How to get a contractor license in North Dakota
North Dakota requires a contractor license from the Secretary of State whenever the value of a job exceeds $4,000, one of the lowest thresholds in the country. There is no exam: you pick from four classes based on job size, from Class D (jobs up to $100,000, $100 filing fee) through Class A (jobs over $500,000, $450 fee), file proof of insurance, and renew annually. Electricians and plumbers are licensed separately by their own state boards.
Licensing authority
North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing: https://www.sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors
When a license is required
Any person doing contracting work where the cost, value, or price of a single job exceeds $4,000 must hold a North Dakota contractor license. The class you need is set by job size: Class D covers jobs up to $100,000, Class C up to $300,000, Class B up to $500,000, and Class A anything above that.
License classes in North Dakota
Class A
For contracts over $500,000, with a $450 filing fee. The class to hold if you bid large commercial or public work.
Class B
Contracts up to $500,000, $300 filing fee. Fits established residential builders and mid-size commercial subs.
Class C
Contracts up to $300,000, $225 filing fee. A common landing spot for growing trade contractors.
Class D
Contracts up to $100,000, $100 filing fee. Where most new contractors and small remodelers start; you can move up a class as jobs grow.
What you need before you apply
- License required before taking any job over $4,000
- Choose the class whose cap covers your largest contract; fees run $100 to $450 by class
- No exam and no experience requirement for the state license
- Provide a certificate of liability insurance with the application
- Carry workers compensation coverage and stay current with Workforce Safety & Insurance if you have employees
- Register your business with the Secretary of State and keep it in good standing
- Renew the license annually; confirm the current renewal deadline and any local city requirements with the Secretary of State's office
How to get licensed in North Dakota
- Register the business first. The contractor license rides on a registered North Dakota business entity or trade name, filed with the same Secretary of State office.
- Pick your class honestly. License class caps your single-contract size. Starting at Class D costs $100, and upgrading later is routine, but contracting above your class is a violation.
- Gather insurance proof. Get a certificate of liability insurance and, if you have employees, confirm your Workforce Safety & Insurance account is current. Both feed the application.
- File with the Secretary of State. Submit the contractor license application online through the Secretary of State's filing system with your class fee.
- Renew every year. North Dakota contractor licenses renew annually. Put the deadline on your calendar and verify current requirements with the office each cycle, since missing renewal means you cannot legally take jobs over $4,000.
Reciprocity with other states
North Dakota has no exam, so there is no exam reciprocity to speak of: out-of-state contractors apply exactly like locals, and the license is quick to get by state licensing standards. Electricians and plumbers should ask their North Dakota trade boards about credit for out-of-state licenses and hours.
Working without a license
Contracting over $4,000 without a license is a criminal offense in North Dakota and can also cost you the job itself, since public owners and most GCs verify licenses before award. The Secretary of State publishes licensed contractor lookups, so being absent from the list is visible to every customer who checks.
Frequently asked questions
What jobs require a contractor license in North Dakota?
Any job where the cost or value exceeds $4,000, which is one of the lowest thresholds in the country. Even a modest bathroom remodel or roof repair crosses it, so nearly every full-time contractor in North Dakota needs a license.
Is there a contractor exam in North Dakota?
No. The state license is a filing with the Secretary of State: choose a class, pay the fee ($100 to $450), and show liability insurance. Electricians and plumbers face real exams, but through their separate state boards, not the contractor license.
Which license class should I start with?
The class whose cap covers your largest expected contract. Class D covers jobs to $100,000 for a $100 fee and suits most new residential contractors. If you land a bigger job later, you upgrade classes rather than turning the work down.
How long does the North Dakota license take to get?
It is among the fastest states because there is no exam or experience review. With your business registered and an insurance certificate in hand, the filing itself is quick, and processing typically takes days to a few weeks rather than months.
What should a newly licensed North Dakota contractor automate first?
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