N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-01 through 47-16-30.1, 47-16-31 through 47-16-35, 47-16-42 § 47-16-13.6

Enforcement of sections 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6.

In Force
Verified 10/28/2026 · Next check 11/4/2026
North DakotaRetaliation Protections

Operative Text

N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-01 through 47-16-30.1, 47-16-31 through 47-16-35, 47-16-42 § 47-16-13.6
    47-16-13.6. Enforcement of sections 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6.
    Any right or action provided by sections 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6 is enforceable by
action and the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 47-16-13.6 of the North Dakota Century Code establishes that the rights and remedies created by sections 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6 can be pursued through a court action. Notably, the court has discretion to award reasonable attorney's fees to whichever party prevails in such litigation. This means the enforcement mechanism for these rental-related provisions is civil litigation rather than an administrative complaint process.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 28, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.6, a landlord who prevails in a court action brought under sections 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6 may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees by the court. Operators who maintain thorough documentation of their compliance with the underlying provisions—such as records of notices, deposits, and communications—are generally better positioned in any litigation that arises. Understanding that either party can seek fee-shifting under this section is relevant context for how disputes under these provisions may unfold.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 47-16-13.6 confirms that tenants have the right to bring a court action to enforce any right established under N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-13.1 through 47-16-13.6. If a tenant prevails in such an action, the court may order the landlord to pay the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees, which can make legal representation more accessible. Tenants seeking to understand their options under these provisions may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with North Dakota landlord-tenant law.

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

Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

N.D.C.C. § 47-16-06
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.6
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.6
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.6
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-06
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-06.1
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1

Related Rules

§ 2A
Reprisal for reporting violations of law, for tenant's union activity, or actions taken pursuant to laws protecting tenants who are victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking; defense; presumption
§ 47a-20
(Formerly Sec. 19-375a). Retaliatory action by landlord prohibited.
§ 47a-20a
Actions deemed not retaliatory.

Source Information

Snapshot SHA:
Fetched:Oct 28, 2026, 09:54 AM UTC