N.D.C.C. §§ 14-02.5-01 through 14-02.5-46 § 14-02.5-21
Additional or substitute respondent.
Operative Text
14-02.5-21. Additional or substitute respondent.
The department may join a person not named in the complaint as an additional or substitute
respondent if during the investigation the department determines that the person is alleged to be
engaged, to have engaged, or to be about to engage in the discriminatory housing practice
upon which the complaint is based. In addition to the information required in the notice under
subsection 2 of section 14-02.5-18, the department shall include in a notice to a respondent
joined under this section the reasons for the determination that the person is properly joined as
a respondent.Section 14-02.5-21 of the North Dakota Century Code allows the state department handling fair housing complaints to add or swap in a new party as a respondent during its investigation if evidence surfaces that the new party was involved in, is currently involved in, or is about to be involved in the discriminatory housing practice at issue. When the department takes this step, it must notify the newly joined respondent not only with the standard information required under § 14-02.5-18(2) but also with a specific explanation of why that person or entity is being brought into the complaint. This provision ensures that investigations can follow the evidence to all potentially responsible parties without requiring a brand-new complaint to be filed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, managers, and housing-related businesses should be aware that under § 14-02.5-21, a fair housing investigation can expand to name additional or substitute respondents even after a complaint is initially filed against someone else. A compliant operator generally keeps clear records of all parties involved in housing decisions—such as agents, contractors, or co-owners—so that roles and responsibilities can be accurately documented if questions arise during an investigation. Receiving a notice under this section means the department has made a specific determination of involvement, and that notice will include the reasons for joining the new respondent alongside the standard § 14-02.5-18(2) disclosures.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants who have filed or are considering filing a fair housing complaint, § 14-02.5-21 means that the investigation is not necessarily limited to the person or entity originally named—the department can bring in additional or substitute respondents if the evidence points to other parties who may share responsibility for the discriminatory practice. This can be relevant when multiple actors (such as a property management company, an owner, or a leasing agent) may have played a role in the conduct described in the complaint. Tenants seeking to understand how this process works in their situation may benefit from contacting a tenant-rights organization or consulting the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights, which administers the fair housing statutes under this chapter.
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