Security Deposit Demand Letter — North Dakota
NORTH DAKOTA SECURITY DEPOSIT DEMAND LETTER
Date: [__/__/____]
Sent by: [CERTIFIED MAIL / FIRST-CLASS MAIL / PERSONAL DELIVERY / OTHER]
To:
[LANDLORD OR PROPERTY MANAGER]
[ADDRESS]
From:
[TENANT]
[FORWARDING ADDRESS]
Re: Security Deposit for [RENTAL PROPERTY]
Dear [LANDLORD / PROPERTY MANAGER]:
I demand the return of my North Dakota residential security deposit and all interest due under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Lease termination date | [__/__/____] |
| Date possession was delivered | [__/__/____] |
| Keys returned or access surrendered | [____________________________________________] |
| General security deposit | $[________] |
| Pet security deposit | $[________] |
| Amount returned | $[________] |
| Date and method returned | [____________________________________________] |
| Itemized statement received | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Date received | [__/__/____] |
North Dakota Deposit Requirements
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1 requires a landlord who takes a security deposit, however denominated, to place it in a federally insured interest-bearing savings or checking account for the tenant's benefit. The landlord need not pay interest when occupancy lasted less than nine months.
The general deposit ordinarily may not exceed one month's rent. The statute permits up to two months' rent in the specified felony-conviction or prior rental-judgment circumstances. A separate pet deposit for an animal that is not a required service or companion animal may not exceed the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent.
After termination of the lease, the landlord may apply deposit money and accrued interest to qualifying damage caused by the tenant, pet, or guest, unpaid rent, and qualifying cleaning or repair costs necessary to return the dwelling to its original state, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
Any withheld amount must be itemized. The itemization, written notice, and amount due or refund must be delivered or mailed to the tenant's last address furnished to the landlord within thirty days after both termination of the lease and delivery of possession by the tenant.
Under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1(4), a landlord is liable for treble damages for security-deposit money withheld without reasonable justification.
Claimed Violations
Check all supported items:
☐ More than thirty days have passed after lease termination and delivery of possession, but the required refund or notice has not been delivered or mailed.
☐ No timely itemized statement accompanied the withheld amount.
☐ The deposit or interest was not held or paid as required by the statute.
☐ The general deposit exceeded the applicable statutory limit.
☐ The pet deposit exceeded the applicable statutory limit or was charged for a required service or companion animal.
☐ Deductions include ordinary wear and tear, unsupported charges, or costs outside the statutory categories.
☐ Deposit money was withheld without reasonable justification.
Supporting explanation: [____________________________________________________________]
Demand
Please deliver the following no later than [__/__/____]:
| Demand item | Amount or response |
|---|---|
| Unreturned deposit | $[________] |
| Accrued interest | $[________] |
| Amount improperly deducted | $[________] |
| Other supported amount | $[________] |
| Total demanded before any court-determined multiplier | $[________] |
Also provide the deposit-account and deduction records supporting your position, including the itemization, invoices, receipts, photographs, move-in condition statement, and payment ledger.
If the matter is not resolved, I reserve all rights and remedies, including a claim for the treble damages authorized when the court finds that security-deposit money was withheld without reasonable justification. This letter does not state that attorney fees or forfeiture automatically follow from late itemization; any additional remedy must have an independent legal basis.
Sincerely,
[____________________________________________]
[TENANT OR COUNSEL]
[PHONE / EMAIL]
Enclosures
☐ Lease
☐ Deposit receipt or payment proof
☐ Move-in condition statement and photographs
☐ Move-out photographs and key-return proof
☐ Landlord's itemization or correspondence
☐ Repair estimates, invoices, or other records
Source
- North Dakota Century Code ch. 47-16, including § 47-16-07.1 — https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t47c16.pdf
About this template
- Last updated
- August 8, 2026
- Citations checked
- August 8, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- North Dakota
- Category
- Demand Letters
Legal authority
- N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1 (security-deposit account, limits, interest, deductions, return, itemization, and treble damages)
A demand letter is a formal written request to fix a problem or pay what is owed, sent before anyone files a lawsuit. It gives the other side a real chance to settle, creates a record of your attempt to resolve things, and in many cases (unpaid debts, insurance claims, broken contracts) starts a legally required response window. A well-written demand letter lays out what happened, what you want, and a deadline to act, which is often enough to get results without ever going to court.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on August 8, 2026.
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