N.D. Cent. Code § 11-18-02
Except as otherwise provided in section 11-18-03, the recorder shall refuse to receive or record any deed, contract for deed, plat, replat, patent, auditor's lot, or any other instrument that changes the current property description unless there is entered thereon a certificate of the county auditor showing that a transfer of the lands described therein has been entered and that the delinquent and current taxes and delinquent and current special assessments against the land described in such instrument have been paid, or if the land has been sold for taxes, that the delinquent taxes and special assessments have been paid by sale of the land, or that the instrument is entitled to record without regard to taxes. The recorder may not record any deed for property on which the county auditor has determined that there is an unsatisfied lien created under section 57-02-08.3.
N.D.C.C. § 11-18-02