N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-01 through 47-16-30.1, 47-16-31 through 47-16-35, 47-16-42 § 47-16-19
Term of lease governed by manner of payment of rent.
Operative Text
47-16-19. Term of lease governed by manner of payment of rent.
The renting of lodgings for an unspecified term is presumed to have been made for such
length of time as the parties adopt for the estimation of the rent. Thus renting at a weekly rate of
rent is presumed to be for one week. In the absence of any agreement respecting the length of
time of the rent, the leasing is presumed to be monthly.North Dakota law under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-19 establishes a default rule for determining the length of a rental agreement when no specific term is stated. The presumed lease period mirrors the payment interval chosen by the parties — for example, a weekly rent rate creates a presumption of a week-to-week tenancy. If the parties have made no agreement at all about the rental period, the law presumes the tenancy is month-to-month.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-19, operators who rent without specifying a lease term should be aware that the payment interval they set — weekly, monthly, or otherwise — will define the presumed tenancy length. Compliant operators typically document the intended rental period in writing to avoid ambiguity about notice requirements and tenancy duration. Relying solely on a verbal or informal arrangement may result in a tenancy term determined by the rent payment schedule rather than the operator's intent.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-19 provides tenants with a baseline understanding of their tenancy length even when no written lease specifies a term. If rent is paid weekly, the tenancy is generally presumed week-to-week; if no payment interval was agreed upon, the law presumes a month-to-month arrangement. Tenants who believe their tenancy term is being mischaracterized may wish to review their payment history and any written communications, and can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general guidance on how this provision may apply.
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.
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