Ward County, North Dakota Eviction Risk: Very Low

Ward County, North Dakota eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 1.8/10 (Low) across its 14 cities, yet that county-wide figure sits in the higher-risk third of the state. With a rank of 6 of 53 North Dakota counties, only five counties statewide score riskier, meaning the overwhelming majority of the state is calmer territory for landlords. The intra-county range runs from 1.5 to 2.5, so operating conditions vary meaningfully depending on which community you choose. Average rent of $1,019 and an average rent burden of 24.4% suggest tenants are not severely cost-stressed, which supports relatively stable lease performance across the county.

Renter share sits at 45.7% of households, giving investors a solid pool of potential tenants in a market that remains low-risk overall. The average poverty rate of 8.6% is modest, pointing to a workforce-driven rental base rather than a distressed one. For landlords accustomed to high-volatility urban markets, Ward County reads as a relatively controlled operating environment, though the city-level spread means location selection within the county still matters.

The cities inside Ward County

The county seat and dominant market is Minot, home to 47,791 residents and a risk score of 1.8/10, matching the county ceiling. Minot AFB (population 4,878) shares that same 2/10 score, making the Minot corridor the highest-risk zone in the county, though still firmly in the Low tier on a national scale. Burlington and Glenburn both score 1.9/10, slightly below the county top but still at the upper end of the local range.

The county's most landlord-favorable market is Surrey eviction risk, scoring just 1.6/10 with a population of 1,721. Sawyer (score 2.3/10, population 353) also falls well below the county average. The spread from 1.1 to 1.8 within a single county is a concrete reminder that eviction risk is hyper-local: a landlord selecting Surrey eviction risk over Minot is operating in a meaningfully different risk environment, even though both sit inside Ward County.

State-level laws that apply here

All Ward County landlords operate under North Dakota state law. For non-payment of rent or a lease violation requiring a cure, state statute requires only a 3-day notice before proceeding to court. An end-of-term, no-cause termination requires a 30-day notice. Court filing fees under North Dakota law run $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $125, and attorney fees for a contested case typically range from $500 to $2,500. Uncontested cases resolve in roughly 21 to 40 days; contested matters can run 45 to 100 days. Landlords researching the full North Dakota eviction process will find the timeline comparatively efficient against peer states.

North Dakota does not require just cause for non-renewal, and the state preempts local rent control ordinances, so no city in Ward County can impose its own rent caps or additional just-cause requirements. There are no North Dakota security deposit limits set by the reviewed statute, and source-of-income is not a protected class under state law. For a full breakdown of upfront costs and compliance requirements, see the detailed North Dakota eviction costs guide. These statewide rules apply uniformly from Minot to Surrey.

With a poverty rate of 8.6% and renters making up 45.7% of Ward County households, the demand base is real but not distressed, a combination that supports stable collections across most of the 14 cities listed in the grid above.