Landlord-Tenant Law in Cavalier County, North Dakota
Cavalier County occupies the northeastern corner of North Dakota, pressing against the Manitoba border and anchored by the county seat of Langdon — a community of approximately 1,800 that serves as the trade, healthcare, and government center for a wide agricultural region. The county sits in one of North Dakota’s most productive small grain belts, with wheat, barley, canola, and sunflowers grown across an agricultural landscape that has supported the region’s economy for well over a century. The Pembina Gorge, one of North Dakota’s most scenic natural areas, lies along the county’s eastern edge and draws outdoor recreation visitors year-round.
Cavalier County’s rental market reflects its character as a stable, agricultural-anchored community with a strong public sector and healthcare employment base. Cavalier County Memorial Hospital is the county’s dominant private employer, supplemented by county and municipal government, the Langdon public school district, and the broad ecosystem of agribusiness services — grain elevators, co-ops, equipment dealers, and crop insurance agencies — that support the agricultural economy. The Canadian border crossing at Hansboro and Sarles creates modest cross-border commerce that adds a small additional economic layer to the county.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Cavalier County are governed by NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32. Eviction actions are filed at the Cavalier County District Court in Langdon, part of the Northeast Judicial District. No rent control exists. No just-cause eviction requirement applies.
Cavalier County Memorial Hospital, Cavalier County, Langdon Public Schools, grain elevators & co-ops, agribusiness services, Canadian border operations
Cavalier County District Court (Northeast Judicial District)
Courthouse Address
901 3rd St., Langdon, ND 58249
Court Phone
(701) 256-2124
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Filing Fee
~$80
Hearing Set
3–15 days after summons served
Hardship Stay
Up to 5 days (court discretion)
Avg Timeline
2–5 weeks
Attorney Fees
Recoverable by prevailing landlord (§ 47-32-04)
Cavalier County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
County and municipal rules that apply alongside North Dakota state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
No mandatory landlord licensing or rental registration in Cavalier County or Langdon. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. No short-term rental licensing framework at the local level. Landlords operating standard long-term residential rentals face no local registration requirement beyond state law.
Rent Control
No rent control in Cavalier County. For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must provide at least 30 days’ written notice prior to a rent increase. Rent may not be raised during a fixed-term lease unless the lease expressly permits it (NDCC § 47-16-07).
Security Deposit
Cap of one month’s rent for standard tenancies (NDCC § 47-16-07.1). Pet deposit permitted up to the greater of $2,500 or two months’ rent. Felony conviction tenants: landlord may require up to two months’ rent as deposit. Return required within 30 days of tenant surrendering premises. Interest required on deposit if occupancy is 9 months or more. Move-in checklist required — both parties must sign.
Landlord Entry
No specific statutory notice period in North Dakota, but entry must occur at reasonable times and for legitimate purposes. Emergency entry permitted without advance notice. Lease terms should define entry procedures. Courts apply a reasonableness standard.
Late Fees
Must be stated in the written lease. Mandatory 3-day grace period applies (§ 47-16-07(2)) — no late fee may be charged until after the grace period expires. No statutory cap on the late fee amount, but it must be disclosed in the lease.
Legal Entities in Eviction
LLCs, corporations, and other legal entities must be represented by a licensed North Dakota attorney in all eviction proceedings. Pro se representation is available only to individual natural persons. Failure to retain counsel will result in dismissal. (Wetzel v. Schlenvogt, 2005.)
2025 Eviction Record Sealing (SB 2238)
Tenants may petition to seal eviction records 7 years after satisfying judgment, provided no subsequent evictions. Dismissals and tenant-favorable outcomes may be sealed immediately. Domestic violence victims may petition for immediate sealing. In a small community like Langdon, direct landlord references and employer verification remain the most reliable screening tools as court records become less visible over time.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause eviction requirement in Cavalier County. Month-to-month tenancies may be terminated with 30 days’ written notice without cause. Fixed-term leases end at expiration without renewal obligation.
NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32 statutes, notice requirements, and landlord rights that apply in Cavalier County
⚡ Quick Overview
3
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
3
Days Notice (Violation)
14-30
Avg Total Days
$$80
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Notice Period3 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 3-day notice period to stop eviction
Days to Hearing3-15 (hearing set 3-15 days after summons served) days
Days to WritImmediate after judgment (5-day hardship stay possible) days
Total Estimated Timeline14-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-350
⚠️ Watch Out
CRITICAL: North Dakota is very landlord-friendly. 3-day notice for nonpayment after rent is 3 days past due. No cure right beyond the 3-day notice period. Eviction law strictly limits combining eviction with other lease claims. Court issues judgment for immediate restitution if landlord prevails (§ 47-32-04). Hardship exception: if tenant shows immediate removal causes substantial hardship (except for disturbing peace), court may stay writ up to 5 days. Tenant can request case be heard by District Court judge (rather than judicial referee) within 7 days. Security deposit may be applied to unpaid rent/fees by court. NEW (2025): SB 2238 allows tenants to petition for sealing eviction records 7 years after satisfying judgment (no subsequent evictions); DV victims can seal immediately.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the State District Court - Eviction Action (NDCC Ch. 47-32). Pay the filing fee (~$$80).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about North Dakota eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified North Dakota attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Langdon (county seat, Cavalier County Memorial Hospital, northeastern ND trade hub), Sarles (Canadian border crossing). Pembina Gorge scenic area on eastern edge. Strong wheat/canola/barley agriculture. 3-day pay or quit, no rent control, no just-cause eviction.
Cavalier County
Screen Before You Sign
Core tenant profiles: Cavalier County Memorial Hospital employees, county and city government workers, school district staff, grain elevator and co-op employees, agribusiness service workers, and farm operators. For agricultural tenants, request Schedule F returns or commodity sale documentation. Verify income at 3x rent and run ND District Court eviction records. Prior landlord references are especially valuable in this tight-knit community.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Cavalier County, North Dakota
Cavalier County is one of North Dakota’s quintessential agricultural counties — a place where the rhythms of planting and harvest have shaped community life for generations, where grain elevators mark the skyline of every small town, and where the land itself is among the most productive small grain acreage in the northern Great Plains. For landlords, this agricultural identity translates into a rental market that is modest in size but genuinely stable, anchored by the same institutional employers and family farming operations that have sustained the county’s economy across boom-and-bust cycles in other sectors of the North Dakota economy.
Cavalier County Memorial Hospital: Healthcare at the Core
Cavalier County Memorial Hospital is the county’s largest single employer outside of government, providing hospital, clinic, and long-term care services to Langdon and the surrounding region. The hospital’s nursing staff, physicians, technicians, therapists, and administrative employees form a reliable rental demand segment whose income stability and employment continuity make them among the most desirable tenants in any rural market. Healthcare workers who choose careers in communities like Langdon typically have made deliberate choices about rural living, and their tenancies tend toward longer durations and lower turnover than comparable urban healthcare workers who have more mobility options. Building relationships with hospital administration and human resources can provide a consistent referral pipeline for qualified prospective tenants.
Agricultural Economy: Wheat, Canola, and Barley
Cavalier County sits in one of North Dakota’s strongest small grain production regions, with hard red spring wheat, canola, barley, and sunflowers grown across a productive agricultural landscape that benefits from the region’s glacial soils and adequate precipitation. The agricultural economy sustains a broad ecosystem of support businesses — grain elevators, co-operatives, equipment dealerships, crop insurance agencies, agronomists, and fertilizer suppliers — whose employees create stable year-round rental demand in Langdon and smaller communities. Farm operators who maintain a residence in town for school, healthcare, and service access while farming surrounding land represent an additional segment whose tenancies can be long and stable once established.
The Pembina Gorge: A Recreational Asset
The Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area, situated along Cavalier County’s eastern edge where the Pembina River has carved a dramatic wooded valley into the otherwise flat northeastern plains, is one of North Dakota’s most scenic natural areas. The gorge draws hikers, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers, ATV riders, and wildlife observers year-round, generating modest but consistent recreational tourism. Properties near the gorge or in communities along its access routes may benefit from short-term rental demand from outdoor enthusiasts, particularly during peak seasons. No local short-term rental licensing framework applies, and standard NDCC landlord-tenant provisions govern any tenancy of sufficient duration.
Canadian Border Economy
Cavalier County shares a long border with Manitoba, with crossings at Sarles and Hansboro serving local agricultural and commercial traffic. The border economy contributes modest cross-border commerce and occasional rental demand from Canadian workers or families with US-side employment or family connections. As with any international tenant situation, landlords should verify work authorization and be prepared for income documentation that may differ from standard US employment records.
North Dakota Law in Cavalier County
Cavalier County landlords operate under NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32. The 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit for nonpayment (after the mandatory 3-day grace period under § 47-16-07(2)), the 3-Day Notice to Quit for lease violations with no cure right, and the 30-Day Written Notice for month-to-month terminations are the operative notice timelines. The Cavalier County District Court at 901 3rd St. in Langdon, part of the Northeast Judicial District, handles eviction filings. Hearings are typically set within 3 to 15 days of summons service. LLCs and other entities must retain licensed North Dakota counsel. Attorney fees are recoverable by the prevailing landlord under § 47-32-04.
Cavalier County landlord-tenant matters are governed by NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32. Nonpayment notice: 3-day pay or quit (after 3-day grace period). Lease violation: 3-day quit (no cure). Month-to-month termination: 30-day written notice. Security deposit cap: 1 month’s rent; pet deposit up to $2,500 or 2 months. Deposit return: 30 days; interest required if occupancy 9+ months. Late fees must be in lease; no charge during 3-day grace period. Legal entities must use licensed ND attorney in eviction. Attorney fees recoverable by prevailing landlord (§ 47-32-04). Hardship stay: up to 5 days. Eviction filed at Cavalier County District Court, 901 3rd St., Langdon, ND 58249, (701) 256-2124. Filing fee ~$80. Northeast Judicial District. 2025 SB 2238: eviction record sealing after 7 years. No rent control. No just-cause eviction requirement. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Cavalier County, North Dakota and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed North Dakota attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: May 2026.
