N.D.C.C. §§ 14-02.5-01 through 14-02.5-46 § 14-02.5-23
Temporary or preliminary relief.
Operative Text
14-02.5-23. Temporary or preliminary relief.
The department may authorize a claim for relief for temporary or preliminary relief pending
the final disposition of a complaint, if the department concludes after the filing of the complaint
that prompt judicial action is necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. On receipt of
the department's authorization, the attorney general shall promptly file the claim. A temporary
restraining order or other order granting preliminary or temporary relief under this section is
governed by the applicable statutes and the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure. The filing of
a claim for relief under this section does not affect the initiation or continuation of administrative
proceedings under section 14-02.5-31.Section 14-02.5-23 of the North Dakota Century Code establishes a mechanism for seeking urgent court intervention before a fair-housing complaint is fully resolved. When the relevant department determines that waiting for a final decision could undermine the purposes of the fair-housing chapter, it may authorize the attorney general to file for temporary or preliminary relief in court. Any such court order is governed by North Dakota's Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable statutes, and pursuing this emergency relief does not pause or prevent the underlying administrative process from moving forward.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 14-02.5-23, a landlord facing a fair-housing complaint should be aware that the state department can authorize the attorney general to seek immediate court-ordered relief—such as a temporary restraining order—before the complaint is fully adjudicated. Operators who maintain consistent, documented, non-discriminatory policies and practices are generally better positioned when emergency judicial action is sought. Understanding that both court proceedings and administrative proceedings can run simultaneously under this provision is an important part of managing compliance obligations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 14-02.5-23 provides a pathway for urgent court relief if a fair-housing complaint involves circumstances where waiting for a final administrative decision could cause harm. If a complaint has been filed with the department and prompt action appears necessary, the department itself can authorize the attorney general to seek a temporary restraining order or other preliminary relief on the complainant's behalf. Tenants who believe their situation may warrant emergency intervention can contact the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights or a local tenant-rights organization to understand how this provision might apply to an ongoing complaint.
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