Zoning
Bismarck — North Dakota's state capital — permits STRs broadly across residential and commercial zones with business license + lodging tax registration + life-safety standards. No primary-residence requirement, no nights cap, no zoning-class ban. STR demand is shaped by legislative-session activity (biennial 80-day session January-April odd years), state-government business travel, and oil-patch workforce ancillary demand. Downtown Bismarck and the Capitol Mall area host most short-stay political/lobbying STR inventory; suburban areas around the airport + medical campus serve mid-term workforce demand.
Zoning: STRs permitted in R-5, R-10, R-15, R-20, R-25 single-family + low-density residential and CA Commercial Activity, CB Central Business, CO Commercial Office, ID Industrial zones. The Capitol-area + downtown historic blocks have design-review overlays for exterior work but STR use itself is broadly permitted. Properties within HOA-governed developments may have separate restrictions — verify HOA documents.