N.D.C.C. §§ 14-02.5-01 through 14-02.5-46 § 14-02.5-19
Answer.
Operative Text
14-02.5-19. Answer.
1. Not later than the tenth day after the date of receipt of the notice and copy of the
complaint under subsection 2 of section 14-02.5-18, a respondent may file an answer
to the complaint. An answer must be in writing, under oath, and in the form prescribed
by the department.
2. An answer may be amended at any time. An answer does not inhibit the investigation
of a complaint.Section 14-02.5-19 of the North Dakota Century Code establishes the process by which a respondent — typically a landlord or other party accused of a fair housing violation — may formally respond to a complaint. The respondent has up to ten days after receiving the complaint notice to file a written, sworn answer in the form the department requires. Once filed, an answer can be revised at any time, and its existence does not pause or limit the department's investigation of the underlying complaint.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.D.C.C. § 14-02.5-19, a property owner or manager who receives notice of a fair housing complaint has a ten-day window to submit a formal written answer to the department. A compliant respondent typically prepares the answer under oath and uses the form prescribed by the department, ensuring the response meets procedural requirements. Because the answer can be amended at any time and does not halt the investigation, operators generally remain engaged with the process even after the initial response is submitted.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 14-02.5-19 governs the respondent's right to answer a fair housing complaint filed under North Dakota's Human Rights Act, not the complainant's obligations — so a tenant who has filed a complaint should be aware that the other party may submit a formal response within ten days of receiving notice. The investigation continues regardless of whether or how the respondent answers, which means the process moves forward to protect the integrity of the complaint. Tenants seeking to understand how their complaint proceeds after this stage may find guidance through the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights or a local tenant-rights organization.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation