SOUTH BISMARCK · SERVICE AREA
Landscaping in South Bismarck
Bismarck Landscape works throughout south Bismarck, ZIP code 58504, from the Missouri River neighborhoods like Southport, Whispering Bay and Riverwood to SouthBay and the areas around Cottonwood Park.
South Bismarck sits on lower ground along the river, which shapes the yard work here. The jobs that matter most are drainage on flat lots, grading that follows the city’s floodplain rules, healthy lawns and trees, patios that hold up to frost, and snow removal.
SOUTH BISMARCK
South Bismarck at a Glance
| ZIP code | 58504 |
| Neighborhoods | Southport, Whispering Bay, Riverwood, Fox Island, SouthBay and others |
| Parks | Sertoma Park and the Dakota Zoo, Cottonwood Park, and the river trail |
| River | The Missouri River runs along the west side |
| Ground | Low, mostly flat lots near the river |
| Climate | USDA zone 4a, about 129 days between frosts |
The paved Missouri Valley Millennium Legacy Trail runs along the river from Pioneer Park south to Sertoma Park, home of the Dakota Zoo at 602 Riverside Park Road, and ends at the Bismarck Expressway.
RIVER & FLOODPLAIN
Living Near the Missouri River
The city’s own flood plans name south Bismarck neighborhoods directly. Bismarck’s 2015 Flood Response and Action Plan says:
- “In the summer of 2011, South Bismarck experienced a major Missouri River open water flood.” The river peaked at 19.3 feet at the Bismarck gauge.
- An ice jam threatened much of south Bismarck on March 24, 2009.
- Areas named in the plan include Southport, Whispering Bay, Riverwood Drive, Mills Avenue, Fox Island, Traynor Drive, Harbor Drive and Langer Lane.
The city’s 2020 Flood Mitigation Plan adds that properties in the 100-year and 500-year floodplains “remain vulnerable.” It notes that the levees protecting south Bismarck “are not certified by FEMA.” It also lists work done since 2011:
- Flood gates on stormwater outfalls
- A Burleigh County grade raise in the Fox Island area
None of this means your yard will flood. It means water and grading deserve more thought here than on a hilltop lot.
Grading or Adding Fill in the Floodplain
This is the local detail most people miss. The City of Bismarck’s floodplain development application covers more than buildings. It lists:
- Placement of fill
- Grading
- Excavation
- Storm water and drainage improvements
If your lot is in the special flood hazard area, the 100-year floodplain, check with Bismarck Building Inspection at 701-355-1465 before raising a low spot, building a berm or regrading. When fill goes into the floodplain, the city requires a Certification of Fill Form. Check FEMA’s flood map for your address first.
LOCAL YARD PRIORITIES
What South Bismarck Yards Need Most
- Drainage on flat lots. Flat ground leaves little room for error. The building code calls for the ground to drop at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet from the foundation. Get it sloping away, and carry roof water out past it. See yard drainage and grading.
- Sump and downspout water placement. The City of Bismarck says warm-weather sump water can go to the driveway, street or storm drain, and winter sump water should go to the sanitary sewer through a floor drain or tub. See fixing drainage on clay soil.
- Patios built for frost. Bismarck’s frost depth is 48 inches. A deep, well-drained gravel base keeps pavers from heaving. See frost heave and pavers and paver patios.
- Lawn care and sprinklers. See lawn care in Bismarck and irrigation.
- Plants for damp spots. If a low area stays wet, pick plants that handle it and our alkaline soil, like redosier dogwood. Skip acid-loving wet-soil plants like river birch.
TREES & WINTER
Trees, Snow and Yard Waste on the South Side
- Ash trees. Emerald ash borer was found in Bismarck in late August 2026. See should you treat or remove your ash tree.
- Boulevard trees need a city Forestry permit, and the Partners in Planting program pays back 50%, up to $100 per tree. See boulevard tree permits.
- Snow. Clear sidewalks within 24 hours under City Ordinance 10-03-04, and keep snow out of the street. See snow removal in Bismarck.
- Cottonwood Park grass site, at Santa Fe Avenue and South 12th Street, takes grass and leaves. The city also offers single-grind wood chips there at no charge, on a trial basis. The chips can’t leave Burleigh County.
- Branches go to the Bismarck Landfill, where clean wood costs $40 a ton.
LANDSCAPING SERVICES
Our Services in South Bismarck
Questions
South Bismarck Landscaping FAQ
Local answers about river-area lots, floodplain permits, drainage and yard care.
Questions about your south Bismarck lot?
Call to discuss the right landscaping plan for your property.
Do you do landscaping in south Bismarck?
Yes. Bismarck Landscape works throughout south Bismarck, ZIP code 58504, including Southport, Whispering Bay, Riverwood, Fox Island and SouthBay. We do drainage and grading, lawn and sprinkler care, patios, walls, trees and snow removal.
Do I need a permit to add fill or regrade near the river?
Possibly. The City of Bismarck’s floodplain development application covers placement of fill, grading, excavation and drainage work, not just buildings. If your lot is in the 100-year floodplain, check with Building Inspection at 701-355-1465 first. Fill in the floodplain requires a Certification of Fill Form.
Was south Bismarck flooded in 2011?
Yes. The city’s 2015 Flood Response and Action Plan says south Bismarck had a major Missouri River flood in the summer of 2011, with a peak of 19.3 feet at the Bismarck gauge. An ice jam also threatened much of south Bismarck in March 2009.
Are south Bismarck levees FEMA certified?
No. The City of Bismarck’s 2020 Flood Mitigation Plan says the levee structures protecting south Bismarck are not certified by FEMA. Check FEMA’s flood map for your address before major grading or building work.
Where can I take yard waste in south Bismarck?
To the City of Bismarck’s grass site at Cottonwood Park, at Santa Fe Avenue and South 12th Street. It takes grass and leaves, and the city offers wood chips there at no charge on a trial basis. Branches go to the Bismarck Landfill.
How do I keep water away from my foundation on a flat lot?
Build the slope in. The building code calls for the ground to drop at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet from the foundation. Extend downspouts past that slope into the lawn, and add a swale if water still sits. If you’re in the floodplain, check with the city before adding fill.
Bismarck Landscape
Get an Estimate in South Bismarck
Whether it’s water sitting by the house, a lawn that needs work or a patio you’ve been planning, call Bismarck Landscape at (701) 299-0740.
See our full service area, landscaping in south Bismarck, or contact options.