North Dakota · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
North Dakota tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in North Dakota, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for North Dakota renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in North Dakota
- Limit
- One month's rent. The landlord may ask for up to two months' rent if you have a felony conviction or a past court judgment for breaking a lease. A separate pet deposit is allowed, up to $2,500 or two months' rent, whichever is more. No pet deposit for a service or assistance animal.
- Deadline to return it
- Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver or mail the refund and a written notice to the last address you gave. Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing.
- Itemized list
- Yes. Any amount kept must be itemized in writing and sent with the refund within 30 days. The notice must say how much is refunded or how much you still owe. The law does not require receipts.
- What may be deducted
- Unpaid rent; damage caused by you, your guests or your pet through negligence; cleaning or repairs needed to return the unit to its move-in condition. Normal wear and tear cannot be charged.
- Interest
- Yes. The deposit must earn interest and the interest goes to you, but only if you lived there at least 9 months.
- Separate account
- Yes. The deposit must be kept in a federally insured, interest-bearing savings or checking account for your benefit.
- Move-in checklist
- Yes. At signing, the landlord must give you a written statement of the unit's condition, signed by both of you. It is the starting proof of the unit's condition, so write down every existing problem before you sign.
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- Three times the amount wrongly kept (treble damages) if the landlord withholds deposit money without reasonable justification.
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In North Dakota: Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing.
- Wait for the deadline: Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver or mail the refund and a written notice to the last address you gave.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $15,000. Small claims court in North Dakota on Small Claims Map
Repairs in North Dakota
- The landlord's duty
- The landlord must follow building and housing codes, make all repairs needed to keep the home fit and habitable, keep common areas clean and safe, keep electrical, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and appliances working, provide trash containers and removal, and supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat. N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-13.1.
- How to ask for repairs
- Tell the landlord about the problem (in writing is best, and keep a copy). The landlord gets a 'reasonable time' to fix it; the law does not set a number of days.
- Repair and deduct
- Allowed. If you notify the landlord of problems the landlord should fix and the landlord does not fix them within a reasonable time, you may repair them and deduct the cost from the rent. The law does not set a dollar cap. N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-13.
- Withholding rent
- No statute lets you simply stop paying rent. Instead, after notice and a reasonable time, you may repair and deduct, sue for the cost, or move out and stop owing rent. Not paying rent can get you evicted after a 3-day notice.
- Law
- N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-13, 47-16-13.1, 47-16-17
Landlord entry in North Dakota
No fixed number of hours. The landlord may enter only at reasonable hours and in a reasonable way, and must first notify you and get your consent for a specific time, unless that is impractical. You may not refuse consent unreasonably; if you don't object after notice, consent is presumed. The landlord may enter anytime in an emergency, if they reasonably believe you abandoned the unit, or if they reasonably believe you are seriously violating the lease. Entry may not be used to harass you. N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-07.3.
Eviction in North Dakota
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 3-day written notice of intention to evict before the landlord can file in court. Eviction is allowed when rent is unpaid for 3 days after it is due. The law does not say weekends or holidays are excluded.
- Notice for a lease violation
- 3-day written notice of intention to evict for breaking a material term of a written lease. The law does not give you a right to fix (cure) the problem. For disturbing other tenants, no 3-day notice is required.
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- At least one calendar month's written notice by either side, unless you agreed in writing to a longer period. A lease clause requiring you to give more than one month's notice only counts if you initialed it.
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- The court summons sets a hearing 3 to 15 days after it is issued. Go to the hearing; that is your chance to tell your side. If you lose, you can ask the judge for up to 5 more days to move out because of hardship.
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- Yes. The Attorney General says the landlord cannot lock you out, cut off utilities or take your belongings; only a district court eviction judgment can remove you. Belongings worth $2,500 or less that you leave behind may be kept or sold by the landlord 28 or more days after it learns, or it reasonably appears, that you moved out. After an eviction judgment is carried out, the landlord may remove your things and hold them until you pay reasonable moving and storage costs (N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-30.1).
- Court self-help
- The court's eviction self-help page
- Law
- N.D. Cent. Code 47-32-01, 47-32-02, 47-32-04, 47-16-15, 47-16-30.1
Rent increases and rent control in North Dakota
- Notice of a rent increase
- For month-to-month rentals, at least 30 days' written notice before the end of the month. After a rent increase notice, you may end the tenancy at the end of the month with 25 days' notice. During a fixed-term lease, rent generally cannot be raised. N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-07, 47-16-15(3).
- Rent control
- No statewide rent control or rent cap. We found no city rent control in North Dakota.
Late fees in North Dakota
No statute caps late fees. The Attorney General says the lease must state whether there is a late fee, how much it is and when it is charged.
Retaliation in North Dakota
No general anti-retaliation statute was found. The only retaliation ban protects tenants who end a lease because of domestic violence (statutory damages of $1,000 plus actual damages and attorney fees). N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-17.1(10)-(11).
Small claims court in North Dakota
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $15,000.
Where to get free help in North Dakota
Good to know in North Dakota
- The landlord must hold your deposit in an interest-bearing bank account, and you get the interest if you stayed 9 months or more.
- Eviction moves very fast: the hearing can be as soon as 3 days after the summons is issued, and you can be evicted even in winter.
- A domestic violence victim may end a lease early with written notice, paying the rest of that month plus one more month's rent.
Free tools for North Dakota renters
Pre-set for North Dakota. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for North Dakota
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for North Dakota
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for North Dakota
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for North Dakota
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in North Dakota
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in North Dakota?
One month's rent. The landlord may ask for up to two months' rent if you have a felony conviction or a past court judgment for breaking a lease. A separate pet deposit is allowed, up to $2,500 or two months' rent, whichever is more. No pet deposit for a service or assistance animal.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in North Dakota?
Within 30 days after the lease ends and you give back possession, the landlord must deliver or mail the refund and a written notice to the last address you gave. Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in North Dakota?
Three times the amount wrongly kept (treble damages) if the landlord withholds deposit money without reasonable justification.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in North Dakota?
Unpaid rent; damage caused by you, your guests or your pet through negligence; cleaning or repairs needed to return the unit to its move-in condition. Normal wear and tear cannot be charged.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in North Dakota?
Yes. The deposit must earn interest and the interest goes to you, but only if you lived there at least 9 months.
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in North Dakota?
Tell the landlord about the problem (in writing is best, and keep a copy). The landlord gets a 'reasonable time' to fix it; the law does not set a number of days.
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in North Dakota?
Allowed. If you notify the landlord of problems the landlord should fix and the landlord does not fix them within a reasonable time, you may repair them and deduct the cost from the rent. The law does not set a dollar cap. N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-13.
Can I withhold rent for repairs in North Dakota?
No statute lets you simply stop paying rent. Instead, after notice and a reasonable time, you may repair and deduct, sue for the cost, or move out and stop owing rent. Not paying rent can get you evicted after a 3-day notice.
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in North Dakota?
No fixed number of hours. The landlord may enter only at reasonable hours and in a reasonable way, and must first notify you and get your consent for a specific time, unless that is impractical. You may not refuse consent unreasonably; if you don't object after notice, consent is presumed. The landlord may enter anytime in an emergency, if they reasonably believe you abandoned the unit, or if they reasonably believe you are seriously violating the lease. Entry may not be used to harass you. N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-07.3.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in North Dakota?
3-day written notice of intention to evict before the landlord can file in court. Eviction is allowed when rent is unpaid for 3 days after it is due. The law does not say weekends or holidays are excluded.
How much notice for a lease violation in North Dakota?
3-day written notice of intention to evict for breaking a material term of a written lease. The law does not give you a right to fix (cure) the problem. For disturbing other tenants, no 3-day notice is required.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in North Dakota?
At least one calendar month's written notice by either side, unless you agreed in writing to a longer period. A lease clause requiring you to give more than one month's notice only counts if you initialed it.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in North Dakota?
The court summons sets a hearing 3 to 15 days after it is issued. Go to the hearing; that is your chance to tell your side. If you lose, you can ask the judge for up to 5 more days to move out because of hardship.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in North Dakota?
Yes. The Attorney General says the landlord cannot lock you out, cut off utilities or take your belongings; only a district court eviction judgment can remove you. Belongings worth $2,500 or less that you leave behind may be kept or sold by the landlord 28 or more days after it learns, or it reasonably appears, that you moved out. After an eviction judgment is carried out, the landlord may remove your things and hold them until you pay reasonable moving and storage costs (N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-30.1).
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in North Dakota?
For month-to-month rentals, at least 30 days' written notice before the end of the month. After a rent increase notice, you may end the tenancy at the end of the month with 25 days' notice. During a fixed-term lease, rent generally cannot be raised. N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-07, 47-16-15(3).
Is there rent control in North Dakota?
No statewide rent control or rent cap. We found no city rent control in North Dakota.
Is there a limit on late fees in North Dakota?
No statute caps late fees. The Attorney General says the lease must state whether there is a late fee, how much it is and when it is charged.
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in North Dakota?
No general anti-retaliation statute was found. The only retaliation ban protects tenants who end a lease because of domestic violence (statutory damages of $1,000 plus actual damages and attorney fees). N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-17.1(10)-(11).
What is the small claims limit in North Dakota?
$15,000.