N.D.C.C. §§ 14-02.5-01 through 14-02.5-46 § 14-02.5-26
Charge.
Operative Text
14-02.5-26. Charge.
1. A charge issued under section 14-02.5-25 must consist of a short and plain statement
of the facts on which the department finds reasonable cause to believe that a
discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, must be based on
the final investigative report, and is not limited to the facts or grounds alleged in the
complaint.
2. Within three days after issuing a charge, the department shall send a copy of the
charge with information about the election under section 14-02.5-30 to each
respondent and each aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.
3. The department shall include with a charge sent to a respondent a notice of the
opportunity for a hearing under section 14-02.5-31.Section 14-02.5-26 of the North Dakota Century Code governs the formal charge document that the Department of Labor and Human Rights issues when it finds reasonable cause to believe a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur. The charge must contain a concise statement of the supporting facts drawn from the final investigative report, and it is not confined to the specific allegations raised in the original complaint. Within three days of issuing the charge, the department must send copies to all respondents and aggrieved persons, along with information about the election process under § 14-02.5-30 and notice of the opportunity for a hearing under § 14-02.5-31.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 14-02.5-26, a property owner or manager named as a respondent in a fair housing investigation can expect to receive a formal charge document within three days of its issuance if the department finds reasonable cause. That charge will describe the factual basis for the finding and will be accompanied by a notice explaining the respondent's right to elect a hearing under § 14-02.5-31. Operators who receive such a charge generally review it carefully alongside the final investigative report and consult qualified legal counsel to understand the scope of the allegations, which may extend beyond what was originally complained about.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 14-02.5-26 protects aggrieved persons by requiring that they receive a copy of any charge issued on their behalf within three days of its issuance, along with information about the election process described in § 14-02.5-30. The charge is grounded in the department's full investigative findings, meaning the formal proceeding can address discriminatory conduct uncovered during the investigation even if it was not specifically named in the original complaint. Tenants or applicants who believe they are the subject of a discriminatory housing practice may contact the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights or a local tenant-rights organization to understand how the charge and election process could apply to their situation.
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 Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation