Does North Dakota require a contractor license?

Yes, in most cases North Dakota requires a state license for general contractors. A contractor license is required when a job is worth more than $4,000. The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing issues it as one of several credentials, such as Class A (no limit per job), Class B (up to $500,000 per job) or Class C (up to $300,000 per job).

How do I look up a contractor license in North Dakota?

The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing keeps the record for general contractors in North Dakota. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.

How do I look up an electrician license in North Dakota?

The North Dakota State Electrical Board keeps the record for electrical contractors in North Dakota.

How do I look up a plumbing license in North Dakota?

The North Dakota State Plumbing Board keeps the record for plumbing contractors in North Dakota.

Does North Dakota have an HVAC license?

The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing keeps the record for HVAC contractors in North Dakota.

Do roofers need a license in North Dakota?

The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing keeps the record for roofing contractors in North Dakota.

North Dakota contractor license lookup

It issues state licenses for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors. Use the official lookup below to check a contractor. Information as of October 6, 2026.

Look up a license

Trade	Credential	Board	Official lookup
General contractor	State license	North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing	Search general contractor licenses
Electrical	State license	North Dakota State Electrical Board	Search electrical licenses
Plumbing	State license	North Dakota State Plumbing Board	Search plumbing licenses We could not load this lookup when we checked, so confirm the link on the board site.
HVAC	State license	North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing	Search HVAC licenses
Roofing	State license	North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing	Search roofing licenses

Verify a contractor

For homeowners hiring in North Dakota.

Open the official North Dakota lookup run by North Dakota Secretary of State and search the contractor by name or number.
Open the official lookup
For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from North Dakota State Electrical Board.
Open the lookup
For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from North Dakota State Plumbing Board.
Open the lookup
Search the Secretary of State contractor records in FirstStop to see whether a contractor's license is in good standing. source Check the license class against the job size: a Class D contractor may not take on a single project worth more than $100,000. source Electrical contractors can be searched by last name, business name or city on the State Electrical Board site. source The Secretary of State FirstStop Contractor Search finds licensed contractors by name or system id. source
Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Class A (no limit per job) or Class B (up to $500,000 per job) or Class C (up to $300,000 per job) or Class D (up to $100,000 per job)). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above A contractor license is required when a job is worth more than $4,000. source
Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: No state contractor bond: the contractor bond section of the law was repealed in 1995. source Certificate of liability insurance naming the ND Secretary of State as certificate holder, plus Workforce Safety and Insurance proof; no minimum amount stated. source
File a complaint against a contractor with the Secretary of State on form SFN 16999. source The Secretary of State does not take complaints about workmanship or quality of work. source

Homeowner protections in North Dakota

After a complaint, the Secretary of State may order the contractor to pay restitution of up to $5,000. source
A contractor who takes a deposit and does not substantially start work within 60 days of the written start date is presumed to have abandoned the contract. source
Fraud complaints are accepted when the damage to one or more people exceeds $3,000 combined. source
Before suing or hiring someone else to fix a defect in a home or a home improvement over $2,000, the owner must mail the contractor written notice within six months of learning of the defect. source

Get licensed

For a general contractor working in North Dakota.

Apply to North Dakota Secretary of State as a Class A (no limit per job) or Class B (up to $500,000 per job) or Class C (up to $300,000 per job) or Class D (up to $100,000 per job).
Board page
A sworn statement of the applicant's experience and qualifications as a contractor; no minimum years stated. source
Post a no state contractor bond: the contractor bond section of the law was repealed in 1995. source
Carry certificate of liability insurance naming the ND Secretary of State as certificate holder, plus Workforce Safety and Insurance proof; no minimum amount stated. source
Pay the class A contractor license application fee (no limit per job): $450. source
Renewed every year on or before March 1. source

Other trades

Electrical: state license, $50 fee. Requirements
Plumbing: state license, $50 fee. Requirements
HVAC: state license, $450 fee. Requirements
Roofing: state license, $450 fee. Requirements

Requirements by trade

General contractorSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Experience	A sworn statement of the applicant's experience and qualifications as a contractor; no minimum years stated. source
Bond	No state contractor bond: the contractor bond section of the law was repealed in 1995. source
Insurance	Certificate of liability insurance naming the ND Secretary of State as certificate holder, plus Workforce Safety and Insurance proof; no minimum amount stated. source
Renewal	Renewed every year on or before March 1. source
Reciprocity	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Fees	$450 (Class A contractor license application fee (no limit per job)). source $300 (Class B contractor license application fee (jobs up to $500,000)). source $225 (Class C contractor license application fee (jobs up to $300,000)). source Class D contractor license application fee (jobs up to $100,000). source $90 (Class A annual renewal fee). source $60 (Class B annual renewal fee). source $45 (Class C annual renewal fee). source $30 (Class D annual renewal fee). source $50 (Late renewal penalty fee (renewal after March 1 and by June 1)). source

ElectricalSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	Technical and practical exam given by the State Electrical Board. source
Experience	Master electrician: at least one year and 2,000 hours of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician. source
Bond	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Insurance	Contracting electricians must show public liability insurance with limits of at least $500,000. source
Renewal	Master, Class B and power limited licenses renew every year and expire April 30. source
Reciprocity	Reciprocal licenses for master and journeyman electricians through a multi-state agreement (NERA), with no written exam. source
Fees	$50 (Master electrician license application fee (assumes the master license, which electrical contracting requires)). source $50 (Master electrician license fee, also the annual renewal fee). source $40 (Class B electrician annual license and renewal fee). source $25 (Journeyman electrician annual license and renewal fee). source $50 (Master reciprocal license application fee). source Not found on an official source. Exam fee: paid separately to the testing center provider if required; amount not found on an official source.

PlumbingSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	Board exam required for master and journeyman plumber license. source
Experience	2 years (Master plumber: two years (3,400 hours) of experience as a licensed journeyman plumber). source
Bond	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Insurance	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Renewal	Plumber licenses are valid one year and expire December 31. source
Reciprocity	The board may license plumbers from states with substantially equivalent requirements without exam, where that state returns the favor. source
Fees	$50 (Master or journeyman plumber application fee). source $50 (Master plumber exam fee). source $200 (Master plumber license fee). source $200 (Master plumber annual renewal fee). source $100 (Journeyman plumber annual renewal fee). source $50 (Late renewal fee). source

HVACSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Experience	A sworn statement of the applicant's experience and qualifications as a contractor; no minimum years stated. source
Bond	No state contractor bond: the contractor bond section of the law was repealed in 1995. source
Insurance	Certificate of liability insurance naming the ND Secretary of State as certificate holder, plus Workforce Safety and Insurance proof; no minimum amount stated. source
Renewal	Renewed every year on or before March 1. source
Reciprocity	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Fees	$450 (Class A contractor license application fee (no limit per job)). source $300 (Class B contractor license application fee (jobs up to $500,000)). source $225 (Class C contractor license application fee (jobs up to $300,000)). source Class D contractor license application fee (jobs up to $100,000). source $90 (Class A annual renewal fee). source $60 (Class B annual renewal fee). source $45 (Class C annual renewal fee). source $30 (Class D annual renewal fee). source $50 (Late renewal penalty fee (renewal after March 1 and by June 1)). source

RoofingSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Experience	A sworn statement of the applicant's experience and qualifications as a contractor; no minimum years stated. source
Bond	No state contractor bond: the contractor bond section of the law was repealed in 1995. source
Insurance	Certificate of liability insurance naming the ND Secretary of State as certificate holder, plus Workforce Safety and Insurance proof; no minimum amount stated. source
Renewal	Renewed every year on or before March 1. source
Reciprocity	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Fees	$450 (Class A contractor license application fee (no limit per job)). source $300 (Class B contractor license application fee (jobs up to $500,000)). source $225 (Class C contractor license application fee (jobs up to $300,000)). source Class D contractor license application fee (jobs up to $100,000). source $90 (Class A annual renewal fee). source $60 (Class B annual renewal fee). source $45 (Class C annual renewal fee). source $30 (Class D annual renewal fee). source $50 (Late renewal penalty fee (renewal after March 1 and by June 1)). source

Questions

Does North Dakota require a contractor license?: Yes, in most cases North Dakota requires a state license for general contractors. A contractor license is required when a job is worth more than $4,000. The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing issues it as one of several credentials, such as Class A (no limit per job), Class B (up to $500,000 per job) or Class C (up to $300,000 per job).
How do I look up a contractor license in North Dakota?: The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing keeps the record for general contractors in North Dakota. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.
How do I look up an electrician license in North Dakota?: The North Dakota State Electrical Board keeps the record for electrical contractors in North Dakota.
How do I look up a plumbing license in North Dakota?: The North Dakota State Plumbing Board keeps the record for plumbing contractors in North Dakota.
Does North Dakota have an HVAC license?: The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing keeps the record for HVAC contractors in North Dakota.
Do roofers need a license in North Dakota?: The North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing keeps the record for roofing contractors in North Dakota.

Sources

This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.