Landlord Won't Make Repairs in North Dakota: What Can I Do?

1. Your landlord must follow building and housing codes that materially affect health and safety. Your landlord must also make all repairs and do whatever is necessary. The goal is to put and keep the home fit to live in.

   North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

2. Your landlord must keep facilities and appliances in good and safe working order. This covers the ones the landlord supplies or must supply. Elevators are included.

   North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

3. Your landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat. There are 3 cases where this duty does not apply. The law does not require the building to have that equipment. Or only the tenant controls the equipment that makes the heat or hot water, and it uses a direct public utility connection. Or a public utility (a water, electric, or gas company) cannot supply it.

   North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1(1)(f)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

4. Your landlord must make repairs, keep common areas clean and safe, and keep facilities in working order. Your landlord must also remove trash and supply water and heat. If your landlord fails at one of these, the law allows a reasonable time to fix it.

   North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1(2)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

5. Notice starts the repair steps in North Dakota law. You give your landlord notice of a run-down part of the home that the landlord ought to repair. Then a reasonable time must pass. Put the notice in writing and keep a copy. Take dated photos.

   RenterLaw editorial North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

6. Say your landlord neglects to fix a run-down part of the home within a reasonable time after your notice. If the landlord ought to repair it, you may fix it yourself. You may take the cost of the repair off your rent. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

   RenterLaw editorial North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

7. Say your landlord neglects to fix a run-down part of the home within a reasonable time after your notice. If the landlord ought to repair it, you may move out. You are then freed from further rent and other lease conditions. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

   RenterLaw editorial North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

8. A tenant may end the lease early in some cases. One case is when the landlord does not do the landlord's duties, if any, within a reasonable time after request. Those duties include putting the property into a good condition or repairing it. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

   RenterLaw editorial North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-17(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

9. If your landlord breaks the repair duties in North Dakota Century Code sections 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6, you may recover appropriate money for the harm. You have a duty to mitigate (limit the loss). You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.

   RenterLaw editorial North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.5

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

10. Any right or action under North Dakota Century Code sections 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6 is enforceable by action (a court case). The court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party (the side that wins). You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.

    RenterLaw editorial North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.6

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

11. A tenant must keep the part of the home that the tenant uses as clean and safe as its condition permits. A tenant must not deliberately or negligently (carelessly) destroy, deface (mark up), damage, impair (make worse), or remove any part of the home. A tenant must not knowingly let anyone else do so.

    North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.2(2)

    ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

Is something on this page wrong or out of date? Tell us.