ND · tint law reference

North Dakota window tint laws

Last verified September 14, 2026 · N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39 (mirror standard cross-referenced at § 39-21-38)

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 material must have a light transmittance of at least 70%, except that subsection 4 does not apply to nonreflective sunscreening or window tinting material above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield. Windshield material must have a light transmittance of at least 70%, except that subsection 4 does not apply to nonreflective sunscreening or window tinting material above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield.
Front side 35% VLT or lighter 35% VLT or lighter
Back side 35% VLT or lighter 35% VLT or lighter
Rear 35% VLT or lighter 35% VLT or lighter

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

    No reflectance cap. The only mention of reflectivity is in subsection 5, which exempts "nonreflective" sunscreening or tinting material above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield.

    Colors

    None. § 39-21-39 states no color restriction.

    Medical exemption

    None found. Chapter 39-21 contains no medical exemption or permit for window tint.

    Stickers & certification

    No sticker or certification requirement is stated in the sources we checked.

    Measurement tolerance

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

    Penalties

    Not specified within § 39-21-39. The chapter's general equipment-violation enforcement applies, but no tint-specific fine or offense class appears in the section text.

    Notes

    § 39-21-39(4) sets a single 35% floor for "a window other than the windshield" — front side, rear side, and rear window alike — and a 70% floor for the windshield. Critically, the same subsection then says it "does not apply to windows behind the operator if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both sides which meet the requirements of section 39-21-38." Because essentially every modern vehicle has factory dual outside mirrors, the rear side and rear windows are unrestricted in practice; the 35% figure is recorded here because the statute does state it, and side_mirrors_required_if_rear_tinted marks the escape. The front side windows must stay at 35% or above with no exception. No sedan/SUV distinction exists. HB 1340 (2025) lowered the non-windshield floor from 50% to 35% effective August 1, 2025 — BOTH secondary sources checked still publish the stale 50% front-side figure.

    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, back side windows at least 35%, and the rear window at least 35%. 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. The back side windows have a 35% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in North Dakota?

    North Dakota's rule for the windshield: Windshield material must have a light transmittance of at least 70%, except that subsection 4 does not apply to nonreflective sunscreening or window tinting material above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield.

    Does North Dakota allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: None found. Chapter 39-21 contains no medical exemption or permit for window tint. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39 (mirror standard cross-referenced at § 39-21-38)

    Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 14, 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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