North Dakota Security Deposit Law: Limits, Deadlines, and Penalties
What North Dakota landlords can charge, when deposits must be returned, and what it costs to get it wrong. Last reviewed 2026-08-12.
How much can a landlord charge in North Dakota?
Security deposits are capped at one month's rent for most tenants. The statute allows up to two months' rent when the tenant has a felony conviction, and secondary sources also extend this to tenants with a court record of violating a prior rental agreement. A separate, additional pet deposit is allowed.
An additional pet deposit is allowed up to the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent, but no pet deposit may be charged for a service animal or other assistance animal.
When must the deposit be returned?
The landlord must refund the deposit with accrued interest within 30 days after termination of the lease and the tenant vacating the premises. Any withholding requires an itemized written statement within the same 30 days.
If any amount is withheld for damages, unpaid rent, or cleaning, the landlord must deliver an itemized written statement of the deductions within the 30-day return window.
What happens if a landlord misses the deadline?
A landlord who wrongfully withholds deposit money without reasonable justification is liable for up to treble (three times) the amount withheld, and courts may also award attorney's fees.
Interest and holding requirements
The deposit must be placed in a federally insured interest-bearing savings or checking account, and if the tenant occupies the unit for nine months or longer, the accrued interest must be paid to the tenant when the lease ends. Occupancies shorter than nine months earn the tenant no interest.
Deposits must be held in a federally insured interest-bearing savings or checking account for the tenant's benefit, separate from simply pocketing the funds.
What North Dakota landlords get wrong
North Dakota is unusual in three ways small landlords should internalize: the deposit must actually sit in a federally insured interest-bearing account (not your operating account), tenants who stay nine months or more are owed the accrued interest at move-out, and the pet deposit allowance — up to the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent — is one of the most generous in the country. The treble-damages exposure for withholding without reasonable justification makes documentation of damage (photos, receipts) essential before deducting anything.
The law itself
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in North Dakota?
One month's rent for most tenants. A landlord may require up to two months' rent from a tenant with a felony conviction or a court record of violating a previous lease. If you have a pet, the landlord can also collect a separate pet deposit of up to $2,500 or two months' rent, whichever is greater — but not for service animals.
How long does a North Dakota landlord have to return a security deposit?
Thirty days after the lease terminates and you move out. The refund must include any interest the deposit earned, and if the landlord withholds anything for damage, unpaid rent, or cleaning, they must give you an itemized written statement within the same 30 days. Wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to triple damages.
Do North Dakota landlords have to pay interest on security deposits?
Yes, conditionally. The deposit must be kept in a federally insured interest-bearing savings or checking account. If you live in the unit for nine months or longer, the landlord must pay you the accrued interest when the lease ends. Tenancies shorter than nine months do not entitle the tenant to the interest, though the account requirement still applies.
What is the penalty for wrongfully keeping a deposit in North Dakota?
Treble damages. A landlord who withholds deposit money without reasonable justification can be ordered to pay up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, and courts can add attorney's fees. Combined with the 30-day deadline and itemization requirement, this makes undocumented deductions a serious financial risk for landlords.
Keep reading
Deposit deadlines are easy to miss — until they cost you triple.
Vantric tracks your leases, deposits, and move-out dates in one place, built for landlords with 1–10 units.
Start Free TrialThis page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes change — verify against the official text linked above or consult a local attorney before acting.