North Dakota security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in North Dakota
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When did you move out?
This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.
Statute-verified in 50 U.S. jurisdictions and counting — everywhere else, a specialist prepares your case by hand until verification clears.
North Dakota security deposit return timeline
Deadline to return
30 days
Statute
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(3)-(4)
Itemization of any portion not paid to the lessee, together with the amount due, must be delivered or mailed to the lessee at the last address furnished to the lessor, along with written notice, within 30 days after termination of the lease AND delivery of possession by the lessee. The notice must state any amount still due the lessor or the refund due the lessee. The lessor need not pay interest if the occupancy was less than nine months. Amounts unclaimed for one year after termination fall under unclaimed-property reporting (§ 47-30.2-04). Where a domestic-violence victim terminates under § 47-16-17.1, that section's subsection 8 controls when the deposit-payment clock is triggered.
What can a landlord legally deduct in North Dakota?
Allowed
- ✓Damages from deterioration or injury to the property caused by the lessee's pet or through the negligence of the lessee or the lessee's guest
- ✓Unpaid rent
- ✓Costs of cleaning or other repairs that were the lessee's responsibility and are necessary to return the unit to its original state, reasonable wear and tear excepted
Not allowed
- ✗Reasonable wear and tear
What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in North Dakota?
TREBLE (3x) DAMAGES: 'A lessor is liable for treble damages for any security deposit money withheld without reasonable justification.' N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(4).
How TenantNex helps
- 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
- 2. We generate a demand letter citing N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(3)-(4) and your exact deadline.
- 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
- 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.
$39 per case — founding price, one flat fee, no subscription.
North Dakota tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(3)-(4) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-04.
Every fact on this page is verified against North Dakota's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in North Dakota.
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See what you're owed
FREE · 30 secondsYour money is due back
30 days
North Dakota law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.
If they wrongfully withhold
up to 3× your deposit
Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(3)-(4) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-04
Your 30 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 3× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.
Secure checkout · Letter ready in 30 min · Full refund if not satisfied
Used by renters in 4 states — 15 people in the past two weeks found out exactly what they're owed this way.
We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.
Pay once. We handle the rest.
One case, one price — the letter, the certified mailing, the tracking, and the follow-up. No subscription, no recurring anything.
| Option | Price | Effort | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | — | All of it | You chase |
| TenantNex | $39 | Done for you | We chase |
| Small-claims services | $149–448 | — | — |
| Hire an attorney | $300–2,000+ | — | — |
An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.
Recover
We run your claim until you are paid — or you are ready to file.
- Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
- Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
- Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
- Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
- Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
- Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
- Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
- Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days
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What TenantNex is — and isn't
TenantNex is not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.