N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-13.1 requires North Dakota landlords to keep rentals fit and habitable — meeting building and housing codes, making repairs, and maintaining plumbing, heating, electrical, water, and common areas. Under § 47-16-13, a tenant whose repairs are neglected may fix and deduct, recover the cost, or vacate.
Section 47-16-13.1 obligates a residential landlord to 'comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety,' to 'make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition,' to keep common areas clean and safe, to maintain electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems in good working order, to provide waste receptacles, and to 'supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat.' A reasonable time is allowed to cure noncompliance. Under § 47-16-13, if the landlord neglects required repairs after notice, the tenant may repair and deduct the cost from rent, recover it lawfully, or vacate and be discharged from further rent. Aggrieved parties may also recover damages under § 47-16-13.5.
No specific statutory penalty. Tenants may repair-and-deduct, recover repair costs, vacate without further rent liability (§ 47-16-13), or recover 'appropriate damages' for violations of §§ 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Fargo, ND
Fargo Land Development Code Sec. 20-0403(B)(6) caps fences in residential districts (SR, MR, UMU, NC, NO) at 3 ft in front yards (4 ft if at least 75% light-...
Fargo, ND
Fargo Ordinance No. 5425 requires every private swimming pool holding water more than 24 inches deep to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches tall and ...
Fargo, ND
Converting a Fargo garage to habitable living space requires a residential building permit from the City of Fargo Inspections Department, plus electrical, pl...
Fargo, ND
Fargo requires a building permit for any accessory building larger than 120 square feet (10 ft x 12 ft) under the city's adopted International Residential Co...
Fargo, ND
North Dakota HB 1361 (2025) prohibits cities and counties from adopting sanctuary policies, requiring full cooperation between Fargo Police and federal immig...
Fargo, ND
North Dakota has no statewide paid sick or family leave mandate, and Fargo cannot impose one, leaving private benefits to individual employer policies and fe...
See how Fargo's repairs & habitability rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.