N.D. Cent. Code § 61-03-24

If an applicant for any permit processed by the department has an unresolved administrative order or complaint under this title, the permit may not be processed until the order is complied with or complaint is resolved. At the discretion of the department, the permit may be processed if issuing the permit would resolve the administrative order or complaint. If an applicant is not an individual, this section applies if the applicant is at least twenty-five percent owned by an individual with an unresolved administrative order or complaint under this title.