A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Renville County, North Dakota
Renville County is a compact north-central North Dakota border county where grain farming drives the economy, the Souris River provides the geographic backbone, and the Canadian border adds a modest cross-border trade dimension. Mohall, the county seat, is a quiet community of roughly 750 people that serves as the governmental and commercial center for a county whose total population is around 2,300. For landlords, Renville County is a micro-market where properties are few, vacancies are rare, and the tenant pool is drawn almost entirely from the institutional employment that sustains every rural ND county seat.
Mohall: The County Seat
Mohall sits along the Souris River in the center of Renville County, serving as the seat of county government and home to the Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (MLS) consolidated school district. County government offices, the school district, grain elevators, agricultural co-ops, and the small businesses that serve the farming community provide the employment base. Mohall’s rental market is extremely small — measured in dozens of units — but sustained by the institutional employment that comes with county seat status and a consolidated school district that draws staff from across the area.
Sherwood and the Canadian Border
Sherwood, located in the Gooseneck area near the Canadian border, hosts a U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry that processes cross-border traffic between North Dakota and Saskatchewan. The Sherwood crossing is smaller than the major ports at Pembina or Portal, but the CBP officers and staff stationed there represent stable federal employment with strong incomes. Sherwood’s border position also supports modest cross-border commercial activity as Canadian residents use Sherwood for some shopping and services.
Agricultural Foundation
Wheat, canola, soybeans, and sunflowers are the primary crops in Renville County, grown on productive soils in the drift prairie transition zone. The county’s grain elevators in Mohall, Sherwood, and Tolley serve the surrounding farm operations, and the agricultural services businesses — seed, chemical, and equipment dealers — provide year-round employment. Farm operators who maintain a town residence in Mohall for school and healthcare access represent a stable rental segment. Income verification for agricultural tenants follows the standard rural ND pattern of Schedule F returns, USDA payments, and crop insurance records.
Minot Regional Access
Renville County’s southern border lies within reasonable commuting distance of Minot (Ward County), giving residents access to the healthcare, retail, and employment resources of North Dakota’s fourth-largest city. Some Renville County residents commute to Minot for employment while maintaining residences in Mohall or the surrounding area, drawn by lower housing costs and small-town living. This commuter dynamic modestly expands the tenant pool beyond purely local employment.
North Dakota Law in Renville County
Renville 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 Renville County District Court at 205 Main St. E. in Mohall, part of the Northeast Central 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.
Renville 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 Renville County District Court, 205 Main St. E., Mohall, ND 58761, (701) 756-6398. Filing fee ~$80. Northeast Central Judicial District. 2025 SB 2238: eviction record sealing after 7 years. No rent control. No just-cause eviction requirement. Last updated: May 2026.
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