Housing (Tenant Rights)

Relating to receivers for mobile home parks and a defense to an eviction from a mobile home; to amend and reenact sections 23‑10‑03, 23‑10‑04, 23‑10‑06, 23‑10‑06.2, 23‑10‑12, and 47‑10‑28 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to licensure and regulation of mobile home parks; and to provide a penalty.

SB 2366 would require landlords in North Dakota to include specific information about legal aid services in eviction notices. The bill mandates that notices of intention to evict must list contact details for nonprofit organizations providing free legal help to low-income and elderly tenants. This applies to all evictions under sections 47-32-01(4), (5), (6), and (8) of the state code. The change aims to ensure tenants receive clear information about available legal assistance before eviction proceedings begin. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass during committee review.

HB 1496 amends North Dakota law to clarify landlords' responsibilities for maintaining rental properties. It requires landlords to comply with health/safety building codes, make necessary repairs, keep common areas clean, maintain essential systems (like plumbing and heating), and provide running water and reasonable heat (68°F Oct-April, seasonally appropriate May-Sept). The bill allows written agreements between landlords and tenants of single-family homes for tenants to handle specific tasks (like waste removal), but only with good faith and separate written terms. It explicitly states landlords cannot make such agreements a condition for rental obligations. This directly affects landlords and tenants in North Dakota residential rentals.

SB 2238 allows tenants evicted under North Dakota law to request the sealing of their court records after meeting specific conditions. Generally, individuals can petition to seal records seven years after satisfying the eviction order. Survivors of domestic violence who were evicted during their tenancy may immediately petition to seal records upon a conviction for domestic violence or issuance of a restraining order against their abuser. This bill directly affects evicted tenants, particularly those who experienced domestic violence, by removing their eviction records from public access.