How to check if a contractor is licensed in North Dakota
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In North Dakota, the state keeps license or registration records for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. Check the record before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, and treat the board's own record as final.
Which board covers which trade
| Trade | Who keeps the record | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor | North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | North Dakota State Electrical Board | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | 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 | North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official North Dakota lookup run by North Dakota Secretary of State and search the contractor by name or number.
- For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from North Dakota State Electrical Board.
- For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from North Dakota State Plumbing Board.
- 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on the record against the state minimums: No state contractor bond: the contractor bond section of the law was repealed in 1995.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
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
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
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in North Dakota?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official North Dakota lookup run by North Dakota Secretary of State, then confirm the record is active and covers the type of work. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's lookup in the table on this page.
- What can I do if a contractor in North Dakota is not licensed?
- File a complaint against a contractor with the Secretary of State on form SFN 16999. The Secretary of State does not take complaints about workmanship or quality of work.
All North Dakota licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://www.sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors
- https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/contractor
- https://www.ndseb.com/
- https://www.ndseb.com/search-1/find-a-licensed-contractor/
- https://www.ndseb.com/licensing/electrical-contracting-non-contracting-guidelines-requirements/
- https://www.ndplumbingboard.gov/
- https://www.ndplumbingboard.gov/licensing-license-lookup
- https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t43c18.pdf
- https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t43c07.pdf
- https://www.ndseb.com/licensing/general-information/
- https://www.ndseb.com/licensing/qualifications-for-licensure/
- https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t43c09.pdf
- https://www.ndseb.com/licensing/electricians-license-renewal/
- https://www.ndseb.com/licensing/reciprocal-license-agreements-requirements/
- https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/24.1-03-01.pdf
- https://www.ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/62-02-01.pdf
- https://www.ndplumbingboard.gov/exam-fees
- https://www.ndplumbingboard.gov/licensing-renewal-fees
- https://www.sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors/file-complaint-against-contractor
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.