N.D. Cent. Code § 61-04-02.2: Property interest required to hold a water permit

A permitholder must have a legal interest in each point of diversion identified on the permit. If the permitholder does not have a legal interest in each point of diversion, the department of water resources shall assign the permit, or portion of the permit, as provided in this chapter to the title owner. A permitholder must have a legal interest in each irrigated tract of land identified on the permit. If the permitholder does not have a legal interest in each irrigated tract of land, the permitholder may transfer the approved acres to other land, as provided in this chapter.