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ND

North Dakota

Visitors must register after staying 8 to 29 days.

Visitors register after8–29 days

North Dakota requires registration by visitors who stay more than 30 days in a calendar year, more than 10 consecutive days at a location, or who work or attend school more than 10 days. Registration is with the city police chief or county sheriff within three days of becoming temporarily domiciled. High-risk registrants face a 500-foot school residence rule, and moderate or high risk offenders must notify park law enforcement before overnight stays in state parks.

Registering as a visitor

When it's required
After 10 days, counted in total over a calendar year (30 days cumulative); 10 consecutive days at a location; 10 days of school or employment.
Deadline
Register within three days of the point the person becomes temporarily domiciled (i.e., after crossing the 10-day or 30-day threshold); homeless individuals must re-register every three days
Where
Chief of police of the city, or the county sheriff if the location is outside a city
Also required if
  • Attending school in North Dakota for longer than 10 days
  • Maintaining employment in North Dakota for longer than 10 days
  • Out-of-state residents who work or attend school in ND must register those addresses with local law enforcement
  • Homelessness while present in the state

Public registry

The law doesn't clearly say whether visitors appear on the public registry.

Listing depends on risk level and registration term, not visitor status. Internet posting applies to lifetime registrants, those assessed high risk by ND, or those designated high risk by another state or the federal government. Moderate risk triggers targeted community notification; information on low, moderate, or high risk offenders may be released on request. The statute has no de-listing provision for a temporarily domiciled person who leaves.

Places registrants can't go

  • Public or nonpublic preschool, elementary, middle, or high schoolMay not reside within 500 feet (152.4 meters); this is a residence restriction, not a loitering banApplies to: Individuals assessed as high risk
  • State parksMay not use a state park as a residence or registration address, and must notify a parks and recreation department law enforcement officer at the park before arriving for overnight lodging or campingApplies to: Sexual offenders currently assigned a moderate or high risk level by the Attorney General
  • School functions and school propertyGoverned by a separate statute, N.D.C.C. § 12.1-20-25, which was not read; presence at school events appears restricted or conditionedApplies to: Registrants generally (unverified)

Laws cited

Last checked September 19, 2026 · full review September 19, 2026

Research notes

N.D.C.C. § 12.1-20-25 (school functions/property) could not be read, so the school-presence picture is incomplete. Local ordinances and probation/parole conditions were not searched, including any Halloween rules. The day-count language in § 12.1-32-15(1)(i) is disjunctive and the registration deadline in subsection (2) is poorly drafted; the AG FAQ glosses the trigger as staying overnight 10 or more consecutive days or 30 or more days per calendar year. The AG pages were read via search-result text rather than full page fetch. Tribal lands have separate registries. Violation is a class C felony with a 90-day mandatory minimum jail term and one year of probation. International travel requires 21 days' advance notice. Confirm no amendments from the most recent legislative session.

Common questions

Do registered sex offenders have to register when visiting North Dakota?

Visitors must register after 10 days, counted in total over a calendar year (30 days cumulative); 10 consecutive days at a location; 10 days of school or employment. Register within three days of the point the person becomes temporarily domiciled (i.e., after crossing the 10-day or 30-day threshold); homeless individuals must re-register every three days

Will a visiting registrant appear on North Dakota's public registry?

North Dakota's law doesn't clearly say whether visitors appear on the public registry.

Are there places registrants can't go in North Dakota?

The state restricts registrants from: public or nonpublic preschool, elementary, middle, or high school; state parks; school functions and school property. Details and who they apply to are listed on this page.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules may add requirements. Confirm with the state registry agency or an attorney before you travel.