Up to $15,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In North Dakota, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Court (District Court), where you can sue for up to $15,000.
Your deadline: North Dakota generally gives you 6 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $30 (About $30 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 27-08.1-01; deadlines: N.D. Cent. Code §§ 28-01-15, 28-01-16. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract and most tort/property damage/personal injury claims 6 yrs.
Suing for something else in North Dakota: North Dakota unpaid loan · North Dakota property damage · North Dakota unpaid rent · North Dakota contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Minnesota ($15,000, 6 years) · South Dakota ($12,000, 6 years) · Montana ($7,000, 8 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026