How to get a Contractor License, Class A in North Dakota

North Dakota general contractor licenses

North Dakota issues 4 general contractor credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every North Dakota general contractor license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Experience

A sworn statement of the applicant's experience and qualifications as a contractor; no minimum amount of experience is set.¹

Exam

Not required¹

Background check

The registrar may ask for criminal history record information on the applicant or its officers, members or partners, held by the bureau of criminal investigation or a similar entity in another state, at the applicant's expense. The registrar may deny a license for a conviction with a direct bearing on the ability to serve the public as a contractor, but a conviction makes a person ineligible only if the person is not sufficiently rehabilitated under N.D.C.C. 12.1-33-02.1.¹

Residency or citizenship

No residency requirement; nonresident contractors are licensed and, by applying, appoint the Secretary of State as agent for service of process (unless a registered foreign entity with a registered agent).²

Insurance

Certificate of liability insurance in the license name, listing the North Dakota Secretary of State, 600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505, as certificate holder. No minimum amount is stated.²

Insurance

Workers' compensation: a current WSI certificate of payment if you have employees residing in North Dakota; otherwise a WSI letter of good standing.²

Business requirements

Corporations, LLCs and other entities must register with the Secretary of State first; sole proprietors may need a trade name and general partnerships a fictitious partnership name. The license name must match the business registration.²

Also required

Electrical, plumbing, asbestos abatement and transient merchant licenses are separate and not included in the contractor license.²

Also required

To bid on a public contract, the contractor must hold a license of the right class at least ten days before bids are opened.¹

Also required

The license number must be supplied when applying for a building permit.¹

Fees

Fee waivers and reductions:

• No license or renewal fee for a nonprofit building or rehabilitating a single-family home to be given or sold below appraised value to a low-income person.¹

How to apply

1. Check whether your business must register with the Secretary of State (required for corporations, LLCs and other entities; trade name or fictitious partnership name for sole proprietors and partnerships).²
2. Attach a certificate of liability insurance naming the Secretary of State as certificate holder, and a WSI certificate of payment or letter of good standing.²
3. Get any separate trade licenses you need (electrical, plumbing, asbestos) and any city licenses where you work.²

Apply online

firststop.sos.nd.gov²

Processing time

The registrar may investigate eligibility within 15 days of the application; no license issues until all documents and the fee are received.¹

Renewal

How often

Every year¹

When it expires

All licenses expire March 1 and are renewed on or before March 1 each year; a first license issued in January or February runs to March 1 of the following year.²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50¹ (renewal filed after March 1 and by June 1, paid in addition to the renewal fee)

If it expires

Not renewed by March 1: license is not in good standing and the contractor is treated as unlicensed.¹
Renewal is still possible until June 1 with a $50 penalty plus the renewal fee; after June 1 the license expires.¹
Renewal must list each North Dakota project, contract or subcontract over $50,000 completed in the previous calendar year, certify that payroll taxes, WSI and unemployment premiums are paid, and include a liability insurance certificate.²
You can change class at renewal by paying the fee for the new class.¹

Renew online

firststop.sos.nd.gov²

From another state

Who needs a Contractor License, Class A

No limit on the value of any single contract project. One state contractor license covers general contractors, subcontractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors; electrical, plumbing and asbestos work need separate licenses.¹

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

• A license is required when the cost, value or price per job exceeds $4,000.¹
• Exempt: authorized representatives of the U.S., the state, counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions.¹
• Exempt: suppliers of products or materials that they do not incorporate into or attach to real property.¹

How much a Contractor License, Class A costs

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

How to apply

1. Apply online in the FirstStop portal for the Class A license, signing the statement of experience and qualifications.² firststop.sos.nd.gov²
2. Pay the Class A fee of $450.²

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$90¹ (Class A, annual renewal)

Contractor License, Class B

Single contract projects up to $500,000. One state contractor license covers general contractors, subcontractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors; electrical, plumbing and asbestos work need separate licenses.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Apply online in the FirstStop portal for the Class B license, signing the statement of experience and qualifications.² firststop.sos.nd.gov²
2. Pay the Class B fee of $300.²

Renewal

Renewal fee

$60¹ (Class B, annual renewal)

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Contractor License, Class C

Single contract projects up to $300,000. One state contractor license covers general contractors, subcontractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors; electrical, plumbing and asbestos work need separate licenses.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Apply online in the FirstStop portal for the Class C license, signing the statement of experience and qualifications.² firststop.sos.nd.gov²
2. Pay the Class C fee of $225.²

Renewal

Renewal fee

$45¹ (Class C, annual renewal)

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Contractor License, Class D

Single contract projects up to $100,000. One state contractor license covers general contractors, subcontractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors; electrical, plumbing and asbestos work need separate licenses.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Apply online in the FirstStop portal for the Class D license, signing the statement of experience and qualifications.² firststop.sos.nd.gov²
2. Pay the Class D fee of $100.²

Renewal

Renewal fee

$30¹ (Class D, annual renewal)

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Contractor License, Class ALicensed statewide by the Secretary of State. Fargo also licenses home roofers, plumbers and heating/air-conditioning contractors at city level.³

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a general contractor in North Dakota, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in North Dakota is on the North Dakota license lookup page.

Look up a license

firststop.sos.nd.gov²

File a complaint

sos.nd.gov⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• N.D.C.C. ch. 43-07 (Contractors)

Common questions

General contractor licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin