N.D.C.C. §§ 14-02.5-01 through 14-02.5-46 § 14-02.5-02
Sale or rental.
Operative Text
14-02.5-02. Sale or rental.
1. A person may not refuse to sell or rent, after the making of a bona fide offer, refuse to
negotiate for the sale or rental of, or in any other manner make unavailable or deny a
dwelling to an individual because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, familial
status, national origin, or status with respect to marriage or public assistance.
2. A person may not discriminate against an individual in the terms, conditions, or
privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling or in providing services or facilities in
connection with a sale or rental of a dwelling because of race, color, religion, sex,
disability, age, familial status, national origin, or status with respect to marriage or
public assistance.
3. An applicant for or tenant of housing that is part of a state housing program may not
be denied admission to, denied assistance under, terminated from participating in, or
evicted from housing on the basis that the applicant or tenant is or has been a victim of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the applicant or
tenant otherwise qualifies for admission, assistance, participation, or occupancy.
4. This section does not prohibit discrimination against an individual because the
individual has been convicted under federal law or the law of any state of the illegal
manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance.
5. Nothing in this chapter prevents a person from refusing to rent a dwelling to two
unrelated individuals of opposite gender who are not married to each other.North Dakota Century Code § 14-02.5-02 prohibits any person from refusing to sell or rent a dwelling, or from discriminating in the terms and conditions of a sale or rental, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, familial status, national origin, or marital or public-assistance status. The provision also extends specific protections to applicants and tenants in state housing programs who are or have been victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, barring their denial, termination, or eviction on that basis alone. Two notable carve-outs exist: the law does not shield individuals convicted of illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance, and it does not prevent a landlord from declining to rent to two unrelated individuals of opposite gender who are not married to each other.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under § 14-02.5-02 generally apply consistent, documented criteria when evaluating offers, negotiating terms, and setting conditions for all prospective buyers or renters, without reference to any of the protected characteristics listed in the statute. Operators of state housing programs take particular care to ensure that victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking are not denied admission, terminated, or evicted solely on the basis of that status, provided the individual otherwise meets program qualifications. Familiarity with the two statutory exceptions—regarding controlled-substance convictions and unrelated opposite-gender unmarried applicants—helps operators understand the precise boundaries of what § 14-02.5-02 does and does not require.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 14-02.5-02, tenants and housing applicants in North Dakota have the right not to be refused, denied, or subjected to different terms in a sale or rental transaction because of characteristics such as race, disability, familial status, or public-assistance status, among others. Individuals participating in a state housing program who are survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking have an additional layer of protection against denial or eviction based on that victim status. Those who believe their rights under § 14-02.5-02 have been violated may consider filing a complaint with a relevant state or federal fair-housing authority, raising the violation as a defense in an eviction proceeding, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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