Basement finishing in Fargo
Finishing and remodeling for basements across North Dakota's largest city, from early 1900s homes near downtown to new builds on the south side.
Fargo is the Cass County seat and North Dakota's largest city, with 125,990 people at the 2020 census. Since the mid-1980s most of its residential growth has gone to the south and southwest, so the city's basements range from century-old foundations near downtown to poured walls a few years old.
Older neighborhoods
Around downtown, in Horace Mann and in the Roosevelt area near NDSU, basements were often finished decades ago, if at all. Those spaces tend to need remodeling rather than a first finish: low ceilings, small windows, old wiring and walls that have been patched more than once. Many Roosevelt-area homes are student rentals, and a rented basement bedroom needs the same escape window as any other.
South Fargo
Newer homes on the south side usually have taller poured walls, a rough-in for a basement bath and one egress window already in place. Owners finishing those basements are mostly adding a family room, a second bath and one or two more bedrooms, each of which needs its own escape opening.
Water and clay
The Red River crested at 39.5 feet in 1997 and 40.84 feet in 2009, and homes near the river or in low spots have often had seepage or backup. The North Dakota Geological Survey has documented foundation movement in parts of northwestern Fargo built on soft lake clays. Both are reasons to deal with drainage and cracks before finishing.
Permits
The City of Fargo Inspections Department handles building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, applied for through its online permit portal.
Common questions
Can my basement in a flood-prone part of Fargo be finished?
Often, yes, but drainage, sump and backflow protection should be addressed first, and some finishes hold up to water better than others. Ask the contractor about materials that can be dried and reused.
Do Fargo student rentals need egress in basement bedrooms?
A room used for sleeping needs an emergency escape opening under the code Fargo enforces, whether the occupant owns or rents.
Services in Fargo
- Full basement finishingTurning a bare concrete basement into finished living space: framing, insulation, wiring, drywall, ceilings and floors.
- Basement remodelingGutting and redoing a dated or damaged finished basement, from wood paneling and drop ceilings to a new layout.
- Basement bathroomsAdding a full or half bath downstairs, including breaking the slab for drains when there's no rough-in.
- Basement bedrooms and egressMaking a basement sleeping room legal in Fargo: an escape window, alarms, and a layout that passes inspection.
- Wet bars and home theatersFamily rooms built around a bar sink, a big screen or both, with the plumbing, wiring and sound control planned in.
Nearby areas
Ready to use the space under your feet?
Call and a local basement finishing contractor will look at the space, the moisture and the permits with you.