Newspaper legal notice rates are established by OMB (NDCC § 46-05-03).
North Dakota Newspaper Association (NDNA) maintains a statewide legal notice website (NDCC § 46-05-09).
For questions about legal notice rates contact OMB State Procurement at infospo@nd.gov or 701-328-0819.
Entities may place legal notices by contacting individual newspapers or the North Dakota Newspaper Association. Review invoices to ensure correct rates are applied and that no additional fees are charged.
Newspaper Rate Calculation and Certificates
Law requires OMB to compute a standard rate for legal notices to ensure uniform billing. These standard rates are adjusted biennially using a methodology jointly developed by OMB and the NDNA.
OMB calculates legal notice rates for each newspaper based on column width, font size and font style. Newspapers must use the rates, type size and column width specified on the legal notice rate certificate issued by OMB. Newspapers are responsible for the accurate billing of all legal notices. Failure to comply with the provisions of legal notice laws may result in fines and forfeiture of payment for such printing, as outlined in NDCC 46-05-06.
Newspapers must complete a new Legal Notice Rate Verification sheet if they change their font, font size or column width so that a new rate can be calculated. OMB is required to issue updated certifications within fifteen days after samples are submitted, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Legal Notice Rate Verification
2025-2027 Legal Notice Standard Rates
The rates for 2025-2027 increased by 3.25% per year from the 2023-2025 rates. The standard rates for this biennium are:
Base Line Rate
- July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: .89 per line
- July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027: .92 per line
Column Inch – Large Daily
- July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026: 14.70 per column inch
- July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027: 15.18 per column inch
Column Inch – Small Daily
- July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026: 9.98 per column inch
- July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027: 10.30 per column inch
Column Inch – Weekly
- July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026: 7.21 per column inch
- July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027: 7.44 per column inch