Fargo, North Dakota Public Records

Cass County is served by several law enforcement agencies, including the Cass County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments. The Fargo Police Department is the largest city department, responsible for law enforcement within Fargo's city limits. Other city departments include the West Fargo Police Department and the Horace Police Department. These agencies collaborate on major crimes and emergencies, sharing resources and information to enhance public safety. Each department has jurisdiction over its respective city, while the sheriff's office covers the broader county area, ensuring comprehensive law enforcement coverage.

The Cass County Jail, located in Fargo, is the primary detention facility for individuals arrested within the county. The booking process involves fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal information of the detainee. Inmate lookup services are available online, allowing the public to search for current inmates. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, typically requiring visitors to schedule visits in advance and adhere to strict guidelines. The bond and bail process in North Dakota allows for the posting of bail to secure the release of an inmate, with specific procedures outlined by the court system. To find someone recently arrested, individuals can contact the jail directly or use the online inmate search tool provided by the sheriff's office.

Fargo residents are served by the Fargo Municipal Court, located at 225 4th Street North, Fargo, ND 58102 (phone: 701-241-1480), which handles city ordinance violations, traffic citations, and misdemeanor offenses occurring within city limits. For more serious matters, the East Central Judicial District Court (Cass County District Court) is located at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5600, website: www.ndcourts.gov). This court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding small claims limits, family law cases including divorce and child custody, probate and estate matters, and other major proceedings. Small claims cases involving disputes up to $15,000 are also heard in District Court. North Dakota provides a statewide case search portal at www.ndcourts.gov/public-access, where users can search by party name, case number, or attorney to view case information, filed documents, and hearing schedules for cases statewide, including Cass County. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Clerk of District Court for a fee of $10 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. Civil filing fees vary by case type, with standard civil complaints requiring approximately $80 and divorce petitions costing around $80 as well. Records are maintained according to North Dakota court rules, with public access presumed unless sealed by court order.

The criminal records system in Cass County encompasses various types of records, including felony, misdemeanor, traffic violations, and the sex offender registry. The Cass County Sheriff's Office and local police departments maintain these records, which are accessible to the public under the North Dakota Open Records Statute. To run a background check, individuals can contact the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which provides statewide criminal history information. The bureau offers an online portal for background checks, allowing residents to obtain comprehensive criminal records for personal or professional purposes.

Arrest records in Cass County are maintained by the Cass County Sheriff's Office and the Fargo Police Department. These records include details of the arrest, charges, and personal information of the arrestee. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records by contacting the respective law enforcement agency. Under the North Dakota Open Records Statute, public access to arrest records is generally permitted, although certain restrictions may apply to protect ongoing investigations or sensitive information. A typical Cass County arrest record will include the date and location of the arrest, charges filed, and the arresting officer's information.

Property and land records for Fargo are maintained by Cass County. The Cass County Assessor's Office, located at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5609, website: www.casscountynd.gov/departments/assessor), maintains property assessment records including parcel information, property valuations, tax assessments, ownership history, and property characteristics. The county offers a free online Property Search tool at www.casscountynd.gov/departments/assessor where users can search by owner name, property address, or parcel number to view current assessed values, property classification, building details, and sales history. The Cass County Recorder's Office, also at 211 9th Street South (phone: 701-241-5630, website: www.casscountynd.gov/departments/recorder), is responsible for recording and maintaining documents affecting real property, including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments. The Recorder provides free online access to recorded documents through its Document Search portal, allowing users to search by name, document type, date range, or legal description and view scanned images of recorded instruments dating back several decades. Recording fees are established by state law, with standard documents costing $10 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Cass County also maintains a GIS parcel viewer accessible through the county website, offering interactive mapping tools to view property boundaries, ownership, zoning, and geographic features.

Fargo's economy is diverse and robust, anchored by several major sectors including healthcare, technology, education, and finance. Sanford Health, one of the nation's largest rural healthcare systems, employs thousands at its Fargo facilities, while Essentia Health operates significant medical facilities as well. Microsoft operates a major campus in Fargo, making the city a growing technology hub in the Upper Midwest. North Dakota State University (NDSU), with approximately 14,000 students, is a major employer and contributes significantly to research, particularly in agriculture and engineering. Financial services are strong with Gate City Bank, Bell Bank, and other regional financial institutions headquartered in Fargo. Other major employers include Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Bobcat Company, the Fargo Public School District, and various retail and service sector businesses. The median household income in Fargo is approximately $64,000, above the national average, reflecting the city's strong employment base. Recent economic development includes downtown revitalization, expansion of technology sector jobs, and continued growth in medical services. Fargo's economy drives much of Cass County's prosperity, as the city contains roughly 80% of the county's population. The region benefits from agricultural productivity in surrounding areas while maintaining urban economic diversity. Unemployment rates typically remain below state and national averages, and the metro area continues to attract young professionals and families with its combination of job opportunities, relatively low cost of living, and quality of life.

The Fargo Police Department, headquartered at 222 4th Street North, Fargo, ND 58102 (phone: 701-235-4493, website: www.fargond.gov/city-government/departments/police), serves the city with full law enforcement services. Citizens can request police reports and incident records by visiting the Records Division in person or submitting written requests; copies of crash reports and incident reports are available for a fee, typically $10-25 depending on the type of report. The Cass County Sheriff's Office, located at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5800, website: www.casscountynd.gov/departments/sheriff), provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of Cass County and operates the Cass County Jail. Arrest and jail booking records can be searched through the Cass County Jail Inmate Roster at www.casscountynd.gov/departments/jail, which displays current inmates, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots. North Dakota's open records law is codified in North Dakota Century Code Chapter 44-04, which grants citizens the right to access public records from government agencies. Requests must be made in writing, and agencies must respond within a reasonable time. Law enforcement agencies may withhold certain records if disclosure would interfere with ongoing investigations, endanger individuals, or invade personal privacy as outlined in NDCC 44-04-18.1. Fees for copying records cannot exceed actual costs.

Vital records for Fargo residents are managed primarily at the state level. Birth and death certificates are issued by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Vital Records, located at 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Department 301, Bismarck, ND 58505-0200 (phone: 701-328-2360, website: www.ndhealth.gov/vital). Birth certificates cost $7 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously, while death certificates cost $5 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks for mail requests. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com for expedited service with additional convenience fees. Birth records are available from July 1893 forward, and only eligible individuals (person named on record, parent, legal guardian, legal representative, or someone with court order) can request certified copies. Death records follow similar restrictions. Marriage licenses are issued by the Cass County Recorder's Office at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5630). The marriage license fee is $65, and there is no waiting period in North Dakota. Marriage records are public and can be searched through the Recorder's online database. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Clerk of District Court at 211 9th Street South (phone: 701-241-5600), where certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained for $10 for the first page and $2 per additional page. All vital records requests require valid photo identification, and North Dakota law restricts access to certain vital records to protect privacy.

Business licensing and entity registration for Fargo involves multiple levels of government. The City of Fargo does require business registration for most commercial activities. The Business License Division at Fargo City Hall, 225 4th Street North, Fargo, ND 58102 (phone: 701-241-1423), administers city business licenses with fees varying by business type and size. Most businesses pay annual fees ranging from $25 to several hundred dollars depending on the category. Applications are available at www.fargond.gov, and the city maintains a searchable database of licensed businesses. Certain professional services and home-based businesses may have different requirements. At the county level, Cass County does not generally require separate business licenses, but fictitious name (DBA) filings are registered with the Cass County Recorder's Office at 211 9th Street South (phone: 701-241-5630). For state-level entity formation, the North Dakota Secretary of State maintains the Central Indexing System for corporations, LLCs, nonprofits, and other business entities. The Secretary of State's office is at 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505 (phone: 701-328-4284, website: www.sos.nd.gov). The state provides a free Business Information Search at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov where anyone can search by business name or registered agent to view entity status, formation date, registered agent information, and principal office address. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which establish security interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with the Secretary of State and searchable through the Central Indexing System. Commercial property owners can look up assessed values and tax information through the Cass County Assessor's online property search system, which includes both residential and commercial parcels.

Fargo voters are served by the Cass County Elections Office, located within the Cass County Auditor-Treasurer's Office at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5600, website: www.casscountynd.gov/departments/auditor-treasurer/elections). North Dakota is unique among states in that it does not require voter registration. Eligible residents can vote by presenting valid identification at their polling place on Election Day. Acceptable IDs include a North Dakota driver's license, non-driver ID card, tribal government-issued ID, or long-term care certificate. If the ID does not show current address, voters must provide supplemental documentation. This same-day voting system means there are no registration deadlines. Fargo municipal elections are held in June of odd-numbered years for city commission seats and mayor. The next Fargo municipal election will be held in June 2025. Fargo operates under a commission form of government with five commissioners, including the mayor. Candidate filings and local ballot measures are announced through the City Auditor's Office and published on the city website at www.fargond.gov/city-government/departments/city-auditor. Polling place information can be found through the Secretary of State's Polling Place Finder at https://vip.sos.nd.gov or by contacting the Cass County Elections Office. In the November 2024 presidential election, Cass County saw approximately 62% voter turnout with over 95,000 ballots cast out of roughly 110,000 eligible voters, reflecting strong civic engagement in the state's most populous county. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature critical races including the U.S. Senate seat (North Dakota's Class III seat is up in 2028, but Class I is up in 2024, so 2026 will not have a U.S. Senate race from North Dakota), North Dakota's at-large U.S. House seat, state legislative seats for District 46 and District 27 which serve Fargo, Cass County Commission seats, Cass County Sheriff, and other county offices. Absentee voting is available in North Dakota for voters who will be absent from their precinct on Election Day, are unable to vote due to illness or disability, or meet other qualifying reasons. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Cass County Elections Office, and ballots can be returned by mail or delivered in person. North Dakota makes extensive election records public, including precinct-level results available at https://results.sos.nd.gov, candidate filings accessible through the Secretary of State, and campaign finance reports searchable at https://vip.sos.nd.gov.