N.D. Cent. Code § 5-01-16

This is the official text of N.D. Cent. Code § 5-01-16, part of North Dakota’s Cent. Code — part of the compiled statutory law of North Dakota, published by the state as "Cent. Code." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.

Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

5-01-16. Direct sale from out-of-state person to consumer - Penalty

Official statutory text

5-01-16. Direct sale from out-of-state person to consumer - Penalty

1. A person in the business of selling alcoholic beverages may not knowingly or

intentionally ship, or cause to be shipped, any alcoholic beverage from an out-of-state

location directly to a person in this state who is not a licensed wholesaler in this state.

2. A person in the business of transporting goods may not knowingly or intentionally

transport, or cause to be transported, any alcoholic beverage directly to a person in

this state who is not a licensed wholesaler in this state.

3. For a first violation of subsection 1 or 2, the tax commissioner shall notify, by certified

mail, the person and order that person to cease and desist any shipment of alcoholic

beverages in violation of subsection 1 or 2 and shall assess a civil penalty of one

hundred dollars for each illegal shipment. For a second violation of subsection 1 or 2,

the tax commissioner shall assess a civil penalty of two hundred dollars for each illegal

shipment. For any subsequent violation of subsection 1 or 2, the tax commissioner

shall assess a civil penalty of five hundred dollars for each illegal shipment.

4. The alcoholic beverage transported in violation of this section and the vehicle used in

violation of this section are forfeitable property under chapter 29-31.1.

5. This section does not apply to a transaction by a person holding a valid manufacturer's

or retailer's license issued by the state of its domicile and if the person obtains a direct

shipping license from and on a form prescribed by the tax commissioner before

making a shipment. The annual fee for a direct shipping license is fifty dollars.

Licensed direct shippers may sell and ship to an individual twenty-one years of age or

older 7.13 gallons [27 liters] or less of wine, two hundred eighty-eight fluid ounces

[8517.18 milliliters] or less of beer, or 2.38 gallons [9 liters] or less of any other

alcoholic beverages per month for personal use and not for resale.

a. A direct shipper shall ship all containers of alcoholic beverages shipped directly to

a resident of this state using a licensed alcohol carrier and may cause the

alcoholic beverages to be shipped by a licensed logistics company.

b. A direct shipper shall label all containers of alcoholic beverages shipped directly

to an individual in this state with conspicuous words "SIGNATURE OF PERSON

AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY".

c. A licensed direct shipper shall report and pay the wholesaler excise tax and

retailer sales taxes to the tax commissioner on all alcoholic beverages sold to

residents in this state at the rates set forth in sections 5-03-07 and 57-39.6-02.

The excise tax reports are due January fifteenth of the year following the year

sales and shipments were made. When the fifteenth day of January falls on a

Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is the first working day thereafter.

The report must provide such detail and be in format as prescribed by the tax

commissioner and include the identification of any logistics or fulfillment houses

the licensee used for such shipments. The sales and use tax reports are due as

set forth in chapter 57-39.6. The sales and use tax reports must be in a format as

prescribed by the tax commissioner. The tax commissioner may require that the

report be submitted in an electronic format approved by the tax commissioner.

d. All alcoholic beverages that are shipped directly to a resident of this state must be

properly registered with the federal alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau and

must be owned by the licensed direct shipper.

6. A licensed alcohol carrier may ship alcoholic beverages into, out of, or within this state.

A licensed alcohol carrier shall pay an annual fee of one hundred dollars and obtain a

license on an application form provided by the tax commissioner and subject to any

requirements determined by the tax commissioner.
nd tobacco tax and trade bureau and

must be owned by the licensed direct shipper.

6. A licensed alcohol carrier may ship alcoholic beverages into, out of, or within this state.

A licensed alcohol carrier shall pay an annual fee of one hundred dollars and obtain a

license on an application form provided by the tax commissioner and subject to any

requirements determined by the tax commissioner.

a. A licensed alcohol carrier shall ensure all containers of alcoholic beverages

shipped directly to an individual in this state are labeled with conspicuous words

"SIGNATURE OF PERSON AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY". A

licensed alcohol carrier may not deliver alcoholic beverages to a person under

twenty-one years of age, or to a person who is or appears to be in an intoxicated

state or condition. A licensed alcohol carrier shall obtain valid proof of identity and

age before delivery and shall obtain the signature of an adult as a condition of

delivery.

b. A licensed alcohol carrier shall maintain records of alcoholic beverages shipped

into, out of, or within this state which include the name of the licensed direct

shipper, the name of any licensed logistics shipper, the date of each shipment,

the recipient's name and address, and an electronic or paper form of signature

from the recipient of the alcoholic beverages. A licensed alcohol carrier shall

submit a report to the tax commissioner on a monthly basis in the form and

format prescribed by the tax commissioner. The report is due on the last day of

the month following the month of shipment. If the due date falls on a Saturday,

Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is the first working day after the due date.

The tax commissioner may require that the report be submitted in an electronic

format approved by the tax commissioner.

c. If the tax commissioner has provided notice to a licensed alcohol carrier that a

direct shipper is not licensed, the licensed alcohol carrier must notify the direct

shipper that the direct shipper must obtain a direct shipper permit before

tendering packages to the licensed alcohol carrier for delivery. Any assessed

penalty may be waived by the tax commissioner for good cause upon request by

the licensed alcohol carrier.

7. Licensed logistics shippers must obtain a logistics shipping license from the tax

commissioner and shall pay an annual fee of one hundred dollars before making or

causing a shipment.

a. A licensed logistics shipper shall ensure all containers of alcoholic beverages

shipped directly to an individual in this state are labeled with conspicuous words

"SIGNATURE OF PERSON AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY".

b. All containers of alcoholic beverage shipped directly to a resident of this state

must be shipped using a licensed alcohol carrier as provided in subsection 6.

c. A licensed logistics shipper shall maintain records of alcoholic beverages shipped

which include the license number and name of the licensed direct shipper, the

license number and name of the licensed common carrier, the date of each

shipment, the quantity and kind of alcohol shipped, and the recipient's name and

address for each shipment. A licensed logistics shipper shall submit a report to

the tax commissioner on a monthly basis in the form and format prescribed by the

tax commissioner. The report is due on the last day of the month following the

month of shipment. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday,

the due date is the first working day after the due date. The tax commissioner

may require that the report be submitted in an electronic format approved by the

tax commissioner.

d. Licensed logistics shippers may not ship alcoholic beverages from unlicensed

direct shippers or through unlicensed carriers. For a violation, a licensed logistics

shipper is subject to the penalties in subsection 3.

8. The tax commissioner may initiate and maintain an action in a court of competent
quire that the report be submitted in an electronic format approved by the

tax commissioner.

d. Licensed logistics shippers may not ship alcoholic beverages from unlicensed

direct shippers or through unlicensed carriers. For a violation, a licensed logistics

shipper is subject to the penalties in subsection 3.

8. The tax commissioner may initiate and maintain an action in a court of competent

jurisdiction to enjoin a violation of this section and may request award of all costs and

attorney's fees incurred by the state incidental to that action. Upon determination by

the tax commissioner that an illegal sale or shipment of alcoholic beverages has been

made to a consumer in this state by any person, the tax commissioner may notify both

the alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau of the United States department of the

treasury and the licensing authority for the state in which the person is domiciled that a

state law pertaining to the regulation of alcoholic beverages has been violated and

may request those agencies to take appropriate action.

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

Need a lawyer in North Dakota?

Find a North Dakota lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the Open US Law dataset (Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine (Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.