About Bismarck

February 11, 2026

Rebecca Sabot
Real Estate Agent

If you felt a rumble recently or saw headlines about seismic activity in nearby Montana, you might be wondering: does Bismarck, North Dakota actually get earthquakes?

Short answer: yes—but they are rare, usually minor, and typically not a structural concern for homeowners.

Bismarck is not located near a major fault line like California, Alaska, or even parts of Montana. However, small earthquakes have occurred in North Dakota over the years. Most are so minor they can only be detected by sensitive instruments and are not strong enough to cause damage.

For homeowners and buyers in Bismarck and Mandan, earthquake risk is considered low compared to many other parts of the United States.

EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY IN NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota is generally considered a low-seismic state. The most commonly referenced earthquake activity has occurred in western North Dakota, particularly in areas associated with the Bakken oil region.

In recent years, small earthquakes have been recorded near towns like Stanley and Williston. Some of these events have been linked to deep wastewater injection wells used in oil production.

Bismarck, located in central North Dakota, has not historically experienced damaging seismic events. When earthquakes are felt here, they are usually very mild and may even originate from neighboring states such as Montana.

HOW COMMON ARE EARTHQUAKES IN BISMARCK?

Bismarck sits far from major tectonic plate boundaries. The region does not have active fault systems comparable to those found along the West Coast.

Seismic monitoring shows that most earthquakes in North Dakota are below magnitude 3.0. For context, earthquakes under magnitude 3.0 are often not felt and rarely cause damage.

If you compare earthquake risk in Bismarck to cities like Los Angeles or Seattle, the difference is dramatic. Those cities are built with strict seismic building codes due to frequent activity. In Bismarck and Mandan, earthquake-resistant design is generally not a primary concern in residential construction.

SHOULD HOMEOWNERS BE WORRIED?

In practical terms: no.

Standard home construction in Bismarck and Mandan is not typically designed around earthquake loads because the risk is minimal. Instead, local building practices focus on challenges that matter more here—freeze-thaw cycles, expansive soils, high winds, and snow loads.

If you are buying a home in Bismarck, an inspection should focus more on foundation movement from soil conditions than seismic damage. As a full-time realtor serving the Bismarck-Mandan area, I can confidently say earthquake concerns rarely come up during transactions.

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK WE HAVE EARTHQUAKES?

Occasionally, residents may feel vibrations that are not tectonic earthquakes at all.

These can include:

• Quarry blasting
• Heavy truck traffic
• Construction activity
• Distant seismic events from Montana

When a measurable earthquake does occur in the region, it often makes headlines simply because it is unusual—not because it is destructive.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS

If you're relocating to Bismarck, one of the advantages of our region is relatively low natural disaster risk compared to many parts of the country. We do not deal with hurricanes, coastal flooding, wildfires, or frequent earthquakes.

That stability is one reason many buyers consider North Dakota real estate a steady and practical investment.

As with any home purchase, understanding local environmental factors matters—but earthquakes are low on the list in Bismarck and Mandan.