Calculate Your North Dakota Deposit Deadline & Statutory Damages
Enter your move-out / key-surrender date and deposit amount to check whether your landlord is past the North Dakota statutory deadline under N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1.
North Dakota Security Deposit Law Quick Facts
| Governing Statute | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 |
|---|---|
| Return Deadline | 30 days (30 days after termination of lease and delivery of possession) |
| Maximum Deposit Cap | 1 month's rent (up to 2 months' rent if tenant has a felony conviction or prior eviction judgment; plus up to $2,500 or 2 months' rent for pets) |
| Bad-Faith / Late Penalty | Up to 3.0x — Treble (3x) damages for any portion of the security deposit withheld without reasonable justification |
| Small Claims Court Limit | $15,000 |
| Interest Required? | Yes — must be deposited in a federally insured interest-bearing account if occupancy lasts ≥9 months |
| Walkthrough / Inspection | Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted unless caused by tenant negligence |
Example: On a $1,800 deposit wrongfully withheld past the 30-day deadline in North Dakota, statutory provisions allow claims up to $5,400 (3.0x) in Small Claims Court (limit $15,000).
Landlord Missed the Deadline or Overcharging for Normal Wear?
Get the complete Keep the Deposit Recovery System: our 48-Hour Move-Out & Dispute Handbook, 7 Fill-in-the-Blank Statutory Demand Letters (citing N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1), the 50-State Reference Guide, and the Excel Prorated Depreciation Audit Workbook.
- Certified-mail demand templates for missed deadlines & itemized receipt requests
- HUD carpet, paint & appliance useful-life prorated deduction calculator (.xlsx + PDF)
- Room-by-room photo evidence log & small-claims preparation checklist
How to Dispute Unfair Carpet, Paint & Cleaning Deductions in North Dakota
Even when a North Dakota landlord mails an itemized list within 30 days, they cannot charge you for normal wear and tear or bill you 100% of the replacement cost for an aged asset that has already exhausted most of its useful life.
1. Useful-Life Proration
Standard apartment carpet depreciates over 5 years (60 months). If carpet was 4 years old at move-out, the maximum recoverable value is 20% — never a full replacement bill.
2. Statutory Demand Notice
Send a written demand via Certified Mail citing N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 and giving a firm 7-to-10 business day deadline before filing in North Dakota Small Claims Court.
3. Prorated Audit Calculator
Use our free Carpet & Paint Depreciation Calculator to calculate the exact legal deduction cap in seconds.