North Dakota Late Fee Law
No North Dakota statute caps residential late fees or requires a grace period; the lease sets both.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
North Dakota late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capN.D.C.C. ch. 47-16 (silent on late fees), N.D.C.C. § 9-08-04 (liquidated damages) |
|---|---|
| Grace period | No state grace periodN.D.C.C. ch. 47-16 (silent on late-fee grace periods) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 3 days (3-day notice of intention to evict)N.D.C.C. §§ 47-32-01(4), 47-32-02 |
What North Dakota law says
Is there a limit on late fees in North Dakota?
North Dakota has no statutory cap on residential late fees, but a lease late fee must be a reasonable pre-estimate of damages, since contract clauses fixing damages in advance are void unless actual damages are impracticable to fix (N.D.C.C. § 9-08-04) (N.D.C.C. ch. 47-16 (silent on late fees)).
Does North Dakota require a grace period before a late fee?
North Dakota law sets no grace period before a late fee may be charged; the lease controls when rent is due and when a late fee applies (N.D.C.C. ch. 47-16) (N.D.C.C. ch. 47-16 (silent on late-fee grace periods)).
How much notice must a North Dakota landlord give for unpaid rent?
Once rent is 3 days late, serve a written 3-day notice of intention to evict before filing an eviction action (N.D.C.C. §§ 47-32-01(4), 47-32-02).
How North Dakota compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 14 require a grace period.
Montana and South Dakota follow the same rule as North Dakota; 1 of its 3 neighbors differs.
| Late-fee cap · grace period | States |
|---|---|
| No state cap · none | North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota |
| Statutory formula · none | Minnesota |
Other North Dakota rules
| Security deposit limit | 1 month's rent (with exceptions)N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(1)-(2) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after move-outN.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(3) |
| Entry notice | Notice and tenant consent identifying a time certain, unless impractical; entry only at reasonable hours and in a reasonable manner; consent presumed from failure to object after notice; no notice for emergencies, suspected abandonment, or a reasonable belief of substantial lease violationN.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.3 |
| Rent-increase notice | 30 days (Applies to month-to-month tenancies; the tenant may instead end the tenancy at month's end on at least 25 days' notice (§ 47-16-15(3)). Fixed-term leases: no mid-term increase unless the lease allows it)N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07, N.D.C.C. § 47-16-15 |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (either side)N.D.C.C. § 47-16-15, N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-06, 47-16-06.1 |
Read the North Dakota law
Put the late fee and grace period in writing
Related
- Free late rent notice
- North Dakota lease agreement
- North Dakota landlord-tenant law
- Late fee laws in every state
- North Dakota notice to vacate
- North Dakota rent increase notice
- North Dakota security deposit return letter
- North Dakota lease termination letter
- North Dakota lease renewal letter
- North Dakota pet addendum