North Dakota Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
North Dakota rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: The North Dakota Attorney General's tenant guide states that a landlord cannot lock a tenant out or confiscate the tenant's belongings; removing a tenant requires an eviction case in court. ND Attorney General, Tenant Rights; N.D.C.C. ch. 47-32; § 47-16-30.1
The rules in North Dakota
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | The North Dakota Attorney General's tenant guide states that a landlord cannot lock a tenant out or confiscate the tenant's belongings; removing a tenant requires an eviction case in court. Property left behind after a tenant has vacated may be kept and disposed of by the landlord only under the abandoned-property rule (28 or more days, total value of $2,500 or less). No section in N.D.C.C. chapters 47-16 or 47-32 sets statutory damages or a re-entry procedure for an illegal lockout. Eviction chapter: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t47c32.pdf |
|---|---|
| Landlord shutting off utilities | The North Dakota Attorney General's tenant guide states that a landlord cannot cut off a tenant's utilities, and that eviction requires a court process. By statute, a residential landlord must supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat (with exceptions such as a tenant-controlled installation or a utility supply failure). No section in N.D.C.C. chapters 47-16 or 47-32 sets a specific damages amount for a utility shutoff by a landlord; a tenant's remedy depends on other law. Lease chapter: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t47c16.pdf |
| Landlord retaliation | No statute — N.D.C.C. chapters 47-16 (leases) and 47-32 (eviction) contain no general rule against landlord retaliation. The only express retaliation bar protects a tenant who ends a lease under the domestic-violence provision; a court may award $1,000 statutory damages plus actual damages, attorney's fees and costs. Retaliation claims outside the domestic-violence provision depend on other law or the lease, not these chapters. Chapter 47-32 text: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t47c32.pdf. |
Related questions
North Dakota vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | The North Dakota Attorney General's tenant guide states that a landlord cannot lock a tenant out or confiscate the tenant's belongings; removing a tenant requires an eviction case in court. Property left behind after a tenant has vacated may be kept and disposed of by the landlord only under the abandoned-property rule (28 or more days, total value of $2,500 or less). ND Attorney General, Tenant Rights; N.D.C.C. ch. 47-32; § 47-16-30.1 | The North Dakota Attorney General's tenant guide states that a landlord cannot cut off a tenant's utilities, and that eviction requires a court process. By statute, a residential landlord must supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat (with exceptions such as a tenant-controlled installation or a utility supply failure). ND Attorney General, Tenant Rights; N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1(1)(f) | No statute — N.D.C.C. chapters 47-16 (leases) and 47-32 (eviction) contain no general rule against landlord retaliation. The only express retaliation bar protects a tenant who ends a lease under the domestic-violence provision; a court may award $1,000 statutory damages plus actual damages, attorney's fees and costs. N.D.C.C. chs. 47-16 and 47-32 (checked); § 47-16-17.1(10)-(11) |
| Minnesota | If a landlord (or agent) unlawfully and in bad faith removes, excludes or forcibly keeps out a residential tenant, the tenant can recover treble (three times) damages or $500, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees (Minn. Stat. §504B.231). Unlawful and intentional removal or exclusion is also a misdemeanor (§504B.225), and a tenant actually or constructively shut out (including by removal of doors, windows or locks) can get an immediate court order restoring possession on a verified petition (§504B.375). Lease clauses waiving these rights are void. Minn. Stat. §504B.231; §504B.225; §504B.375 | A landlord (or agent) who intentionally interrupts or causes the interruption of electric, heat, gas or water service to a tenant with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant commits a misdemeanor; proof that the landlord intentionally interrupted service creates a presumption of that intent, which the landlord must rebut (Minn. Stat. §504B.225). A tenant shut out by termination of utilities can file a verified petition in district court and, if the exclusion clearly appears unlawful, the court must immediately order the tenant restored to possession, carried out by the sheriff (§504B.375). Lease waivers are void. Minn. Stat. §504B.225; §504B.375 | It is a defense to eviction if the landlord's notice or action is, in whole or part, a penalty for the tenant's good-faith attempt to enforce lease or legal rights or a good-faith report of code violations to a government authority. Rent increases or service cuts as penalties are also barred. If the notice to quit was served within 90 days after the protected act, the landlord must prove it was not retaliatory. After 90 days, the burden is on the tenant. Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.285, subds. 2-3; 504B.441 |
| Montana | Self-help eviction is banned. Except after abandonment or surrender, or as the Act permits, a landlord may not recover or take possession of the unit by action or otherwise. If a landlord unlawfully removes or shuts out the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the rental agreement and recover up to 3 months' periodic rent or treble damages, whichever is greater; if the agreement ends, the landlord must return all recoverable security and prepaid rent. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-428, 70-24-411 | No. A landlord may not take possession by purposefully cutting off heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas, or other essential services. If a landlord purposefully interrupts those services, the tenant may recover possession or end the rental agreement and, either way, recover up to 3 months' periodic rent or treble damages, whichever is greater. If the agreement ends, the landlord must return all recoverable security and prepaid rent. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-428, 70-24-411, 70-24-408 | Landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, or bring or threaten a possession action after the tenant complained to a government code-enforcement agency, made a written complaint to the landlord about § 70-24-303 duties, or organized/joined a tenants' union. A complaint within 6 months before the act creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation. Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-431 |
| South Dakota | If a residential landlord unlawfully removes or locks out a tenant, the tenant may sue for an injunction, recover possession by suit, or end the rental agreement, and in any case recover damages equal to two months' rent plus return of any advance rent and deposit. Belongings left after a tenant has moved out are presumed abandoned after 10 days if worth $500 or less; property worth more must be stored for at least 30 days before it can be treated as abandoned. SDCL 43-32-6, 43-32-25, 43-32-26 | If a residential landlord willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or another essential service to the tenant, the tenant may sue for an injunction, recover possession by suit, or end the rental agreement, and in any case recover damages equal to two months' rent plus return of any advance rent and deposit. SDCL 43-32-6 | No statutory presumption. After a protected act, a tenant may sue if the landlord retaliates by raising rent above fair market value, decreasing electric, gas, water, or sewer service, or giving a notice to vacate that is not based on a lease breach. Protected acts are a good-faith complaint to a government agency about a housing or building code violation affecting health and safety (once the landlord has written notice of it), a written repair notice under 43-32-9, and organizing or joining a tenants' union or organization. The landlord has a defense if the notice to vacate came more than 180 days after the protected act. Not renewing a written lease is not retaliation. SDCL 43-32-27, 43-32-28 |
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Compare lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation in all 50 states and DC →
North Dakota Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Attorney General's tenant guide states that a landlord cannot lock a tenant out or confiscate the tenant's belongings; removing a tenant requires an eviction case in court. Property left behind after a tenant has vacated may be kept and disposed of by the landlord only under the abandoned-property rule (28 or more days, total value of $2,500 or less). (ND Attorney General, Tenant Rights; N.D.C.C. ch. 47-32; § 47-16-30.1)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Attorney General's tenant guide states that a landlord cannot cut off a tenant's utilities, and that eviction requires a court process. By statute, a residential landlord must supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat (with exceptions such as a tenant-controlled installation or a utility supply failure). (ND Attorney General, Tenant Rights; N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1(1)(f))
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in North Dakota?
No statute — N.D.C.C. chapters 47-16 (leases) and 47-32 (eviction) contain no general rule against landlord retaliation. The only express retaliation bar protects a tenant who ends a lease under the domestic-violence provision; a court may award $1,000 statutory damages plus actual damages, attorney's fees and costs. (N.D.C.C. chs. 47-16 and 47-32 (checked); § 47-16-17.1(10)-(11))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.