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North Dakota Residential Lease Agreement

Create North Dakota Residential Lease Agreement

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Create a legally legally sound Residential Lease Agreement for North Dakota that includes all required disclosures and clauses under North Dakota landlord-tenant law. Fill in your details and download your completed, ready-to-sign Residential Lease Agreement as a professional PDF for $7.99.

North Dakota law requires specific provisions in rental agreements that secures both property owner and renter. Security deposits are capped at 1 month's rent (2 months only in limited cases); a separate pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or 2 months' rent and must be returned within 30 days. North Dakota requires landlords to pay interest on security deposits. North Dakota requires 4 specific disclosures in lease agreements.

North Dakota Lease Requirements

Security Deposit Limit 1 month's rent (2 months only in limited cases); a separate pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or 2 months' rent
Deposit Return Deadline 30 days
Deposit Interest Required Yes - Landlord shall return the Security Deposit with the interest it earned, unless the occupancy lasted less than nine months, as required by N.D. Cent. Code 47-16-07.1.
Late Fee Cap No statutory cap
Grace Period No statutory grace period
Landlord Notice (Month-to-Month) one calendar month Either party may terminate under NDCC § 47-16-15.
Tenant Notice (Month-to-Month) one calendar month
Entry Notice Reasonable notice required; no specific number of days defined by statute
Key Statute North Dakota Century Code §§ 47-16-01 through 47-16-40
Required Disclosures Lead-based paint disclosure (federal law, pre-1978 housing); Move-in checklist, landlord must provide written inventory of the property's condition at move-in; tenant has opportunity to note disagreements (NDCC § 47-16-07.2); Security deposit account information, landlord must disclose where the deposit is held if requested by tenant; Disclosure of known material defects affecting habitability

North Dakota Residential Lease Agreement Checklist

Print this or save it as a PDF to use when preparing and signing the agreement.

Before you sign

  • Both parties read the entire agreement before signing.
  • Walk through the unit and document any existing damage in writing.
  • Confirm the move-in date and key handover arrangements.
  • Verify the security deposit amount and accepted payment method.

North Dakota rules to know

  • Security deposit is capped at 1 month's rent (2 months only in limited cases); a separate pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or 2 months' rent in North Dakota.
  • Landlord must return the deposit within 30 days of move-out.
  • North Dakota requires landlords to pay interest on security deposits.
  • Landlord must give Reasonable notice required; no specific number of days defined by statute before entering the unit.
  • To end a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must give one calendar month written notice.
  • To end a month-to-month tenancy, the tenant must give one calendar month written notice.
  • Required disclosures: Lead-based paint disclosure (federal law, pre-1978 housing); Move-in checklist, landlord must provide written inventory of the property's condition at move-in; tenant has opportunity to note disagreements (NDCC § 47-16-07.2); Security deposit account information, landlord must disclose where the deposit is held if requested by tenant; Disclosure of known material defects affecting habitability.

In the agreement itself

  • Full legal names of all landlords and tenants.
  • Complete property address, including unit number.
  • Lease term: start date, end date.
  • Monthly rent amount and the due date.
  • Security deposit amount and the conditions for deductions.
  • Late fee amount and the grace period, if any.
  • Pet policy, smoking policy, and guest policy.
  • Utility responsibilities (which party pays each utility).
  • Signatures of all parties.

Both parties should keep a signed copy. North Dakota landlord-tenant law governs this agreement (North Dakota Century Code §§ 47-16-01 through 47-16-40).

What to Include in a North Dakota Residential Lease Agreement

Every Residential Lease Agreement in North Dakota should include the following critical provisions: identification of the landlord and tenant, a complete description of the rental property, the lease term and rent amount, security deposit terms including the amount and return deadline (30 days in North Dakota), late fee policies that comply with state limits, utility responsibilities, rules regarding pets, smoking, and occupancy limits, maintenance and repair obligations, right of entry provisions, termination and renewal terms, and all state-required disclosures.

North Dakota law requires landlords to disclose lead-based paint disclosure, move-in checklist, landlord must provide written inventory of the property's condition at move-in; tenant has opportunity to note disagreements, security deposit account information, landlord must disclose where the deposit is held if requested by tenant, disclosure of known material defects affecting habitability. Landlord must provide a written move-in condition checklist and tenant may note any pre-existing damage; signed copy must be returned to landlord within 3 days of occupancy (NDCC § 47-16-07.2).

How to Complete a North Dakota Residential Lease Agreement

To complete a Residential Lease Agreement in North Dakota, start by gathering the necessary information: full legal names and addresses of all parties, the complete property address, the agreed-upon rent amount and payment terms, and the security deposit amount (limited to 1 month's rent (2 months only in limited cases); a separate pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or 2 months' rent in North Dakota). You will also need to decide on house rules such as pet policies, smoking restrictions, and quiet hours.

Our platform walks you through each section with a guided form that only shows fields required for North Dakota. Once you have filled in all details, you can preview the document, choose from five professional document styles, and download your completed Residential Lease Agreement as a PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum security deposit in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, security deposits are capped at 1 month's rent (2 months only in limited cases); a separate pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or 2 months' rent. Landlords must return the deposit within 30 days after move-out, minus lawful deductions for unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear. North Dakota also requires landlords to pay interest on deposits.
Can a landlord charge a late fee in North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota has no statutory cap on late fees, but they must be reasonable. Late fee terms must be clearly stated in the lease.
How much notice must a landlord give before entering a rental in North Dakota?
North Dakota requires landlords to give Reasonable notice required; no specific number of days defined by statute before entering a rental unit for non-emergency purposes. Entry without proper notice may violate tenant rights under North Dakota landlord-tenant law. Emergency situations such as fire or flood allow immediate entry without advance notice.
What disclosures are required in a North Dakota residential lease?
North Dakota requires these disclosures in residential lease agreements: Lead-based paint disclosure (federal law, pre-1978 housing); Move-in checklist, landlord must provide written inventory of the property's condition at move-in; tenant has opportunity to note disagreements (NDCC § 47-16-07.2); Security deposit account information, landlord must disclose where the deposit is held if requested by tenant; Disclosure of known material defects affecting habitability. Missing required disclosures can expose landlords to penalties or give tenants grounds to break the lease. Our platform automatically includes all required North Dakota disclosures.
Does a residential lease need to be notarized in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota does not require residential leases to be notarized. A lease is binding once signed by both landlord and tenant. However, leases longer than one year may need to be witnessed or recorded depending on local requirements - check with a local attorney if your lease term exceeds 12 months.
Is a written lease agreement required in North Dakota?
North Dakota does not require written leases for all tenancies, but oral agreements are harder to enforce and provide less protection. Written leases are required for tenancies exceeding one year under the Statute of Frauds. A written Residential Lease Agreement clearly documents rent, security deposit terms, house rules, and each party's obligations - reducing disputes significantly.

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