South Dakota contractor license lookup
South Dakota requires state registration for general contractors. It issues state licenses for electrical contractors and plumbing contractors. Our survey found no state-level license for HVAC contractors and roofing contractors, so check with the city or county. 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 registration (no competency license) | South Dakota Department of Revenue (contractor's excise tax license) | South Dakota Department of Revenue (contractor's excise tax license) registers general contractors in South Dakota. Registration is not a competency license. |
| Electrical | State license | South Dakota State Electrical Commission | South Dakota State Electrical Commission licenses electrical contractors in South Dakota. |
| Plumbing | State license | South Dakota State Plumbing Commission | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | No state license: cities and counties | City or county | Our survey of official South Dakota sources found no state-level HVAC contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done. |
| Roofing | No state license: cities and counties | City or county | Our survey of official South Dakota sources found no state-level roofing contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done. |
Verify a contractor
For homeowners hiring in South Dakota.
- Ask the city or county building department where the work is done how they license general contractors.
- For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from South Dakota State Plumbing Commission.
- Electrical licenses are verified by calling or emailing the State Electrical Commission; there is no online search. source The Plumbing Commission posts PDF lists of licensed plumbers by city and license type. source Every contractor must write its contractor's excise tax license number on or near the building permit. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Contractor's Excise Tax License). The board's own record governs.
- Report unlicensed electrical work in writing to the State Electrical Commission in Pierre. source Plumbing complaints go to the Plumbing Commission in writing and must be signed; anonymous complaints are not accepted. source
Homeowner protections in South Dakota
- The electrical undertaking fund pays for correcting or completing work a contractor will not finish, up to $10,000 per occurrence. source
Get licensed
For a general contractor working in South Dakota.
- Register with contractor's excise tax license as a Contractor's Excise Tax License.
- Pay the contractor's excise tax license fee: none: $0. source
Other trades
- Electrical: state license, $10,000 bond, $60 fee. Requirements
- Plumbing: state license, $50 fee. Requirements
Requirements by trade
| Exam | Not found on an official source. No exam requirement found for the contractor's excise tax license; not found on an official source. |
|---|---|
| Experience | Not found on an official source. No experience requirement found for the contractor's excise tax license; not found on an official source. |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. No bond requirement found for the contractor's excise tax license; not found on an official source. |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. No insurance requirement found for the contractor's excise tax license; not found on an official source. |
| Renewal | Not found on an official source. Renewal or expiration of the contractor's excise tax license not found on an official source. |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. Reciprocity for the contractor's excise tax license not found on an official source. |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | Electrical contractor exam required, taken after the journeyman experience period. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | At least 2 years as a journeyman electrician, or 1 year of commercial experience as a Class B electrician, before applying for an electrical contractor license. source |
| Bond | Undertaking (deposit) of $10,000 for electrical contractors and Class B electrician. source |
| Insurance | Public liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate for electrical contractors and Class B electrician. source |
| Renewal | Licenses run two years and expire June 30 of even-numbered year. source |
| Reciprocity | Reciprocity with listed states for licenses earned by exam and held at least one year. source |
| Fees |
| Exam | Plumbing contractor exam required. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 6 years (Six years as a plumbing contractor, plumber or apprentice (at least 1,900 hours per year), at least two of them as a plumbing contractor or plumber). source |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. Plumbing contractor bond not found on an official source. |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. Plumbing contractor insurance not found on an official source. |
| Renewal | Plumbing contractor and plumber licenses expire every year on December 31. source |
| Reciprocity | Licensure without exam for applicants licensed by exam in a state with substantially equivalent requirements, at the Commission's discretion. source |
| Fees |
HVAC: Our survey of official South Dakota sources found no state-level HVAC contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done.
Roofing: Our survey of official South Dakota sources found no state-level roofing contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done.
Questions
- Does South Dakota require a contractor license?
- Yes. South Dakota requires a state registration for general contractors. The South Dakota Department of Revenue (contractor's excise tax license) issues it as the Contractor's Excise Tax License credential. Registration is not a test of skill.
- How do I look up a contractor license in South Dakota?
- The South Dakota Department of Revenue (contractor's excise tax license) keeps the record for general contractors in South Dakota. We did not find a public online lookup, so contact the board through the link in the Look up a license table.
- How do I look up an electrician license in South Dakota?
- The South Dakota State Electrical Commission keeps the record for electrical contractors in South Dakota.
- How do I look up a plumbing license in South Dakota?
- The South Dakota State Plumbing Commission keeps the record for plumbing contractors in South Dakota. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.
- Does South Dakota have an HVAC license?
- Our survey of official South Dakota sources found no state-level HVAC contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done.
- Do roofers need a license in South Dakota?
- Our survey of official South Dakota sources found no state-level roofing contractor license.
Sources
- https://dor.sd.gov/businesses/taxes/contractors-excise-tax/
- https://dor.sd.gov/media/1vgljwbp/2026-7-contractors-excise-tax-guide.pdf
- https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/default.aspx
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-16-1
- https://dlr.sd.gov/plumbing/default.aspx
- https://dlr.sd.gov/plumbing/consumer_info.aspx
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-25-17
- https://dor.sd.gov/media/qn3a1y31/license-requirements-for-sales-use-contractors-excise-tax.pdf
- https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/licensing.aspx
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-16-19
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-16-20
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-16-25
- https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/reciprocal_agreements.aspx
- https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/forms/Electrical-License-Application-General.pdf
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-16-17
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-25-19
- https://dlr.sd.gov/plumbing/licensing.aspx
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/36-25-19.4
- https://dlr.sd.gov/plumbing/reciprocal_agreements.aspx
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/20:53:12:01
- https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/20:53:12:03
- https://dlr.sd.gov/plumbing/exams.aspx
- https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/complaints.aspx
- https://dlr.sd.gov/electrical/undertaking_insurance.aspx
- https://dlr.sd.gov/plumbing/complaints.aspx
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.