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North Dakota: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

North Dakota has 377,000 housing units. 47.8% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1982. 62.9% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

North Dakota housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

North Dakota housing units by year built 47.8% of North Dakota housing units were built before 1980 and 52.2% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 1.8%; 2010–2019: 18.5%; 2000–2009: 12.0%; 1990–1999: 9.4%; 1980–1989: 10.6%; 1970–1979: 16.5%; 1960–1969: 8.1%; 1950–1959: 8.1%; 1940–1949: 3.6%; 1939 or earlier: 11.5%. Before 1980 47.8% 1980 or later 52.2% 2020 or later 1.8% 2010–2019 18.5% 2000–2009 12.0% 1990–1999 9.4% 1980–1989 10.6% 1970–1979 16.5% 1960–1969 8.1% 1950–1959 8.1% 1940–1949 3.6% 1939 or earlier 11.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in North Dakota.

How homes are heated

How homes in North Dakota are heated

Main heating fuel, share of about 331,000 occupied homes

  • Utility gas 41.3%
  • Electricity 40.0%
  • Propane or other tank gas 13.5%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 1.9%
  • Other fuel 1.6%
  • No fuel used 1.3%
  • Wood 0.3%
  • Coal or coke 0.1%
  • Solar energy <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how North Dakota's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
6A71.8%37
728.2%16

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. All of North Dakota falls in the Northern zone.

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 185 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 169 days in the mildest county to 209 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

1.8% of residential structures in North Dakota carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 4,925 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, none of North Dakota's 53 counties rates high or very high for riverine flooding, coastal flooding or hurricanes.

Fire ants and termites

No county in North Dakota is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in North Dakota

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. North Dakota State University Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program (for the North Dakota Pesticide Control Board) ndda.nd.gov ndda.nd.gov
  11. North Dakota State University Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program (for the North Dakota Pesticide Control Board) ndlegis.gov ndlegis.gov
  12. North Dakota State University Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program (for the North Dakota Pesticide Control Board) ndsu.edu ndsu.edu
  13. North Dakota State University Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program (for the North Dakota Pesticide Control Board) ndsu.edu ndsu.edu
  14. North Dakota Secretary of State sos.nd.gov sos.nd.gov
  15. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov