners should contact their title company or review their closing statement to determine who is responsible for paying the taxes. Unpaid taxes will continue to accrue against the property unless the bill is paid.

There are 13 banking locations where you can pay your property tax bill in person, including the Cass County Treasurer's Office, Courthouse, 211 9th Street South, Fargo, (701) 241-5611, during the hours of 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Q. Is there an option to pay my property taxes online, and is it safe?

A. You may pay your property taxes online by clicking here. Making payments online is actually safer and more dependable than paying by mail. EzGov has implemented a state-of-the-art secure network for processing payments. This system uses cutting-edge encryption technology to ensure that only those approved by you can have access to your confidential information.

Q. Is there a charge for reviewing property tax information online and can other people view my public records?

A. There is no charge for reviewing tax information about an individual property. Like all public records, all property tax information is available to any individual or company that wishes to review it.

Q. How do I get a copy of my divorce decree?

A. Contact the Clerk of District Courts in the Courthouse at 701-241-5645.

Q. How do I get a copy of my military discharge?

A. Contact the Veterans' Services Officer in the Annex at (701)-241-5746 or brent@casscountynd.gov