Small claims limit in North Dakota: $15,000

The rule in North Dakota

The small claims limit in North Dakota is $15,000. The rule is N.D.C.C. § 27-08.1-01; the North Dakota Legislative Branch, chapter 27-08.1 puts it this way: “does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars”. The court that hears these cases: Small claims court.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, North Dakota ranks 7th from the top. That is $5,000 above the median of $10,000. It is 6 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 60% of the $25,000 top figure. Georgia and Idaho use the same $15,000 figure.

Next door, Minnesota allows $20,000, Montana allows $7,000 and South Dakota allows $12,000. A claim of $15,000 that fits in North Dakota would be $8,000 over the line in Montana. Minnesota goes $5,000 further, so a dispute worth $20,000 could stay in small claims there but not in North Dakota.

Worked check against the $15,000 figure: a $7,500 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $7,500 of room; a claim of exactly $15,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $15,001 is $1 over.

The source checked for North Dakota does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.

Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. North Dakota caps deposits at 1 month's rent (2 months in limited cases); pet deposit up to the greater of $2,500 or 2 months' rent (deposit rules), so a claim for a full deposit stays under the $15,000 limit whenever the monthly rent is $15,000 or less.

Source: North Dakota Legislative Branch, chapter 27-08.1 · N.D.C.C. § 27-08.1-01 · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the Small claims court. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.