ND · tint law reference

North Dakota window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39(4)-(5)

Legal tint limits at a glance

VLT is the share of light the window must let through — a lower number is darker film, and the reading includes the factory glass.

North Dakota window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Windshield tint/material must have light transmittance ≥70%; nonreflective sunscreening/tinting is exempt from any numeric floor above the AS-1 line or within the top 5 inches of the windshield Same as sedan; statute does not distinguish vehicle body type
Front side 35% VLT or lighter 35% VLT or lighter
Back side No limit stated No limit stated
Rear No limit stated No limit stated

Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? Yes — this state requires dual outside mirrors when the rear window is tinted.

Is my tint legal here?

Film darkness and glass darkness multiply. Enter the film you are considering and the VLT of the bare glass to get the number a meter would read.

70 for tinted OEM glass, 80 for clear

Net VLT 14% 20% film × 70% glass

    Pass/fail compares net VLT against the limits on this page only. Some states apply a measurement tolerance — see Measurement tolerance below — and none of this replaces a meter reading on your own glass.

    The rest of the rule

    Reflectivity

    none found (statute does not set a reflectivity cap)

    Colors

    none specified

    Medical exemption

    none found in this chapter

    Stickers & certification

    none found

    Measurement tolerance

    This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.

    Penalties

    Not specified within § 39-21-39 itself; general chapter 39-21 equipment-violation enforcement provisions apply but a tint-specific fine/class was not found in the text

    Notes

    Statute sets a flat 35% VLT floor for 'any window other than the windshield' (front side, back side, rear alike) — NOT the commonly-repeated aggregator claim of 50% front / any% rear. However, subsection 4 explicitly does NOT apply to windows behind the operator if the vehicle has dual outside mirrors meeting §39-21-38 — since virtually all modern vehicles have OEM dual mirrors, back-side and rear windows are effectively unrestricted in practice, while front side windows must stay ≥35%. HB 1340 (2025) lowered the front-side floor from 50% to 35%, effective Aug. 1, 2025 — the text read reflects this current law. No sedan/SUV distinction exists in the statute.

    North Dakota tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in North Dakota?

    For a sedan in North Dakota, front side windows must let at least 35% of light through, no number is stated for the back side windows, and none for the rear window. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together.

    Is 20% tint legal in North Dakota?

    No, not on the front side windows. North Dakota requires at least 35% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. Behind the driver the statute states no VLT number, so 20% may be allowed on the back side and rear windows — read the notes on this page and confirm with the DMV.

    Can I tint the windshield in North Dakota?

    North Dakota's rule for the windshield: Windshield tint/material must have light transmittance ≥70%; nonreflective sunscreening/tinting is exempt from any numeric floor above the AS-1 line or within the top 5 inches of the windshield

    Does North Dakota allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: none found in this chapter Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in North Dakota?

    none found

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39(4)-(5)

    Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 13, 2026. Laws change; if you find a newer rule, email admin@getpeelboard.com.

    Legal disclaimer: general information, not legal advice; verify with your DMV.

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