I own a home in North Dakota
The homestead credit, property taxes, deeds, and assessment notices.
NORTH DAKOTA GUIDE
Life in North Dakota comes
with its own rules.
Know what comes next.
From the homestead credit and farm residence exemption to mineral rights, blizzard season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear North Dakota-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official North Dakota government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in North Dakota
North Dakota's Homestead Property Tax Credit offers real, income-tiered relief: homeowners with income under $40,000 (including spouse and dependents) get a 100% reduction in taxable value, up to a $9,000 maximum reduction; those between $40,001 and $70,000 get a 50% reduction, up to $4,500. Apply through your county Tax Director's office; you must be 65+ or permanently and totally disabled to qualify, and only one spouse in a married couple needs to meet the age requirement. A separate Disabled Veterans Property Tax Credit applies to veterans with a 50%+ service-connected disability rating, calculated as a percentage of taxable value reduction matching their disability rating. Deeds are recorded with the county Recorder, and North Dakota rewards early payment: pay your full property tax bill by a set date (typically mid-February) and most counties apply a discount, an incentive most states don't offer. If you're building on agricultural land, ask whether your specific residence qualifies for North Dakota's distinctive farm residence exemption, a separate benefit from the homestead credit.
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Tax Director and Recorder offices
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, recording fees, and property records.
I'm buying or selling property
North Dakota closings typically go through a title company, with deeds recorded by the county Recorder. A title search through the Recorder's records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing - and in North Dakota, this search should also check whether mineral rights beneath the property have been severed from the surface ownership at some point in the property's history, since minerals here are frequently owned separately from the land itself and don't necessarily transfer with a standard surface deed. Once you buy and move in, if you're 65+ or disabled, apply for the Homestead Property Tax Credit through your county Tax Director's office. Pay attention to North Dakota's early-payment discount: paying your full property tax bill by the county's set deadline (typically mid-February) earns a real discount in most counties, a genuine incentive most states don't offer. If you're purchasing farmland, ask specifically whether the residence on it might qualify for North Dakota's farm residence exemption, a distinct benefit from the homestead credit requiring the property meet specific agricultural use criteria.
Sources: county Recorder and Tax Director offices, North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner
I own farmland or minerals
Farm exemptions, mineral rights, oil royalties, and land records.
I own farmland or minerals
North Dakota offers a genuinely distinctive farm residence property tax exemption: a qualifying farmhouse - located on 10 or more acres of agricultural land, occupied by a farmer who devotes most of their time to farming or ranching and derived at least 66% of household income from farming in one of the past two years - can be fully exempt from property tax on the residence itself. Apply, along with a Statement of Farm Gross Income, through your county Tax Director by March 31 each year. Separately, and often more consequentially, mineral rights (oil, gas, and other subsurface resources) in North Dakota are frequently owned entirely separately from the surface land, a legacy of decades of mineral rights being sold, retained, or inherited independently of the land above them - especially significant given the state's Bakken oil activity. This means owning the surface doesn't guarantee you own what's beneath it, and vice versa; mineral ownership, leases, and royalty interests are tracked through the county Recorder's records, distinct from the surface deed. Before buying rural North Dakota land, or before assuming you're entitled to royalty income from activity on land you own, verify mineral ownership specifically rather than assuming it follows the surface title.
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Recorder offices, North Dakota Industrial Commission
Someone passed away
Probate in District Court, wills, estates, and filing steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in North Dakota is handled by District Court, one per county, without a separate probate-only court. North Dakota follows the Uniform Probate Code, offering informal probate for straightforward, uncontested estates alongside formal probate for anything contested, plus a small estate affidavit process for modest estates under a statutory value threshold. If the deceased's home carried the Homestead Property Tax Credit or the farm residence exemption, neither continues automatically for an heir - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to independently qualify and apply through the county Tax Director. If the estate includes mineral rights, remember these are frequently owned and tracked separately from surface land in North Dakota, so confirm what mineral interests, if any, the deceased actually held through the county Recorder's records before assuming the estate's real property automatically includes them, or that they're absent. Property records for real estate and mineral interests in the estate are held by the county Recorder, separate from the District Court handling the case.
Sources: North Dakota Courts, North Dakota Century Code Title 30.1 (Uniform Probate Code)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses in North Dakota are issued by the county Recorder - apply regardless of residency, with no waiting period, so a license is available for same-day use. Once issued, it's valid for 60 days. Divorce is filed in District Court, and North Dakota has a genuinely distinctive residency rule: the 6-month residency requirement applies to when the court can grant the final decree, not to filing itself - you can file your divorce action before completing 6 months of residency, as long as you've reached that threshold by the time the decree is issued. North Dakota imposes no mandatory waiting period after filing, one of only about 15 states without a post-filing cooling-off period, so an uncontested case can finalize in as little as 30 days once residency is satisfied. North Dakota recognizes a no-fault ground (irreconcilable differences) alongside 6 fault-based grounds, and divides marital property under an equitable distribution standard using the state's Ruff-Fischer guidelines. There's no waiting period to remarry once a North Dakota divorce decree is final.
Sources: North Dakota Courts, county Recorder offices, North Dakota Century Code §14-05
I'm caring for an aging parent
Senior services, the homestead credit, benefits, and estate planning.
I'm caring for an aging parent
If your parent is 65 or older, help them apply for the Homestead Property Tax Credit through their county Tax Director - with income (including spouse and dependents) under $40,000, they'd receive a 100% reduction in taxable value up to $9,000; between $40,001 and $70,000, a 50% reduction up to $4,500. Only one spouse in a married couple needs to be 65+ to qualify, and the exemption continues even if your parent moves into a nursing home or hospital, as long as their portion of the homestead isn't rented out to someone else. If your parent is a veteran with a 50%+ service-connected disability, a separate Disabled Veterans Property Tax Credit applies, calculated as a percentage of taxable value reduction matching their disability rating. If your parent needs help managing property or finances, a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-supervised guardianship in many situations; guardianship itself, when necessary, goes through District Court. If your parent owns mineral rights, confirm their status specifically, since minerals in North Dakota are often owned separately from the surface land and are easy to overlook in estate planning.
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Tax Director offices, North Dakota Dept. of Human Services Aging Services Division
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the North Dakota Dept. of Health and Human Services Vital Records office, though county Recorder offices can also assist with records for events in that county. Marriage records are held by the county Recorder where the license was issued. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens, and mineral interests - are recorded and searchable through the county Recorder, generally free to search in person with a fee for certified copies. Because minerals are frequently owned separately from surface land in North Dakota, a full property history often requires checking both surface and mineral records through the same Recorder's office. Court records for civil, criminal, and probate cases come from the District Court Clerk. Business entity records are filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property tax records, homestead credit status, and farm residence exemption applications go through your county Tax Director's office, separate from the Recorder.
Sources: North Dakota Dept. of Health and Human Services, county Recorder and Tax Director offices, North Dakota Secretary of State
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in North Dakota starts with the Secretary of State, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. Most businesses register with the Office of State Tax Commissioner for a sales tax permit if they'll sell taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. Local business licenses and zoning approval vary by county and city, so check both levels for your specific location. If your business involves oil, gas, or mineral extraction, expect a genuinely layered regulatory process through the North Dakota Industrial Commission, given the state's significant Bakken oil activity - mineral leases and royalty arrangements here are recorded and tracked separately from surface land at the county Recorder. Business real estate is assessed by your county Tax Director the same way residential property is, and North Dakota's early-payment discount on property tax applies to business property too, so paying your full bill by the county's set deadline (typically mid-February) can save real money.
Sources: North Dakota Secretary of State, North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, North Dakota Industrial Commission, IRS
How-To Guides for North Dakota
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I vote? (North Dakota has NO voter registration)
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in North Dakota
Read guide →North Dakota Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →North Dakota works differently. Here's what to know.
Probate in District Court
Estates, wills, and guardianships run through the District Court in your county.
Probate in District Court
North Dakota handles estates through District Court, one per county, without a separate probate-only court structure. North Dakota follows the Uniform Probate Code, so procedures are relatively standardized statewide, offering informal probate for straightforward, uncontested estates and formal probate for anything contested, plus a simplified small estate affidavit process for modest estates under a statutory value threshold. If you're settling a North Dakota estate, you're filing with District Court in the county where the deceased lived, not a distinct "Probate Court" building, since that specialized structure doesn't exist in North Dakota - District Court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate matters all within the same court system. Given how common mineral rights are in North Dakota, a real part of many probate cases here involves determining exactly what mineral interests, if any, belonged to the deceased, since these are tracked separately from surface land ownership and can be easy to overlook without a careful review of county Recorder records.
Sources: North Dakota Courts, North Dakota Century Code Title 30.1
Farm Residences Can Be Exempt
Qualifying farm homes are exempt from property tax, a distinctly North Dakota rule.
Farm Residences Can Be Exempt
North Dakota offers a benefit few other states provide: a genuinely full property tax exemption for a qualifying farmhouse, not just a partial reduction. To qualify, the residence must sit on 10 or more acres of agricultural land and be occupied by someone who devotes most of their working time to farming or ranching, with net farm income equal to at least 66% of the farmer's (and spouse's, if applicable) total household income in at least one of the two preceding calendar years. Each residence is examined individually against these criteria - it's not an automatic classification just because the property is zoned agricultural or sits on a working farm. Apply through your county Tax Director's office, along with a Statement of Farm Gross Income, by March 31 each year. This is a genuinely valuable benefit for full-time farmers and ranchers, but it's specific to the residence itself and its qualifying occupant - it doesn't extend to other structures on the property or apply automatically to a new owner, so reapplication and reverification happen whenever circumstances change.
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Tax Director offices
The Homestead Credit
Seniors and disabled homeowners who qualify can cut their property tax bill.
The Homestead Credit
North Dakota's Homestead Property Tax Credit is genuinely tiered by income rather than a flat exemption: homeowners 65+ or permanently and totally disabled with household income (including spouse and dependents) under $40,000 get a full 100% reduction in taxable value, up to a $9,000 maximum; those with income between $40,001 and $70,000 get a 50% reduction, up to $4,500. For a married couple living together, only one spouse needs to meet the age or disability requirement, and only one may apply. A distinctive feature: the exemption continues even if the qualifying person no longer lives in the home due to being in a nursing home, hospital, or care facility, as long as their portion of the homestead isn't rented to someone else - a genuine accommodation for people who've had to move into care but still technically own their home. Apply through your county Tax Director's office; this isn't automatic and requires documentation of income from all sources, though certain payments like gifts, inheritances, and specific benefit types are excluded from the income calculation.
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Tax Director offices, North Dakota Century Code §57-02-08.1
Pay Early for a Discount
Paying your full property tax bill early earns a discount in most counties.
Pay Early for a Discount
North Dakota gives homeowners a genuine financial incentive most states don't offer: pay your entire property tax bill in full by a set early deadline - typically mid-February - and most counties apply a discount off the total. This is a real, meaningful reward for paying in one lump sum rather than waiting until the standard due date, and it's worth planning your annual budget around if you have the ability to pay the full amount upfront. The exact discount percentage and specific deadline can vary somewhat by county, so confirm the current terms with your county Treasurer or Auditor rather than assuming a uniform statewide rate and date. Missing the early-payment window doesn't create a penalty by itself - you simply pay the standard amount by the regular due date - but taking advantage of the discount when you're able to is a straightforward way to reduce your annual property tax cost with no downside beyond needing the cash on hand earlier in the year.
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Treasurer offices, North Dakota Century Code §57-20-09
Minerals Are Their Own Estate
Oil, gas, and mineral rights are tracked at the Recorder and often owned separately.
Minerals Are Their Own Estate
North Dakota, especially in the Bakken oil region in the western part of the state, has decades of history where mineral rights (oil, gas, and other subsurface resources) were sold, retained, or inherited entirely separately from the surface land above them. This means owning a piece of North Dakota land doesn't automatically mean you own what's beneath it - the minerals may have been "severed" from the surface generations ago and now belong to someone else's descendants, an oil company, or an entirely unrelated chain of ownership. Mineral interests, leases, and royalty arrangements are recorded and tracked through the county Recorder, the same office handling surface deeds, but as a genuinely separate category of record that requires its own specific title search. If you're buying rural North Dakota land, don't assume mineral rights transfer with the surface deed - verify specifically what, if any, mineral interest is included in your purchase. If you already own land here, it's worth checking your own mineral status too, since many landowners genuinely don't know whether they hold the minerals beneath their own property until they check.
Sources: North Dakota Industrial Commission, county Recorder offices
Townships Keep the Roads
Organized townships maintain rural roads and handle their own small budgets.
Townships Keep the Roads
Much of rural North Dakota is organized into townships - a layer of local government below the county that handles specifically local, small-scale responsibilities, most notably maintaining rural roads within their boundaries. Each organized township operates with its own small elected board and budget, funded largely through local property tax levies specific to that township, separate from county-level taxes. This means road maintenance quality and responsiveness in rural North Dakota can genuinely vary from one township to the next, depending on that specific township's budget, priorities, and how its elected board chooses to allocate resources - a more decentralized structure than a single countywide public works department handling all rural roads uniformly. Not all of rural North Dakota is organized into townships; some areas remain unorganized, with county government stepping in to handle what a township would otherwise manage. If you're dealing with a rural road issue in North Dakota, knowing whether you're in an organized township - and which one - is a genuinely useful first step before contacting the county.
Sources: North Dakota Association of Counties, North Dakota Township Officers Association
The questions North Dakota residents actually ask
North Dakota county records online availability varies by county and record type. Cass County, Grand Forks County, and other larger eastern counties offer online deed searching through Register of Deeds websites. The North Dakota Courts Odyssey portal provides District Court case information for participating counties. The North Dakota Secretary of State provides free online business entity searching. Vital records require ordering through the Division of Vital Records. For North Dakota county records not available online, the open records law at North Dakota Century Code Chapter 44-04 provides a reasonable-time response framework. Oil and gas lease records in western counties are increasingly available through county websites due to high demand.
North Dakota birth and death certificates from 1893 onward are maintained by the North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Vital Records in Bismarck. Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the Bismarck office. Birth records are restricted to the individual named, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Pre-1893 births and deaths are found in county registers, church records, and territorial census materials held by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Some North Dakota county records for births before 1893 survive in county registers and church records at the local level.
North Dakota county records for real property are held by the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located. The Register of Deeds maintains deeds, mortgages, plats, and other recorded instruments. Many larger North Dakota counties provide online deed searching through the Register of Deeds website. In western Bakken counties, property records include a significant volume of oil and gas leases and mineral rights instruments alongside standard deed records. Property tax assessment data is maintained by the County Assessor, and tax payment records are held by the County Treasurer. Researchers need to contact all three offices for a complete picture of a property's title, assessment, and tax history.
The North Dakota Courts Odyssey portal at ndcourts.gov provides online access to District Court case information for courts that have transitioned to the statewide system. Coverage is expanding but not yet uniform across all 53 counties. For complete case files, contact the Clerk of District Court in the county where the case was filed. North Dakota county records for probate and estate matters are part of the District Court's jurisdiction and are held at the county level. Fees for certified copies of court documents are set by North Dakota court rules. Rural county courts may have limited online access compared to eastern urban counties.
The State Historical Society of North Dakota in Bismarck is the primary repository for historical North Dakota county records, holding transferred deed books, court minutes, probate files, and vital records from many of the state's 53 counties. The SHSND also holds homestead files, township plat maps, and ethnic community records essential for immigrant family research. FamilySearch has digitized significant portions of North Dakota county records microfilm. County libraries and genealogical societies hold local collections. The Germans from Russia Heritage Society in Bismarck holds specialized collections for German-Russian family research. The BLM General Land Office portal provides free access to federal land patents for North Dakota homestead entries.
North Dakota's open records law at North Dakota Century Code Chapter 44-04 provides public access to government records held by all North Dakota government agencies including county offices. Submit a written or oral request to the records custodian at the relevant county agency. The agency must respond within a reasonable time. No reason for the request is required. Fees are limited to actual costs of reproduction. If a request is denied, the agency must cite the applicable exemption. Disputes over denied North Dakota county records can be pursued in district court. The North Dakota Attorney General's office provides guidance on open records compliance for state and local agencies.
North Dakota is the only state without voter registration, a distinction dating to a 1951 repeal of the registration requirement. Eligible voters simply present qualifying identification at the polls on election day. This means North Dakota county records do not include voter registration databases, which exist in all other states. County Auditors, who would typically maintain voter registration rolls in other states, instead maintain election results and candidate filing records. Researchers seeking demographic or civic participation information in North Dakota must use election results, local newspaper archives, and census records rather than voter registration lists.
Marriage licenses in North Dakota are issued by the County Auditor in the county where the license was obtained, not the Register of Deeds or Clerk of District Court. To obtain a copy, contact the County Auditor with the names of both parties and the approximate marriage date. The North Dakota Division of Vital Records holds statewide marriage records from 1925 onward. Historical marriage records before 1925 are found in County Auditor files and church records, with many collections held by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. FamilySearch provides indexed North Dakota marriage records from many counties and time periods.
North Dakota criminal history records are maintained by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation within the Office of the Attorney General. The public can request a criminal background check through the BCI online portal for a fee. Individual county-level criminal case records within North Dakota county records are accessible through the Odyssey portal for participating counties or by contacting the Clerk of District Court in the county where the case was heard. Certified criminal history information requires a formal BCI request. Some North Dakota records may be sealed under North Dakota expungement statutes upon petition to the district court.
Free access to North Dakota county records for land varies by county. Many Register of Deeds offices provide free online deed searching through county websites or through the statewide land records portal for participating counties. Searching in person at the Register of Deeds office is generally free. The State Historical Society of North Dakota provides free in-person access to historical North Dakota county records including microfilmed deed books. FamilySearch provides free online access to digitized North Dakota land records from many counties. The BLM General Land Office records portal provides free access to federal land patents for North Dakota homestead entries.
Fees for North Dakota county records vary by record type and county. North Dakota's open records law limits copying fees to actual costs of reproduction. Certified copies of deeds and recorded instruments carry per-page fees set by state statute. The North Dakota Division of Vital Records charges fixed fees for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates. District Court fees for copies of case documents are set by North Dakota court rules. County Auditor and Treasurer fees for certified administrative and tax records vary by county. Contacting the relevant office before submitting a request is the best way to confirm current fee schedules and available delivery options.
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Important Deadlines in North Dakota
North Dakota's Homestead Property Tax Credit - a genuine, expanded benefit for homeowners 65+ or permanently disabled with income under $70,000, reducing taxable value by up to $9,000 - now carries a March 31 deadline, extended from its earlier February 1 date to give applicants more time.
Important Deadlines in North Dakota
North Dakota's Homestead Property Tax Credit - a genuine, expanded benefit for homeowners 65+ or permanently disabled with income under $70,000, reducing taxable value by up to $9,000 - now carries a March 31 deadline, extended from its earlier February 1 date to give applicants more time. The separate Primary Residence Credit (PRC), open to all North Dakota homeowners regardless of age or income, can reduce your tax bill by up to $500 and shares the same March 31 deadline - apply online through the Tax Commissioner's website for either or both. Real property is assessed as of February 1 each year. If you pay your full property tax bill by February 15, you earn a genuine 5% early-payment discount - a real, worthwhile incentive worth budgeting for if you can pay in full. Local boards of equalization meet in a genuinely tight window each spring: township boards the second Monday in April, city boards the second Tuesday in April, and county boards during the first 10 days of June - your specific level depends on where your property sits. Renters who would otherwise qualify for the homestead credit can apply for a renter refund by May 31.
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Auditor and local Assessor offices, N.D.C.C. §57-02-08.1, §57-02-08.3, and §57-20-09
Assessment Appeals in North Dakota
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, North Dakota's appeal process runs through a genuinely layered system of local boards of equalization tied to where your property sits.
Assessment Appeals in North Dakota
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, North Dakota's appeal process runs through a genuinely layered system of local boards of equalization tied to where your property sits. Township boards of equalization meet the second Monday in April, city boards meet the second Tuesday in April, and (for property outside these jurisdictions or as a further review step) county boards of equalization meet during the first 10 days of June - start at the local level that matches your property's location. Bring genuine supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. These local boards are citizen panels distinct from the Assessor's office that set your original value. Property is assessed as of February 1 each year, so review your notice promptly once it arrives to leave time to prepare before your local board meets. If a local board's decision doesn't resolve things in your favor, further appeal to the county Board of Equalization (if you started at the township or city level), and beyond that to the North Dakota State Board of Equalization or district court, remains available. Because North Dakota's boards meet on genuinely fixed statutory dates rather than a rolling window, missing your specific board's meeting date typically means waiting until the following year's cycle.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, township/city/county Boards of Equalization, N.D.C.C. §57-09-01, §57-11-01, and §57-12-01
Public Records Access in North Dakota
North Dakota's open records law presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in North Dakota
North Dakota's open records law presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond "within a reasonable time," with no fixed statutory deadline, and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Real estate records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the county Recorder, an office that also tracks oil, gas, and mineral rights, genuinely significant given how frequently North Dakota mineral interests are severed and owned separately from the surface land itself. Estate and probate matters run through District Court, one per county. Business entity records are filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation and appeal records go through your local Assessor (township, city, or county, depending on jurisdiction). If you're researching rural or farm property, checking mineral ownership at the Recorder's office is genuinely worth doing separately from a standard title search, since severed mineral estates don't always transfer with a surface deed. If an open records request is denied, disputes can ultimately go to district court.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: North Dakota Attorney General's Office, N.D.C.C. Chapter 44-04, county Recorder and Assessor offices
Storm & Winter Help in North Dakota
North Dakota's winter storm season genuinely runs November through April, bringing real risk from blizzards, extreme cold, and whiteout conditions across the state's flat, open prairie - the wind alone can turn a modest snowfall into a genuinely dangerous, zero-visibility blizzard in minutes.
Storm & Winter Help in North Dakota
North Dakota's winter storm season genuinely runs November through April, bringing real risk from blizzards, extreme cold, and whiteout conditions across the state's flat, open prairie - the wind alone can turn a modest snowfall into a genuinely dangerous, zero-visibility blizzard in minutes. Know your county's road closure and travel advisory sources before winter arrives, since rural North Dakota's long distances between towns make being caught in a sudden blizzard away from shelter a real, serious risk. Extreme cold is a genuine, recurring hazard here - North Dakota winters can bring sustained sub-zero temperatures with dangerous wind chill, so keep a real winter emergency kit (blankets, food, water, a way to signal for help) in your vehicle during winter months. Heating assistance is a genuinely practical concern given North Dakota's long, harsh winters - the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps income-eligible households with heating costs, administered through the state Dept. of Health and Human Services. After a storm causes damage, your local Assessor can adjust your property's valuation, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for individuals and local governments. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory). Building permits for storm repairs go through your county or city building department.
Sources: North Dakota Dept. of Emergency Services, LIHEAP, FEMA, county Emergency Management and local Assessor offices
New to North Dakota?
As a new North Dakota resident, check with the North Dakota Dept. of Transportation for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle.
New to North Dakota?
As a new North Dakota resident, check with the North Dakota Dept. of Transportation for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle. If you've purchased a home, apply for the Primary Residence Credit (open to all homeowners, no age or income limit, worth up to $500) and, if you're 65+ or permanently disabled with income under $70,000, the Homestead Property Tax Credit - both share a March 31 annual deadline, applied for online through the Tax Commissioner's office. Pay your full property tax bill by February 15 to earn a genuine 5% early-payment discount. Register to vote through your county Auditor's office. Remember North Dakota genuinely separates mineral rights from surface ownership more often than most states - if you're buying rural or farm property, check mineral ownership at the county Recorder's office specifically, since it may not transfer automatically with your surface deed. Property deeds, along with mineral records, are recorded with the county Recorder. Estate and probate matters run through District Court. If you're purchasing a working farm, ask about whether the farm residence itself might qualify for North Dakota's distinctive farm residence property tax exemption.
Sources: North Dakota Dept. of Transportation, North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, county Auditor and Recorder offices
Find the services available in your county
North Dakota laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
All 53 North Dakota counties
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Sources and References
- North Dakota Open Records Law, North Dakota Century Code Chapter 44-04
- State Historical Society of North Dakota: statemuseum.nd.gov
- North Dakota Division of Vital Records: ndhealth.gov/vital
- North Dakota Courts: ndcourts.gov
- North Dakota Secretary of State, Business: sos.nd.gov/business
- North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation: attorneygeneral.nd.gov/bci
- North Dakota Oil and Gas Division: dmr.nd.gov/oilgas
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