Does Fargo, ND have its own rent control ordinance?

No. Fargo, ND does not appear to have a local rent control ordinance, North Dakota state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from North Dakota Century Code Title 47.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Fargo

Fargo, ND Rental Property Rules: Rent Control (2026)

Few Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Rent control rules in Fargo, ND, also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances, limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.

Key Facts

Statute: NDCC §47-16-07.3
Year enacted: 2017
Local rent caps: Prohibited
Subsidized exception: Federal programs only

Summary

North Dakota Century Code §47-16-07.3, enacted in 2017, preempts any city or county from adopting rent-control ordinances, so Fargo cannot cap rent increases on private residential rental property.

47-16-02.1. Rent controls - Prohibited. A political subdivision may not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. This section does not impair the right of a political subdivision to manage and control residential property in which the political subdivision has a fee title interest.

Source: North Dakota Century Code Title 47View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

NDCC §47-16-07.3 prohibits political subdivisions from enacting any ordinance, resolution, or regulation that controls rent on private residential property. The 2017 preemption was passed before any ND city had attempted rent stabilization, and it forecloses Fargo from doing so even amid rapid rent growth tied to NDSU enrollment and energy-sector workforce demand. Federally subsidized housing and voluntary regulatory agreements remain unaffected, but for typical market-rate units the landlord can set initial rent and raise it at the end of a lease term without a city-imposed ceiling.

Violations & Fines

Because Fargo has no rent-control ordinance, there is no local violation to cite; tenants concerned about rent increases must rely on lease terms, fair-housing law, or relocation when leases end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fargo limit mid-lease rent hikes?

No. State law forecloses local rent regulation, so any limit on increases must come from the lease itself or from a federal subsidy program.

Are notice rules also preempted?

Notice requirements for rent changes still come from state landlord-tenant law in NDCC Ch. 47-16 and are enforceable in court.

Sources & Official References

[1]NDCC §47-16-07.3

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All Fargo rules

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