Richland County, North Dakota: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $15,000 (District Court small claims only). Court: Richland County District Court - Small Claims.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$15,000 (District Court small claims only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in North Dakota	6 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days 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.
Deposit statute	N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1

Where to file

Richland County District Court - Small Claims

Courthouse city: Wahpeton

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Official court website

Court site located; the court's server blocks automated checks

See how to file in North Dakota for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Richland County

County median gross rent: $751 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
1 bedroom	$529
2 bedrooms	$763
3 bedrooms	$1,047
4 bedrooms	$1,586

Rent estimates for the other bedroom sizes were suppressed or not published by the Census Bureau.

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $763; two months is $1,526. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $763.

State legal maximum deposit in North Dakota: Generally not more than one month's rent ($763 at the example rent). Exceptions: up to two months' rent ($1,526 at the example rent) as security from an individual convicted of a felony (as an incentive to rent) or from an individual with a prior judgment for violating a previous rental agreement. Separate pet security deposit may not exceed the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent ($1,526 at the example rent) (service/companion animals under fair housing excluded).

Total households in Richland County: 6,764.

Renter households: 2,091 (30.9% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 8.3%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Richland County, $763 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $15,000 (District Court small claims only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Abercrombie
Barney
Christine
Colfax
Dwight
Fairmount
Great Bend
Hankinson
Lidgerwood
Mantador
Mooreton
Wahpeton
Walcott
Wyndmere

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Statewide court resources

Statewide e-filing portal

Statewide filing service linked by the judiciary; court and case eligibility may vary.

Statewide self-help centre: North Dakota Courts Legal Self Help Center

Statewide help

Legal Services of North Dakota
Free civil legal assistance for eligible residents throughout North Dakota and three tribal nations, including evictions, rental repairs and disability accommodations. Applicants aged 60 or older use (866) 621-9886.
Phone: (800) 634-5263

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a North Dakota security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in North Dakota: 6 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses North Dakota law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

We mail it, or you mail it.

$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the North Dakota letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
North Dakota small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

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Free North Dakota template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under North Dakota law (N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 calendar days after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the lessee.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Richland County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in North Dakota: 6 years.

Where do I file?

Richland County District Court - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Wahpeton. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.