What does R-2 zoning mean in Bismarck?

R-2 is a residential district under Bismarck's Title 14 zoning code allowing both single-family and two-family (duplex) structures.

How do I find the zoning for an address in Bismarck?

Bismarck's Planning & Community Development Department GIS portal returns the current zoning district for a parcel by address.

Is Bismarck rewriting its zoning code?

Yes — the city is transitioning from Title 14 toward a new Land Development Code intended to consolidate and modernize its zoning and subdivision regulations.

Bismarck, North Dakota · city zoning districts · 13 districts

Bismarck, ND zoning map & districts

Bismarck's zoning is set out in Title 14 of the city's Code of Ordinances, administered by the city's Planning & Community Development Department. The city is in the process of transitioning to a new Land Development Code intended to rewrite and consolidate its zoning and subdivision standards. As the state capital, Bismarck's development pattern combines a traditional downtown core with substantial suburban-style residential and commercial growth on its periphery.

The code Bismarck Code of Ordinances, Title 14 (Zoning)

Bismarck zoning map

Bismarck's zoning map and Title 14 code text are maintained by the city's Planning & Community Development Department; parcel zoning is verified through the city's online GIS zoning lookup.

There is no link to the official map here yet — confirm current district boundaries directly with the Bismarck planning or zoning department.

A published summary is never the authority. The adopted ordinance and the city's official zoning map govern, and both change — verify the district and every standard on your parcel before you rely on it.

Bismarck zoning districts by family

The 13 district codes below are the ones that decide most projects in Bismarck, grouped by what they are for rather than by the order the ordinance prints them.

Key districts in the Bismarck Code of Ordinances, Title 14 (Zoning) — a curated reference, not the exhaustive list. Confirm against the current adopted code.
Code	District	What it is for
Residential 4 districts
R5	Single Family Residential	Corrected: replaces dataset's R-1; R5/R10 is Bismarck's actual current residential code scheme.
R10	Two Family Residential	Corrected: replaces dataset's R-2; confirmed on official Aug 2025 zoning map legend.
RM10	Multi-Family Residential	Corrected: replaces dataset's R-3; Bismarck uses RM6/RM10/RM13/RM15/RM20/RM30 tiers, not R-3.
RR	Rural Single Family Residential	Added: confirmed on official zoning map, missing from dataset.
Mixed-use 1 district
RT	Office-Multi-Family Residential	Added: confirmed on official zoning map.
Commercial 2 districts
CA	Neighborhood Commercial	Added: confirmed on official zoning map.
CG	Heavy Commercial	Corrected: replaces dataset's C-2, which does not exist; CG/CL/CM are Bismarck's actual commercial codes.
Downtown / core 2 districts
DC	Downtown Core	Corrected: replaces dataset's CBD, which does not exist in Bismarck's code; DC/DF are the real downtown districts.
DF	Downtown Fringe	Added: confirmed on official zoning map, missing from dataset.
Industrial 2 districts
MA	Light Industrial	Corrected: replaces dataset's LI, which does not exist; Bismarck's actual code is MA.
MB	Heavy Industrial	Added: confirmed on official zoning map.
Special purpose 2 districts
A	Agricultural	Added: confirmed on official zoning map.
PUD	Planned Unit Development	Added: confirmed on official zoning map.

Bismarck zoning — common questions

What does R-2 zoning mean in Bismarck?: R-2 is a residential district under Bismarck's Title 14 zoning code allowing both single-family and two-family (duplex) structures.
How do I find the zoning for an address in Bismarck?: Bismarck's Planning & Community Development Department GIS portal returns the current zoning district for a parcel by address.
Is Bismarck rewriting its zoning code?: Yes — the city is transitioning from Title 14 toward a new Land Development Code intended to consolidate and modernize its zoning and subdivision regulations.

Working in North Dakota? Get on the list.

The parcel layer lands in the order demand does. Illinois went first because that's where the deals were; the next state is decided by who tells us what they're trying to underwrite. Tell us where you're building and what you wanted to run — you'll hear from us when North Dakota opens, and sooner if we need a test parcel.

Keep reading

← North Dakota zoning — who holds the zoning power in North Dakota, under which enabling statute, and the reforms that override local rules.

Other North Dakota cities

The zoning reference → — every state, plus city-level district guides like this one.

Bismarck zoning summaries on this page are provided for information, not legal advice. Confirm every project against the current adopted code for the jurisdiction.