Landlord kept your deposit in North Dakota? Find your next step.
No refund, only part of your money back, or charges you disagree with? Start with what you received, then build a response using your records and North Dakota law.
Analysis free · Full case package $29-$49, one time · mailing optional
The deadline check is optional. See what you get
What do you need help with?
Open the situation that fits. Each route gives you something to check, something to keep, and a next step.
I received nothingNo refund and no list of deductions.
Check the trigger, then the date. Itemization of amounts applied, the refund due, and written notice must be delivered or mailed to the lessee's last furnished address within 30 days after lease termination and delivery of possession.
Keep: your deposit payment, move-out or key-return record, forwarding-address notice and any earlier written request. These establish the timeline behind your demand.
Analyze my missing refund - free →I received part of my depositSome money came back. Find out what explains the difference.
Reconcile the refund. Compare the original deposit, what was returned and each deduction. Separate charges you accept from charges you dispute.
Check the amount they kept - free →Enter the refund and deductions in the case builder. You do not need a separate worksheet first.
The North Dakota accounting rule: Any portion not returned must be itemized; the notice states any amount still due either party (§ 47-16-07.1(4)).
Check interest too. Occupancy of 9+ months: the deposit sits in a federally insured interest-bearing account and the interest belongs to the tenant (N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1(1), (3)).
Keep: the refund record, deduction list and notice envelope or delivery record. If money is still unexplained, identify that gap in your written request.
I disagree with the deductionsYou have a charge list, whether or not a refund arrived.
Respond to the specific charges. Note each amount, why you dispute it, and which photo, message or record supports your position. Check the notice instructions above before choosing how and when to reply.
Check my deductions - free →The records rule in North Dakota: No receipts requirement, but the deposit must sit in a federally insured interest-bearing account for the tenant's benefit, and the signed move-in condition statement (§ 47-16-07.2) is prima facie proof of condition.
No move-in photos? Use an inventory checklist, inspection report, dated repair request, messages or witness accounts to explain the condition.
I already sent a demandThe landlord has not paid, or the dispute is still unresolved.
Compare the final notice, refund and any applicable interest with the deposit record. Keep both the condition statement and the accounting if further action is needed.
See the North Dakota court route →Keep: your sent demand, delivery record and any reply. Use the court guide to check where to file, which forms to use, and the filing and service costs.
Turn the dispute into a documented demand
- Free: understand your dispute
- Add your refund, charges and records. Get a charge-by-charge analysis of the deposit rules and potential remedies under N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1.
- Optional: your case documents, $29-$49
- Your demand letter, damages summary and evidence checklist, ready to review and send with your records. Mailing is optional and costs extra.
One charge, backed by a reason and records
Fictional North Dakota example. Assumes coverage under the cited law; not a customer outcome.
- The charge
- Repainting ordinary wall scuffs: $900
- Records to attach
- move-in photos and move-out photos
Open PDF ↗In the generated letter
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible. Repainting after a tenancy is ordinary wear and tear unless the walls were damaged beyond normal use (large holes, unauthorized colors). Dated move-in and move-out photos help distinguish ordinary wear from tenant-caused damage.
Prefer to write it yourself? Use the free North Dakota letter template.
Before you call the refund late
Itemization of amounts applied, the refund due, and written notice must be delivered or mailed to the lessee's last furnished address within 30 days after lease termination and delivery of possession.
N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 (condition statement: § 47-16-07.2) ↗Deposit statute reviewed August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules.
Check the return timeline
Optional date estimate. Read the start conditions above; a passed date alone does not establish a violation. Your date and deposit amount carry into the free analysis.
Already know the dates? Go straight to the refund and charges.
Continue to my free analysis →Questions before your next step
What should I do first if my landlord kept my deposit in North Dakota?
Check the statutory deadline. Itemization of amounts applied, the refund due, and written notice must be delivered or mailed to the lessee's last furnished address within 30 days after lease termination and delivery of possession. Save your move-out records, any refund and the itemized statement. Compare them with the deadline and deduction rules below.
Do I need a lawyer to get my deposit back in North Dakota?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $15,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $20.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 30 days in North Dakota?
Treble damages attach to withholding 'without reasonable justification'; missing the 30-day itemization/refund is the strongest evidence of unjustified withholding.
Am I owed interest on my deposit in North Dakota?
In at least some cases, yes. Occupancy of 9+ months: the deposit sits in a federally insured interest-bearing account and the interest belongs to the tenant (N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1(1), (3)).
What can I ask to recover in a North Dakota deposit dispute?
Treble damages for any security deposit money withheld without reasonable justification (§ 47-16-07.1(4)) - conventionally read as 3x total recovery.
Read the full North Dakota deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.