Landlord & Housing · free generator
North Dakota Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In North Dakota, that is not a judgment call: under North Dakota Century Code section 47-16-07.1, your former landlord generally has 30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where North Dakota hears claims up to $15,000 — is the next stop. You do not need perfect English or a lawyer for this; the statute does the arguing. Fill in the blanks below, send it by certified mail, and keep a copy — the letter that cites the actual law is the one that gets answered.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to formally demand the return of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the property at [Rental property address], which I have vacated and returned to your possession.
Under North Dakota Century Code section 47-16-07.1 (N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days. Yes - a written itemized statement of the conditions and deductions justifying any retention must be delivered or mailed within the 30-day window. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
As of the date of this letter, I have received neither my deposit nor a lawful accounting for it. Please send the full amount of [Deposit amount] to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment].
If I do not receive payment or a lawful written response within 10 days, I will file a claim in small claims court, where North Dakota law allows claims up to $15,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1, including any statutory damages for wrongful retention.
I would prefer to resolve this without litigation. Prompt payment will close the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Know your rights
Security deposit law in North Dakota
- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Governing statute
- N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1
- When the clock starts
- The itemized statement and refund must be delivered or mailed to the tenant within 30 days after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the tenant.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - a written itemized statement of the conditions and deductions justifying any retention must be delivered or mailed within the 30-day window.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- The landlord is liable for treble damages - three times any deposit money withheld without reasonable justification. Otherwise the tenant can sue to recover the amount owed.
- Small claims limit
- $15,000 (small claims division of District Court)
Worth knowing: North Dakota caps deposits at one month's rent, but a landlord may demand up to two months from a tenant with a felony conviction or a judgment for a prior lease violation, and a pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent. The deposit must sit in a federally insured interest-bearing account for your benefit, and interest is owed to you if you occupied the unit at least nine months. Choose your forum carefully: North Dakota small-claims decisions cannot be appealed, so a treble-damages claim brought there is decided in one shot.
Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a North Dakota small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The itemized statement and refund must be delivered or mailed to the tenant within 30 days after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the tenant.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($15,000 (small claims division of District Court)) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
Deposit letters for every state
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in North Dakota?
The itemized statement and refund must be delivered or mailed to the tenant within 30 days after termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the tenant. The governing statute is North Dakota Century Code section 47-16-07.1. Yes - a written itemized statement of the conditions and deductions justifying any retention must be delivered or mailed within the 30-day window.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in North Dakota?
The landlord is liable for treble damages - three times any deposit money withheld without reasonable justification. Otherwise the tenant can sue to recover the amount owed. These cases are built for small claims court — the North Dakota limit is $15,000 (small claims division of District Court), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else North Dakota renters should know about deposits?
North Dakota caps deposits at one month's rent, but a landlord may demand up to two months from a tenant with a felony conviction or a judgment for a prior lease violation, and a pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent. The deposit must sit in a federally insured interest-bearing account for your benefit, and interest is owed to you if you occupied the unit at least nine months. Choose your forum carefully: North Dakota small-claims decisions cannot be appealed, so a treble-damages claim brought there is decided in one shot.
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