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In North Dakota, tint on any window other than the windshield must, together with the glass, let at least 35% of light through, and the windshield needs at least 70%, except nonreflective tint above the AS-1 line or in the top five inches. The 35% limit does not apply to windows behind the driver if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides that meet section 39-21-38. The statute states no tolerance.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39 (as amended by 2025 H.B. 1340, eff. Aug. 1, 2025), with § 39-21-38; N.D. Cent. Code §§ 39-06.1-02, 39-06.1-05, 39-06.1-06, 39-06.1-08 and 39-06.1-09 (penalties); N.D. Cent. Code ch. 39-06.1 (noncriminal disposition; statutory fees; moving and nonmoving violations); 2025 House Bill 1340, enrolled text (amends § 39-21-39(4)); 2025 House Bill 1340, bill overview; Effective dates of 2025 legislation (Legislative Council). Summary last checked against these sources on September 28, 2026.
| Window | Rule |
|---|---|
| Windshield | Any object, material or tinting on the front windshield must, in conjunction with the windshield, have a light transmittance of at least 70% (39-21-39(4)). That limit does not apply to nonreflective sunscreening or window tinting material above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield (39-21-39(5)). |
| Front side windows | Any object, material or tinting on a window other than the windshield must, in conjunction with that window, have a light transmittance of at least 35% (39-21-39(4)). The mirror exception in the same subsection covers only windows behind the operator. 2025 House Bill 1340 lowered this figure from 50% to 35%, effective August 1, 2025. |
| Rear side windows | The 35% limit (glass plus tint) applies, but subsection 4 does not apply to windows behind the operator if the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both sides that meet section 39-21-38, which requires a mirror giving the driver a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear (39-21-39(4); 39-21-38). With those mirrors, the statute sets no minimum for these windows. |
| Rear window | Same as the rear side windows: 35% with the glass, unless the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides that meet section 39-21-38, in which case subsection 4 does not apply to windows behind the operator (39-21-39(4)). |
| Reflective tint | The section sets no numeric reflectance limit and no color rule. Its only reference to reflectivity is the windshield top-strip exception, which covers nonreflective material only (39-21-39(5)); other material is measured by the light-transmittance limits in subsection 4. |
| Obstructions | No sign, poster or other nontransparent material that obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway may be on the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows (39-21-39(1)). |
VLT (visible light transmission) is the percentage of visible light that passes through a window or film; a higher number means lighter tint. Most state limits are measured on the finished window (glass and film together). Where a rule is stated for the film itself, the table says so. Some states also limit reflectance, the share of light bounced back off the surface (a mirror-like look).
Section 39-21-39(4) applies to an individual operating a motor vehicle with any object, material or tinting on the windshield or any window, and measures it in conjunction with the glass. It sets the same limits for every motor vehicle and does not split them by body style or vehicle class. The section states no tolerance, no installer duty, no certificate or label requirement and no separate rule for vehicles registered in another state. Its carve-outs are the windshield top strip and the windows behind the operator on a vehicle with outside mirrors on both sides.
No medical exemption was found in N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39 or elsewhere in chapter 39-21 as read; the only physician-certification provision found in the chapter concerns safety belts, not window tint. The section's own exceptions are nonreflective material in the windshield top strip (39-21-39(5)) and windows behind the operator on a vehicle with outside mirrors on both sides (39-21-39(4)).
A person cited for a traffic violation under state law, other than an offense listed in 39-06.1-05 (a list that does not include 39-21-39), is charged with a noncriminal offense and may pay the statutory fee (39-06.1-02(1)). A 39-21-39 violation discovered when the vehicle is not actually being operated is a nonmoving violation (39-06.1-08(2)); otherwise it falls under 39-06.1-09, which defines violations of chapter 39-21 as moving violations, with exceptions that do not include 39-21-39. The statutory fee is $20 in either case (39-06.1-06(1) and (2)), and at a hearing the official may waive, reduce or suspend the fee (39-06.1-02(3)).
Any object, material or tinting on a window other than the windshield must, together with the glass, have a light transmittance of at least 35%, and on the windshield at least 70% (39-21-39(4)). Nonreflective material above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield is outside that limit (39-21-39(5)). Windows behind the operator are outside the limit if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides that meet section 39-21-38. The statute states no tolerance.
Yes, with a mirror condition: subsection 4 of 39-21-39 does not apply to windows behind the operator if the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both sides that meet section 39-21-38, which requires a mirror giving the driver a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear. Without those mirrors, the rear side windows and rear window are held to the 35% limit (glass plus tint). Subsection 1 still bars nontransparent material on side or rear windows that obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway (39-21-39(1)).
Yes. 2025 House Bill 1340 amended subsection 4 of 39-21-39 and lowered the limit for windows other than the windshield from 50% to 35%. The Governor signed it on March 24, 2025, and it took effect August 1, 2025. The 70% windshield figure was not changed.
Yes, with nonreflective material: the 70% windshield limit does not apply to nonreflective sunscreening or window tinting material above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield (39-21-39(5)). Below that strip, anything on the windshield must, with the glass, pass at least 70% of light.
No. Section 39-21-39(4) applies to any motor vehicle and does not split the limits by body style or vehicle class. The rear-window exception depends on outside mirrors on both sides, not on the type of vehicle.
No medical exemption was found in section 39-21-39 or elsewhere in chapter 39-21 as read. The chapter's physician-certification provision concerns safety belts, not window tint.
A tint citation is a noncriminal traffic offense, and the statutory fee is $20 whether it is treated as a nonmoving violation (found when the vehicle is not being operated) or a moving violation (39-06.1-06(1) and (2); 39-06.1-08(2); 39-06.1-09). At a hearing the official may waive, reduce or suspend the fee (39-06.1-02(3)).
Running a tint shop in North Dakota? See shop software for North Dakota.
This page summarizes North Dakota statute and regulation text for general information and is not legal advice. It covers passenger vehicles with aftermarket film (film added after the vehicle left the factory) and includes SUV, van and truck rules where the state sets different ones. Some vehicle types, such as limousines, buses, commercial and law-enforcement vehicles, and factory glass are treated differently in some states, and whether a vehicle registered in another state is covered depends on the state; see “Who this covers” above. Federal glazing rules (FMVSS 205, 49 CFR 571.205) apply separately from state law, and 49 U.S.C. 30122 bars manufacturers, distributors, dealers, rental companies and motor vehicle repair businesses from knowingly making inoperative any part of a device or element of design installed to comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard, so installers should check both. Laws change and enforcement varies; confirm current requirements with the state before tinting. Before tinting, ask the installer to measure your glass and confirm the finished window will meet the limit; afterward, ask for a reading on a light-transmission meter and keep it.