The customs house is situated on the corner of the streets Tollbugata and Hålogalandssgata, with the main façade facing the street Tollbugata and the harbour. The customs service still has its office in this two-storied building, which is terminated with a hipped roof. Roughly hewn granite blocks of varying sizes, also known as hacking, comprise the characteristic façade. This type of treatment of the façade was common around 1900 and onwards. At the same time, hacking was also characteristic as a national style - literally taken from the mother country itself. The Customs House in Bodø is a good example of how hacking can be employed in the Jugendstil, and here is combined with Jugendstil windows with various sized panes. Slate covers the roof.

The customs house was designed by Søren Wiese-Opsahl. He was actually the first person educated as an architect, who had his office in Bodø. In addition to the customs house, he also designed Norges Bank in Bodø (1909), and the building which today houses the Art Museum of Northern Norway in Tromsø (1918). The customs house was declared a listed building in 1999.