N.D.C.C. §§ 14-02.5-01 through 14-02.5-46 § 14-02.5-39
Civil action.
Operative Text
14-02.5-39. Civil action.
1. An aggrieved person may file a civil action in district court not later than the second
year after the date of the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory
housing practice or the breach of a conciliation agreement entered under this chapter,
whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to the discriminatory
housing practice or breach.
2. The two-year period does not include any time during which an administrative hearing
under this chapter is pending with respect to a complaint or charge under this chapter
based on the discriminatory housing practice. This subsection does not apply to
actions arising from the breach of a conciliation agreement.
3. An aggrieved person may file a claim for relief whether a complaint has been filed
under section 14-02.5-18 and without regard to the status of any complaint filed under
that section.
4. If the department has obtained a conciliation agreement with the consent of an
aggrieved person, the aggrieved person may not file a claim for relief with respect to
the alleged discriminatory housing practice that forms the basis of the complaint
except to enforce the terms of the agreement.
5. An aggrieved person may not file a claim for relief with respect to an alleged
discriminatory housing practice that forms the basis of a charge issued by the
department if the department has begun a hearing on the record under this chapter
with respect to the charge.North Dakota Century Code § 14-02.5-39 establishes the right of a person harmed by an alleged discriminatory housing practice to bring a civil lawsuit in district court. The filing window is generally two years from the date the discriminatory act occurred or ended, or from the breach of a conciliation agreement, whichever is latest — and any time an administrative hearing is pending on the same complaint pauses that clock. Certain procedural limits apply: once a conciliation agreement is in place, a civil claim is limited to enforcing that agreement, and once the department has begun a formal administrative hearing on a charge, a separate civil action on the same underlying practice is no longer available.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to North Dakota's fair housing laws should be aware that § 14-02.5-39 gives aggrieved individuals up to two years — potentially longer if administrative proceedings are ongoing — to bring a civil lawsuit in district court over alleged discriminatory housing practices. Operators who enter into conciliation agreements through the department generally understand that doing so resolves the underlying claim, limiting any further civil action to enforcement of that agreement's terms. Maintaining thorough records of housing decisions, communications, and any administrative proceedings helps demonstrate compliance if a civil action is later filed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 14-02.5-39, a person who believes they have experienced a discriminatory housing practice in North Dakota has the right to file a civil lawsuit in district court within two years of the discriminatory act or its end — a period that is paused while any related administrative hearing is pending. This civil remedy can be pursued independently of whether an administrative complaint has been filed under § 14-02.5-18, though important limitations apply if a conciliation agreement has been reached or if the department has already begun a formal hearing on the same charge. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with North Dakota fair housing law can help individuals understand which enforcement paths may be available given the status of any existing proceedings.
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