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North Dakota · RecordingNorth Dakota recording fees: the six-page break, the extras and the format rules

North Dakota recording fees are set by page bands. For deeds, mortgages and other instruments affecting title not specifically provided for, the recorder charges twenty dollars for documents of one to six pages and sixty-five dollars for documents of more than six pages, plus three dollars for each page after the first twenty-five, and one dollar for each section of land listed beyond ten (N.D.C.C. §11-18-05(1)(a)). The format rules matter for the fee: a page is one side of a sheet no larger than legal size, the text must be legible and at least 10-point Calibri unless the form was issued by a government agency, each instrument needs a legal description the recorder considers adequate, and if the first page lacks a three-inch space across the top for the recording information, the recorder adds a page and charges for it (§11-18-05(1)(a)(1)–(4)).

What the statutes set

  1. One to six pages (§11-18-05(1)(a))

    $20 per document.

  2. More than six pages (§11-18-05(1)(a))

    $65, plus $3 for each page after 25.

  3. Sections of land (§11-18-05(1)(a))

    $1 for each section listed beyond ten.

  4. Format (§11-18-05(1)(a)(1)–(4))

    Legal size, 10-point text, a legal description, a 3-inch top margin.

What the TC checks before a North Dakota deed goes to the recorder

  • Count pages: a seventh page moves the fee from $20 to $65.
  • Check the 3-inch top margin on page one, the font size and the legal description.
  • Put the recording fees on the settlement statement and confirm who pays them.

Questions about North Dakota recording fees

How much does it cost to record a deed in North Dakota?

$20 for one to six pages and $65 for more than six, plus $3 for each page after the first twenty-five (N.D.C.C. §11-18-05(1)(a)).

Why would a North Dakota recorder add a page to a deed?

Because the first page lacks a three-inch space across the top for the recording information (N.D.C.C. §11-18-05(1)(a)(4)).

Related guides

Add the recording fees to the closing cost checklist on the deal in ClosingCode.

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Source: N.D.C.C. §11-18-05 (ndlegis.gov), read October 31, 2026.

General information, not legal advice. ClosingCode is software; it is not a law firm or brokerage. This guide is not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney.