North Dakota Security Deposit Law: How Many Days and What to Do
In North Dakota, a landlord has 30 calendar days to return a security deposit. The clock starts after the required dates below; the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized list (N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1). Most states allow 30 days; North Dakota is the same.
Last checked 2026-07-14
Calculate your deadline and next letter
Your free letter
Get a DOCX letter with the dates and amount you entered.
Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked
Details of the return rules
| When it applies | Deadline | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit return | 30 days | after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the lessee |
North Dakota return rule: 30 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 calendar days |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the lessee |
| Penalty formula | lessor liable for treble damages for any security deposit money withheld without reasonable justification |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 |
How does North Dakota's deadline compare with other states?
North Dakota's return deadline is 30 days. The middle of the comparable state deadlines is ≈30 days. Use the dates and questions above to see which deadline applies to you.
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
See all 51 jurisdictions
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Montana | 10 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
| Vermont | 14 days |
| Florida | 15 days |
| Delaware | 20 days |
| Rhode Island | 20 days |
| California | 21 days |
| Connecticut | 21 days |
| Idaho | 21 days |
| Minnesota | 21 days |
| South Dakota | 21 days |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Missouri | 30 days |
| Nevada | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 30 days |
| New Mexico | 30 days |
| North Carolina | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Ohio | 30 days |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days |
| South Carolina | 30 days |
| Texas | 30 days |
| Utah | 30 days |
| Washington | 30 days |
| Wyoming | 30 days |
| Oregon | 31 days |
| District of Columbia | 45 days |
| Illinois | 45 days |
| Indiana | 45 days |
| Maryland | 45 days |
| Mississippi | 45 days |
| Oklahoma | 45 days |
| Virginia | 45 days |
| Alabama | 60 days |
| Arkansas | 60 days |
| West Virginia | 60 days |
| Kentucky | No fixed return deadline |
| Tennessee | No fixed return deadline |
Source: state statute records · checked 2026-07-14 · n=48 fixed rules among 51 jurisdictions · method: first listed return deadline; calendar months plotted as ≈30 days · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What happens if the landlord misses the deadline?
lessor liable for treble damages for any security deposit money withheld without reasonable justification The statutory amount depends on the facts and any conditions in N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1; it is separate from the deposit owed.
North Dakota is one of 36 states where the law sets a multiple of the deposit.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The law sets a multiple of the deposit ← North Dakota | 36 | 71% |
| The law names another remedy (forfeiture, fees, damages) | 10 | 20% |
| Read the cited remedy; no multiple is set | 5 | 10% |
With a deposit of $954 (median county rent), a claim for the deposit plus the maximum penalty is $3,816; fits under the $15,000 small claims limit.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What do you have to do before you can claim the penalty?
Send the required information to start the clock.
Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend or holiday?
North Dakota law does not clearly say whether a deposit deadline moves when it falls on a weekend or holiday.
To be safe: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, treat the deadline as passed only after the next business day. Example: October 10, 2026 is a Saturday, so wait until October 12, 2026 before saying the deadline has passed.
What North Dakota law requires of the landlord
The deposit return rule is 30 calendar days. The law also requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
- Return window
- 30 calendar days
- Itemization
- Required
- Receipts threshold
- No separate threshold recorded
- Interest
- Deposit must be held in a federally insured interest-bearing savings or checking account for the tenant's benefit; interest accrues to the tenant and must be paid with the deposit on lease termination, except the lessor is not required to pay interest if occupancy was less than nine months.
Is interest owed on a deposit in North Dakota?
North Dakota is one of 11 states where interest is owed only in some cases. Check interest and any local rule.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Required by state law | 3 | 6% |
| Owed only in some cases ← North Dakota | 11 | 22% |
| Not required by state law | 37 | 73% |
Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
North Dakota security deposit deductions
FAQ
How do I confirm the North Dakota deadline?
Use the questions above to match your dates to N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1, and keep proof of each date.
What is the small claims limit in North Dakota?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. North Dakota court guide
City data on this page currently includes Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo, Williston, Dickinson, Mandan.
Statute text, sources and changes
Statute says
Application of any portion of a security deposit not paid to the lessee upon termination of the lease must be itemized by the lessor. Such itemization together with the amount due must be delivered or mailed to the lessee at the last address furnished lessor, along with a written notice within thirty days after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the lessee. The notice must contain a statement of any amount still due the lessor or the refund due the lessee. A lessor is not required to pay interest on security deposits if the period of occupancy was less than nine months in duration. A lessor is liable for treble damages for any security deposit money withheld without reasonable justification.
What this means
Sources
- https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t47c16.pdf · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/tenant-rights/ · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/small-claims · accessed 2026-07-14
Changes
- : Record verified against the cited statute.
Verified 2026-07-14 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6