Landlord-Tenant Law in Golden Valley County, North Dakota
Golden Valley County occupies the far western edge of North Dakota along the Montana border, where Interstate 94 crosses the state line and the rolling butte country of the western Badlands fringe transitions into the Montana plains. The county seat of Beach — a community of roughly 1,000 residents named not for sand and water but for Maj. Warren C. Beach of the Army Corps of Engineers — is the last North Dakota town on I-94 before Montana, and that gateway position shapes much of the county’s economic character.
With a population of approximately 1,700, Golden Valley County is small even by North Dakota standards, but its I-94 location gives it economic connectivity that more isolated rural counties lack. Beach functions as a natural stopping point for cross-country travelers, a service hub for the surrounding ranch country, and a base for oil field and energy workers whose job sites lie in the Bakken formation counties to the north. The county’s economy rests on a foundation of cattle ranching, supplemented by highway commercial activity, public-sector employment, and the modest but real spillover from western North Dakota’s energy sector.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Golden Valley County are governed by NDCC Ch. 47-16 and Ch. 47-32. Eviction actions are filed at the Golden Valley County District Court in Beach, part of the Southwest Judicial District. No rent control exists. No just-cause eviction requirement applies.
Golden Valley County, Beach Public Schools, I-94 highway commercial businesses, cattle ranching, oil & gas services
Median HH Income
~$58,000
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
6/10 — very small market, I-94 gateway provides some commercial base, ranch economy is stable but thin, oil field proximity adds modest demand
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
Lease Violation
3-Day Notice to Quit (no cure right)
Month-to-Month
30-Day Written Notice
Court
Golden Valley County District Court (Southwest Judicial District)
Courthouse Address
150 1st Ave. SE, Beach, ND 58621
Court Phone
(701) 872-3713
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)
Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County or Beach. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. No short-term rental licensing framework at the local level.
Rent Control
No rent control in Golden Valley 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: up to two months’ rent. Return required within 30 days. Interest required 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.
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, but amount must be disclosed.
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. (Wetzel v. Schlenvogt, 2005.) Counsel will typically travel from Dickinson or Bismarck.
2025 Eviction Record Sealing (SB 2238)
Tenants may petition to seal eviction records 7 years after satisfying judgment. Dismissals and tenant-favorable outcomes may be sealed immediately. In a market this small, personal references and direct employer verification are the most reliable screening tools.
Just-Cause Eviction
No just-cause eviction requirement in Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley 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.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
North Dakota landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in North Dakota —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need North Dakota's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate North Dakota-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to North Dakota requirements.
Calculate your required notice period and earliest filing date
📋 Notice Period Calculator
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ 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.
Beach (county seat, I-94 ND/Montana gateway, last ND exit before Montana), Sentinel Butte (Theodore Roosevelt NP South Unit nearby), Golva. Western Badlands fringe, cattle ranching, highway commercial economy. 3-day pay or quit, no rent control, no just-cause eviction.
Golden Valley County
Screen Before You Sign
Core tenant profiles: Golden Valley County government workers, school district employees, I-94 highway commercial workers (motel, restaurant, gas station staff), cattle ranch operators and employees, and oil field services workers using Beach as a base. Verify income at 3x rent, run ND District Court eviction records, and prioritize personal landlord references in this small market.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Golden Valley County, North Dakota
Golden Valley County is where North Dakota ends and Montana begins, a geographic fact that has shaped the county’s identity since the Northern Pacific Railway laid tracks through Beach in the 1880s. Interstate 94 — the major east-west artery connecting Minneapolis to Billings — passes through Beach on its way to the Montana border, and that highway position gives this small western county an economic lifeblood that most rural ND counties of comparable size simply do not have. Truckers stop for fuel and food. Travelers stop for the night. Ranchers come to town for supplies. And increasingly, oil field workers use Beach as a base for western ND energy operations. For landlords, this means a rental market that is thin but sustained by multiple small demand streams rather than a single employer.
I-94 Gateway Economy
Beach’s position as the last North Dakota town on I-94 before Montana gives it a highway commercial economy that employs motel workers, restaurant staff, gas station attendants, and convenience store clerks at levels that would not otherwise exist in a community of 1,000 people. These hospitality and service workers form a meaningful share of Beach’s rental market. Their incomes tend to be modest, making affordable housing both the primary demand and the primary product in Golden Valley County. Landlords who maintain clean, functional, moderately priced rental units will find consistently low vacancy in this segment.
Cattle Ranching: The Permanent Economy
Golden Valley County is ranch country in the most traditional sense — wide-open butte and coulee terrain where cattle operations have run continuously since before statehood. Ranch families who maintain a residence in Beach for school access and services while operating land across the surrounding countryside represent the county’s most stable long-term rental segment. Ranch operators and their employees are rooted in the community by choice and by livelihood, and their tenancies tend to run for years. Income documentation for ranchers follows the agricultural pattern familiar across western North Dakota: Schedule F tax returns, cattle sale records, and grazing lease income statements in lieu of standard pay stubs.
Sentinel Butte and Badlands Tourism
Sentinel Butte, a tiny community east of Beach along I-94, sits near the southern entrance area of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit. The national park draws visitors from across the country, and while most park tourism is focused in Medora (Billings County), some spillover reaches Golden Valley County through Sentinel Butte’s position as a nearby access point. This creates very modest seasonal demand for accommodations and supports a small tourism overlay on the ranching and highway economy.
Oil Patch Proximity
While Golden Valley County is not in the core Bakken production zone, its proximity to the active oil counties to the north — particularly McKenzie, Billings, and Dunn counties — means that Beach occasionally serves as a base for oil field services workers, pipeline crews, and energy company staff whose job sites lie to the north. During active drilling periods, this energy demand can add a small premium to Beach’s rental rates. The demand is less volatile here than in the core oil counties because it is more spillover than direct production employment.
North Dakota Law in Golden Valley County
Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County District Court at 150 1st Ave. SE in Beach, part of the Southwest 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.
Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County District Court, 150 1st Ave. SE, Beach, ND 58621, (701) 872-3713. Filing fee ~$80. Southwest 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 Golden Valley 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.
