North Dakota General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The North Dakota Secretary of State licenses general contractors statewide under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-07. Any contractor performing work valued at $4,000 or more — including labor and materials — must hold a valid license before bidding or contracting. North Dakota issues four monetary classes based on maximum single-project value: Class A (no cap, projects $500,000 and above), Class B (up to $500,000), Class C (up to $300,000), and Class D (up to $100,000). The state does not impose a trade examination on general contractors but does require a current financial statement and proof of liability insurance with every application.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by North Dakota Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing Division (ND SOS) pursuant to North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-07 (Contractors). The North Dakota Secretary of State licenses general contractors statewide under NDCC 43-07. A contractor license is required for any project valued at $4,000 or more. The state issues four monetary classes (A, B, C, D) based on maximum project value. Electrical and plumbing trades are licensed separately by their respective state boards.

Official portal: https://sos.nd.gov/business/contractor-licensing
Address: 600 E Boulevard Avenue, Department 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
Phone: (701) 328-2900

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No North Dakota residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Secretary of State reviews applications for misrepresentation and prior license actions in any state.

Background investigation

No fingerprint background check. Disclosure of prior license discipline and felony convictions is required on the application.

Required Experience and Education

There is no published year count for this credential in the cited sources. What actually controls eligibility is No statutory experience requirement for the North Dakota contractor license. Applicants must instead demonstrate financial responsibility and carry liability insurance..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Current financial statement (unaudited acceptable for Class C and D; CPA-reviewed recommended for Class A and B)
Certificate of insurance for general liability
Workers compensation account confirmation from North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI)

Education substitution

Not applicable — North Dakota does not require experience or education for general contractor licensure.

Examination Requirements

The cited state materials do not require a written state trade examination for this credential. The controlling process is: None — North Dakota does not administer a state contractor trade or business examination.

Examination fee: No examination fee.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

Proof of general liability insurance is required at application. The Secretary of State does not publish a fixed minimum, but most carriers issue $300,000 to $1,000,000 policies to satisfy ND SOS and typical project owner requirements.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation coverage through North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) is mandatory for any business with employees. North Dakota is a monopolistic state — coverage must be purchased from WSI, not a private carrier.

Additional financial requirements

A current financial statement is required with every application and renewal. Class A applicants (no project value cap) typically submit a CPA-reviewed statement; lower classes accept owner-prepared statements.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Initial license	$450
Renewal (every year)	$450

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the North Dakota Contractor License (Class A, B, C, or D) comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $450. All North Dakota contractor licenses expire March 1 annually. Late renewals incur a $100 penalty.

Continuing education: No continuing education requirement for the North Dakota general contractor license.

Downloadable Asset

2026 North Dakota General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by North Dakota for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

North Dakota does not maintain formal reciprocity agreements for the general contractor license. Out-of-state contractors apply through the same Secretary of State process and must register as a foreign entity if organized outside North Dakota.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares General Contractor license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Choose the license class. Class A (no cap, $500,000+), Class B (up to $500,000), Class C (up to $300,000), Class D (up to $100,000). Class is based on maximum single-project value.
Register the business with the Secretary of State. Domestic entities file articles; out-of-state entities register as a foreign business before applying for the contractor license.
Obtain general liability insurance. Purchase a policy and request a certificate of insurance naming the North Dakota Secretary of State as certificate holder.
Open a North Dakota WSI workers compensation account. Required if the business has any employees. North Dakota is monopolistic — coverage must come from WSI.
Prepare the financial statement. Current balance sheet showing assets, liabilities, and net worth. Class A typically requires a CPA-reviewed statement.
Submit the SOS contractor license application. File online or by mail with the financial statement, certificate of insurance, and class fee.
Receive the license. The Secretary of State issues the license after review. Licenses expire annually on March 1 and must be renewed each year.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with ND SOS:

☐ Business registered with North Dakota Secretary of State
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance naming ND SOS as certificate holder
☐ North Dakota WSI workers compensation account (if any employees)
☐ Current financial statement for the chosen class
☐ Completed SOS contractor license application
☐ Class fee paid ($100 / $200 / $300 / $450)

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-07 — State of North Dakota. Governing statute for contractor licensing.
North Dakota State Building Code — North Dakota Department of Commerce. Adopts the International Building Code with state amendments.
ND Secretary of State Contractor Licensing Application Packet — North Dakota Secretary of State. Official forms and current fee schedule.

Frequent Application Errors

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a North Dakota General Contractor filing.

Working without a license on a $4,000+ job

NDCC 43-07 makes it unlawful to bid or contract on any project valued at $4,000 or more without a current license. Civil penalties and contract unenforceability follow.

Choosing a class too low for the project

A Class D contractor cannot legally bid a $150,000 project. Upgrading mid-project requires a new application and updated financial statement.

Buying workers comp from a private carrier

North Dakota is monopolistic. Private workers compensation policies are not valid — coverage must come from WSI.

Letting the March 1 renewal lapse

All licenses expire March 1 regardless of when they were issued. A January-issued license still renews two months later.

Missing the foreign entity registration

Out-of-state contractors must register as a foreign business with the Secretary of State before the contractor license application will be accepted.

Other North Dakota Trade Licenses

If the General Contractor license is not the right fit, the following published North Dakota trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

When do I need a North Dakota contractor license?

For any project — labor and materials combined — valued at $4,000 or more under NDCC 43-07. Projects below $4,000 do not require state licensure but must still comply with local permitting.

What are the four North Dakota contractor classes?

Class A: no project value cap (projects $500,000 and above). Class B: up to $500,000 per project. Class C: up to $300,000 per project. Class D: up to $100,000 per project.

Does North Dakota require a contractor exam?

No. The Secretary of State does not administer a trade or business examination for the general contractor license. Financial responsibility and insurance are the primary qualifications.

Does North Dakota reciprocate with other states?

No. There is no formal contractor license reciprocity. Out-of-state contractors apply through the same process and must register as a foreign entity if organized elsewhere.

How often does the North Dakota contractor license renew?

Annually. All North Dakota contractor licenses expire on March 1 each year regardless of issue date.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-20 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-19