Landlord Insurance in North Dakota: Costs, Requirements & Best Providers
Landlord insurance in North Dakota costs more than the national average. The homeowners benchmark is $3,510 a year, and a landlord (DP-3) policy typically runs about $4,000 to $4,400. Hail on the roof and frozen pipes inside are the usual claims, while the Red River and Souris River add flood risk that the policy doesn't cover. Get a landlord insurance quote and a flood quote together if you're in Fargo, Grand Forks or Minot.
By LandlordTested editorial teamPrices checked
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What landlords pay in North Dakota
- Homeowners benchmark
- $3,510 a yearAbout $293 a month; 41% above the $2,490 national average.
- Estimated landlord policy
- $4,050-$4,400 a yearLandlord (DP-3) cover typically runs 15-25% above homeowners cover on the same building. Your quote will differ.
- Main hazards
- Hail, Blizzard/freeze, Flood, Wind, Tornado
- Not included
- Flood and earthquakeBoth need separate policies (NFIP or private flood; earthquake endorsement or policy).
Source: NerdWallet, 2026 homeowners (HO-3) median, $400,000 dwelling cover
Landlord insurance providers in North Dakota
Both write landlord policies in all 50 states and quote online. Neither publishes prices, so the only way to know your premium is to get a quote for your address.
- 1
Steadily
Our pickSingle-family and 2-4 unit rentals, including vacant and short-term.
8.5/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- Covers all 50 states.
- Fast online quotes.
- Writes vacant and renovation properties too.
Watch out
- Mixed claim experiences, including wear-and-tear denials.
- Underwritten through a carrier some lenders have queried.
- Flood needs a separate policy.
Skip it if
Anyone who wants a local agent sitting across the desk.
- 2
Obie
Investors with several properties; portfolio policies available.
8.1/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- All 50 states plus DC.
- Portfolio (blanket) policies for several rentals.
- Covers short-term rentals and renovations.
Watch out
- Claims run through third-party administrators.
- Some reports of non-renewal after claims.
- Support is mostly email.
Skip it if
Landlords who want claims handled by the company they bought from.
Prices checked Oct 18, 2026. Scores are provisional until our account tests are done.
Want to see how North Dakota compares? We keep a table of landlord insurance rates by state, with the method behind every figure.
On this page
Hail and winter set the price
North Dakota’s premiums come from two seasons. In summer, hail storms move across the state and leave roofs, siding and windows damaged in Bismarck, Fargo and the farm towns between. In winter, temperatures well below zero and blizzards bring frozen pipes, ice dams and roof damage from snow load.
A rental adds to both risks. Nobody lives in a vacant unit to notice a dripping pipe or a furnace that quit, so a small leak becomes a large claim.
How your roof gets paid on a hail claim
Ask whether the quote pays roof damage at replacement cost or at actual cash value. With actual cash value, a 15-year-old roof is paid at its depreciated value, which can leave you paying most of a replacement after a hail storm. Some policies also carry a separate wind and hail deductible, written as a percentage of the dwelling limit. Compare quotes on the same terms.
River flooding in the east and north
The 1997 Red River flood devastated Grand Forks, and Fargo has fought major floods many springs since. In 2011, the Souris River flooded a large part of Minot. Snowmelt flooding is the North Dakota pattern: it arrives in spring, and you can usually see it coming weeks ahead, which is too late for a new NFIP policy with its 30-day wait.
Landlord policies exclude flood. Seepage through a basement wall is usually excluded too, and sewer or sump backup is covered only with a water backup endorsement.
What lenders require
Lenders require a landlord (dwelling) policy naming them as mortgagee, with dwelling coverage at least equal to the loan or rebuild cost. Flood insurance is mandatory on federally backed loans in a special flood hazard area. Investor lenders often require loss-of-rent coverage, which matters in a state where a burst pipe in January can leave a unit empty for weeks.
Five ways to pay less
- Fit impact-resistant shingles at your next roof replacement and ask for the credit.
- Install low-temperature alerts and a water shutoff valve that trips on a leak.
- Add a battery backup sump pump and buy the water backup endorsement.
- Raise your deductible to a level your reserves can cover in January.
- Insure multiple rentals on one account. Obie offers portfolio policies for landlords with several properties.
North Dakota deposit rules
Under N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.1, the deposit is generally limited to one month’s rent, with exceptions that can allow more in certain cases, and a pet deposit is permitted. The statute requires interest on deposits, and you must return the deposit within 30 days with an itemized statement. Check the current statute before collecting more than one month.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How much is landlord insurance in North Dakota?
North Dakota's homeowners benchmark is $3,510 a year for $400,000 of dwelling coverage (NerdWallet 2026). Landlord policies typically cost 15% to 25% more, or about $4,000 to $4,400. Roof age and type, distance to a fire station in rural areas, and the number of units all move the price, so a quote on the actual property is the real number.
Does landlord insurance cover frozen pipes in North Dakota?
Usually, if the building was heated. Dwelling policies typically exclude freeze damage when the owner didn't maintain heat or shut off and drain the water. Coverage can also tighten once a unit is vacant for a set period, often 60 days. Between tenants, keep the furnace on and have someone check the unit regularly.
Do I need flood insurance for a rental in Fargo?
If the property is in a mapped high-risk zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, yes. Even outside the zone, Red River flooding has reached neighborhoods that weren't mapped as high risk. Flood isn't covered by a landlord policy, and NFIP coverage usually starts 30 days after purchase, so buy before spring breakup.