The Renaissance Zone program is to revitalize communities in our state and encourage development through tax incentives. It is a tool to help cities revitalize their communities. By offering both state and local tax incentives for 5 years, both residents and business owners are provided with an incentive to invest in the community. The program is unique in that cities develop handcrafted development plans that address each city's specific goals.
The size of the zone is dependent upon the size of the city applying for the Renaissance Zone. For communities with a population under 5000, a Renaissance Zone may consist of an area of up to contiguous 34 blocks. For communities of more than five thousand population, the defined area may exceed 34 blocks up to a maximum of 49 blocks, based on one additional block for each additional five thousand in population.
The Renaissance Zone must have both residential and commercial properties. Several activities qualify as a project including:
- Purchase
- Rehabilitation
- Purchase (New Construction)
- Purchase with Major Improvements
- Historical
- Lease
- Leasehold Improvements
- Public Utility Infrastructure
Benefits
A Renaissance Zone can be a beneficial tool for community redevelopment and economic investment if properly developed, implemented, and managed. It is crucial that a request to designate a Renaissance Zone is not looked upon simply as a method to provide tax exemptions and credits. The community as a whole needs to be involved in creating a zone and the projects that are approved for the zone need to clearly relate to the long term broader development plans of the city. Click here for a listing of cities with Renaissance Zones.
To Apply
To apply for a Renaissance Zone, a city must first have a locally adopted comprehensive or strategic plan in place, and then create a development plan. Please submit your information using the form below, and we will get in touch with you shortly.
You may also contact the Renaissance Zone Program Administrator Rikki Roehrich at (701) 328-2687. For tax related questions please contact Liliya Montgomery at (701) 328-1296.
Renaissance Zone Fact Sheet
Renaissance Zone Guidelines
ND Renaissance Zone Program Statement
Certificate of Good Standing Requirement
Community Services requires a Certificate of Good Standing from the North Dakota Tax Department for all Renaissance Zones. To request a certificate, complete the Renaissance Zone Certificate of Good Standing Form and submit by mail, or fax to 701-328-1942.
Individual Income Tax Section
Office of State Tax Commissioner
600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 127
Bismarck ND 58505-0599
Approved certificates must be submitted to Community Services within 3 months of issue date.
Program Documents
Renaissance Zone Project Application (SFN59291)
Renaissance Zone Application/Development Plan Form (SFN62332)
Renaissance Zone and TIF Report (SFN60123)
Business Incentive Agreement (SFN59686)
Renaissance Zone Annual Data
As required by ND Century Code 40-63-03(10), an annual report must be submitted by all communities with a Renaissance Zone to be included in a report prepared for the legislative management interim committee on taxation issues. For questions related to this report, please contact Rikki Roehrich at rroehrich@nd.gov.