LawLease
Log in
LawLease1/2

Free North Dakota Cash
for Keys Agreement Template

Last reviewed September 2026

Written by LawLease Editorial

Free template

Download a free Cash for Keys Agreement template

A blank, printable form — fill it in by hand. Or build a guided version with North Dakota set as the governing state. Create a free account to download.

Build a guided North Dakota version

North Dakota Cash for Keys Agreement

This Cash for Keys Agreement is built with North Dakota as the governing state. These are the North Dakota landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.

North Dakota rules at a glance

North Dakota rules for a Cash for Keys Agreement
Security deposit limit1 month’s rent (2 months in two narrow cases); separate pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or 2 months’ rentN.D.C.C. §47-16-07.1
Deposit return30 days after termination and delivery of possession, with an itemized accounting and interestN.D.C.C. §47-16-07.1(3)
Pet depositsA separate pet security deposit is allowed, capped at the greater of $2,500 or two months’ rent. It can’t be charged for a service or assistance animal a tenant with a disability needs as a reasonable accommodation (§47-16-07.1(2)).
Deposit rulesThe deposit cap, interest, 30-day accounting and treble-damages rules of §47-16-07.1 apply regardless of the lease terms.
Month-to-month terminationOne calendar month’s written noticeN.D.C.C. §47-16-15(2)
Nonpayment eviction notice3 days’ written notice of intention to evictN.D.C.C. §47-32-02

Security deposits in North Dakota

A North Dakota landlord may not demand or receive security of more than one month’s rent (§47-16-07.1(1)). Two exceptions allow up to two months’ rent: an applicant with a felony conviction (as an incentive to rent to them), and an applicant who has had a judgment entered against them for violating a previous rental agreement.

  • Pet deposits — A separate pet security deposit is allowed, capped at the greater of $2,500 or two months’ rent. It can’t be charged for a service or assistance animal a tenant with a disability needs as a reasonable accommodation (§47-16-07.1(2)).
  • Interest-bearing account — The deposit must be held in a federally insured, interest-bearing savings or checking account for the tenant’s benefit, and the deposit plus accrued interest is paid to the tenant at the end of the lease. No interest is owed if the tenant occupied the unit for less than nine months (§47-16-07.1).
  • Permitted deductions — Damage caused by the tenant’s pet or by the negligence of the tenant or guests; unpaid rent; and cleaning or repairs that were the tenant’s responsibility, reasonable wear and tear excepted (§47-16-07.1(3)).
  • Return — Within 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant delivers possession, the landlord must deliver or mail to the tenant’s last furnished address an itemized list of deductions, the amount due, and a statement of any balance owed either way (§47-16-07.1(3)).
  • Treble damages — A landlord who withholds deposit money without reasonable justification is liable for three times the amount (§47-16-07.1(4)).
  • Sale of the property — On a sale, the deposit and interest transfer to the new owner, and the seller stays liable until they do (§47-16-07.1(5)).

Tenant protections you can’t waive

  • Unconscionable terms — A court may refuse to enforce, or limit, any lease provision — or any settlement waiving a maintenance right — that was unconscionable when made (§47-16-13.3).
  • Deposit rules — The deposit cap, interest, 30-day accounting and treble-damages rules of §47-16-07.1 apply regardless of the lease terms.
  • Domestic-violence protections — A landlord can’t refuse to rent to or retaliate against someone for using the domestic-violence termination right, and can’t disclose the tenant’s documentation; statutory damages of $1,000 are available (§47-16-17.1).
  • Court process for possession — A landlord recovers possession through an eviction action in district court after the required notice (§§47-32-01, 47-32-02) — not by lockout.

North Dakota Cash for Keys Agreement FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in North Dakota?

Generally no more than one month’s rent. Up to two months is allowed for a tenant with a felony conviction or a prior judgment for violating a rental agreement, and a separate pet deposit may be up to the greater of $2,500 or two months’ rent (N.D.C.C. §47-16-07.1).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in North Dakota?

30 days after the lease ends and the tenant delivers possession, with an itemized list of deductions and the amount due, plus interest if the tenant stayed nine months or more. Withholding without reasonable justification exposes the landlord to treble damages (N.D.C.C. §47-16-07.1).

What eviction notice is required in North Dakota?

Three days’ written notice of intention to evict before filing, for nonpayment of rent, holding over after the lease ends, or a material breach of a written lease (N.D.C.C. §§47-32-01, 47-32-02).

More North Dakota landlord documents

Cash for Keys Agreement in other states

Create your document in under 5 minutes

Answer a few plain questions, then download or e-sign. Built for landlords and tenants.

Get started
LawLease

LawLease LLC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. The information, documents, and services available through LawLease are provided for informational and self-help purposes only and are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

This document is a general-purpose template, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and city, and an unusual situation deserves a lawyer’s review.

Documents you generate are yours to keep. Every edit and signature is recorded in an audit trail, so you can show exactly what was signed and when.

Using LawLease means you accept our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Legal Disclaimer. Bot protection is provided by reCAPTCHA — Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.