North Dakota Contractor License Requirements & Application Help | Contractor Licensing Inc
Get step-by-step help with the North Dakota contractor licensing process—classifications, experience, insurance, and bonds. Contractor Licensing Inc handles filings, and compliance.
North Dakota takes a lighter-touch approach than most states: the Secretary of State issues a general contractor license based on contract size, with no statewide exam and no statewide bond for general construction work. Any job over $4,000 requires licensure, but electrical, plumbing, and water well contractors are licensed by entirely separate specialty boards with their own exams and bonds.
North Dakota Contractor License Requirements & Application Help
Contractor Licensing Inc. helps you pick the right class, stay current on your annual renewal, and identify which specialty board applies to your trade.
Quick Answer
- Any job over $4,000 in cost, value, or price requires a Secretary of State contractor license.
- Four classes by contract size: Class A ($500,000+), B (up to $500,000), C (up to $300,000), D (up to $100,000).
- No statewide exam and no statewide bond for the general contractor license itself.
- Annual renewal due March 1, with disclosure of any projects over $50,000 from the prior year.
- Electrical, plumbing, and water well contractors are licensed by separate specialty boards, each with its own exam and bond.
- Electrical licensing has real reciprocity through a Multi-State Reciprocal Licensing Group — the general contractor license does not.
North Dakota's $4,000 Threshold
Per the North Dakota Secretary of State, any person performing work where the cost, value, or price of the job exceeds $4,000 must hold a contractor license — this applies to general contractors, subcontractors, public contractors, and nonresident (out-of-state) contractors alike. Below that dollar amount, no state license is required, though local municipal rules can still apply.
North Dakota's Four Contractor Classes
Class A — Over $500,000
No upper contract limit. Initial fee $450, annual renewal $90.
Class B — Up to $500,000
Initial fee $300, annual renewal $60.
Class C — Up to $300,000
Initial fee $225, annual renewal $45.
Class D — Up to $100,000
Initial fee $100, annual renewal $30 — the entry-level class for smaller contractors.
No Trade-Specific Classifications
Unlike states with dozens of classifications, North Dakota's general license is scoped purely by contract dollar size, not by trade.
Specialty Trades Excluded
Electrical, plumbing, water well, and asbestos abatement contractors fall outside this class system entirely — see below.
No Statewide Exam or Bond for the General License
North Dakota's Secretary of State contractor license requires no trade exam and no statewide surety bond — a notably lighter process than most states. Renewal is required annually by March 1, and the renewal application requires disclosure of any project exceeding $50,000 completed in the prior calendar year, plus confirmation that payroll taxes, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance premiums are current.
Because there's no state trade exam for the general license, NASCLA reciprocity does not apply to North Dakota's Secretary of State license — there's no exam for an accredited score to replace. NASCLA only becomes relevant if a specialty board (like electrical) separately chooses to recognize it, which North Dakota's boards do not currently do.
Electrical, Plumbing & Water Well Are Licensed Separately
Electrical Contractors
Licensed by the North Dakota State Electrical Board, which requires passing an exam and charges a $50 annual license fee — entirely separate from the Secretary of State's class system.
Plumbing Contractors
Licensed by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board, with its own exam and fee schedule independent of the general contractor license.
Water Well Contractors
Licensed by the Board of Water Well Contractors, requiring a certification exam and a $15,000 surety bond — raised from $2,000 effective August 1, 2015.
Asbestos Abatement Contractors
Requires a completed training course and certification before applying, administered independently of the Secretary of State's contractor license.
North Dakota Contractor License Reciprocity
General Contractor License — No Reciprocity
The Secretary of State's contract-size-based license has no published reciprocity agreement with other states. Nonresident contractors must apply directly for a North Dakota license under the same class system as in-state contractors.
Electrical Licensing — Multi-State Reciprocal Group
North Dakota participates in a Multi-State Reciprocal Licensing Group for electricians. Master license reciprocity is recognized from Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota; Journeyman reciprocity is recognized from thirteen states including Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming. Applicants must hold a valid license in good standing for the prior year.
North Dakota Contractor License FAQ
Do I need a contractor license in North Dakota?
Yes, for any job over $4,000 in cost, value, or price — general contractors, subcontractors, public contractors, and nonresident contractors alike.
What are the North Dakota license classes?
Class A (over $500K), B (up to $500K), C (up to $300K), D (up to $100K) — scoped by contract size, not trade.
Is there an exam or bond for the general license?
No — North Dakota's general contractor license has no statewide exam and no statewide bond requirement.
Does North Dakota accept the NASCLA exam?
No — there's no trade exam for the general license for a NASCLA score to replace.
Are electrical and plumbing licensed separately?
Yes — by the State Electrical Board, State Plumbing Board, and Board of Water Well Contractors, each independent of the Secretary of State's license.
Does North Dakota have reciprocity with other states?
Not for the general license. Electrical licensing has real reciprocity through a Multi-State Reciprocal Licensing Group.
Contact
North Dakota Secretary of State
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 108, Bismarck, ND 58505
North Dakota Contractor Bonds
| Bond | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| City of Grand Forks, ND — Contractor License | $5,000 | Apply Now |
Because North Dakota's general contractor license carries no statewide bond, most bonding needs come from local municipal requirements like Grand Forks, or from specialty boards such as water well contracting ($15,000). Contact us if you need a bond for a specific trade board or municipality not listed here.
Ready to Get Your North Dakota Contractor License?
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