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State guides / North Dakota

North Dakota property data

North Dakota keeps its land records county by county, all 53 of them, each with its own systems. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.

  • 53Counties
  • PublicSale prices
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What you can get in North Dakota

North Dakota makes most property records public, including what each property sold for. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.

Public everywhere

Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.

  • Owners and mailing addressesFrom the city and township assessors, with values reviewed by county and state boards of equalization
  • Sale pricesSince August 1, 2025, the buyer must state the full price paid on the face of most deeds before the County Recorder will record them. Some transfers are exempt, such as quitclaim deeds, family sales, estate transfers and foreclosures.
  • Deeds and mortgagesCounty Recorder in each county
  • Assessed valuesProperty is valued every year as of February 1.
  • Tax deed salesRun county by county
  • Foreclosure filings and salesFiled in court, so they're public early
  • Lot linesCounty parcel maps

Depends on the town

Cities keep building permits, code enforcement and rental inspection records, and those are covered by the state open records law.

  • Code violations and condemnations
  • Building permits
  • Rental registration and inspections
  • Zoning maps and ordinances
  • Water and sewer liens

Not public

What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.

  • Owner phone numbers and emails
  • Rents and leases
  • Active listingsThose live in the MLS
  • Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not

How property changes hands here

Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.

Tax deeds

North Dakota does not sell tax lien certificates. When taxes go unpaid for years, the county forecloses its tax lien, and if the owner does not pay by October 1 after notice, the county takes title by tax deed. The county auditor then sells county-owned tax forfeited land at a yearly public auction to the highest bidder, and the former owner can buy it back only until that sale.

Foreclosure goes through the courts

Mortgage foreclosure goes through the courts, and the property is sold at a public sale after weekly newspaper notice. The owner usually has 60 days after the sale to redeem, with a longer period for farm property.

Land banks

North Dakota has no state land bank law.

Transfer tax

No state transfer tax.

Worth knowing

Some national data sources still list North Dakota as a non-disclosure state, but since August 1, 2025 the price must be stated on the face of most deeds. Older deeds may not show a price, so check recorded deeds directly.

Worth knowing

The county, not a private buyer, takes title first in a tax foreclosure, so investors buy tax forfeited land from the county at its yearly auction.

Every county in North Dakota

Choose any county to get started.

Questions

Are property sale prices public in North Dakota?

Mostly yes, for deeds recorded since August 1, 2025. The buyer must state the full price paid on the face of most deeds before the County Recorder will record them. Some transfers are exempt, including quitclaim deeds, family sales and foreclosures, so not every deed shows a price.

How do tax sales work in North Dakota?

There are no tax lien certificate sales. After taxes go unpaid, the county forecloses and takes the property by tax deed if the owner does not pay by October 1. The county auditor then sells that land at a yearly public auction.

Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in North Dakota?

Deeds and mortgages are recorded with the County Recorder in the county where the property sits.

How often are North Dakota properties reassessed?

Every year. City and township assessors value property as of February 1, and county and state boards review those values.

Is foreclosure judicial in North Dakota?

Yes. Lenders must sue in court, and the property is sold at a public sale after notice. The owner usually has 60 days after the sale to redeem.

Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?

Yes. North Dakota's open records law (N.D.C.C. 44-04-18) lets anyone request records from state and local agencies, such as permits and code cases. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.

Sources for this guide

Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.

Every parcel, on one map

Deedplat is in beta. Pick any North Dakota county to get started.

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