N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-01 through 47-16-30.1, 47-16-31 through 47-16-35, 47-16-42 § 47-16-20.1
Fee for accepting check or other instrument of payment prohibited.
Operative Text
47-16-20.1. Fee for accepting check or other instrument of payment prohibited. A landlord may not charge a tenant a fee to accept cash, a check, or a money order for the payment of rent or any other payment required by the landlord under a lease for real property.
Under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-20.1, landlords in North Dakota are prohibited from imposing any fee on a tenant simply because the tenant pays rent or other lease-required amounts using cash, a check, or a money order. The rule applies to all payments a landlord requires under a real property lease, not just rent. No surcharge or convenience fee may be added to a payment solely on the basis of the payment method used.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-20.1, compliant operators in North Dakota do not add any surcharge, processing fee, or convenience charge when a tenant tenders rent or other required lease payments in cash, by check, or by money order. Lease agreements and payment policies are generally reviewed to ensure no such fees appear in writing or are collected in practice. Operators who accept multiple payment methods take care that none of the methods covered by § 47-16-20.1 carry an added cost to the tenant.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-20.1 gives North Dakota tenants the right to pay rent and other landlord-required charges in cash, by check, or by money order without being charged an extra fee for doing so. If a landlord imposes such a fee, a tenant may raise the violation as a defense in a related legal proceeding or file a complaint with a relevant state or local authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with North Dakota law can help explain the general options available under § 47-16-20.1.
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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