N.D. Cent. Code § 11-04-13
When a city or unincorporated townsite has been recognized as the county seat of a county for more than ten years and when all of the public business required by law to be transacted at the county seat has been transacted at said place during the period of ten years last past, such city or unincorporated townsite shall be deemed to be the county seat of the county and can be removed only in the manner provided in this chapter. This statute is not to be in any way construed to bar the temporary emergency relocation of county government, or to affect the legality of lawful operations, acts, and functions of county government, while such government is temporarily relocated at a predesignated emergency relocation site or sites under authority of, approved by, and as directed by the board of county commissioners, a majority of the members concurring therein as to emergency relocation and the return of county government to the normal seat of county government.
N.D.C.C. § 11-04-13