North Dakota Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

North Dakota does not license masonry as a trade. Anyone performing construction work valued at $4,000 or more must hold a North Dakota Contractor License issued by the North Dakota Secretary of State under N.D.C.C. §43-07. The license has four classes set by maximum project value: Class D (≤$100,000), Class C (≤$300,000), Class B (≤$500,000), and Class A (unlimited). No exam is required, but applicants must submit a sworn application, GL certificate, workers comp certificate, and the class fee. This page documents the verified path including the four-class system, OSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by North Dakota Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing Division (ND SOS), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under 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

The Eligibility Audit

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No North Dakota residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the ND Secretary of State.

Good moral character

ND SOS reviews prior contractor license discipline.

Background investigation

Self-disclosure of criminal history on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is No state experience requirement. Insurance carriers and prime contractors require demonstrated journey-level masonry experience by contract..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers
Project list (used for prime subcontracts and underwriting)

The Exam Syllabus

The cited sources impose no written trade exam at the state level here. The path to the credential runs through: No exam required by ND Secretary of State

Examination fee: No exam fee — North Dakota contractor licensing is administrative.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

ND SOS requires GL and workers comp certificates with the application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence GL.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under N.D.C.C. §65-04 for any North Dakota employer with one or more employees. North Dakota WSI is the exclusive carrier (monopolistic state). Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in North Dakota.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required. License class is selected by anticipated project value, not financial review.

Schedule of Fees

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

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The North Dakota Contractor License (Class A/B/C/D) — Secretary of State runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $100. North Dakota Contractor License renews annually on March 1. Maintain GL and ND WSI continuously.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, North Dakota does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

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

North Dakota has no reciprocity for masonry contractors. The ND license is required regardless of out-of-state credentials.

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

The Application Roadmap

Choose license class. Select Class D (≤$100K), C (≤$300K), B (≤$500K), or A (unlimited) based on anticipated project value.
Form a North Dakota or foreign entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the ND Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Bind GL and ND WSI workers compensation. Bind GL ($1M+ practical) and obtain ND WSI workers comp coverage (monopolistic state).
Submit ND SOS Contractor License application. File the application with class fee ($100-$450), GL certificate, and ND WSI certificate.
Receive license number. ND SOS issues the contractor license number; it must appear on every contract per N.D.C.C. §43-07-12.
Pull project permits at the AHJ. Local building departments require permits for masonry on permitted projects; Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot are the largest jurisdictions.
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in North Dakota; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Recommended Study Materials

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

N.D.C.C. §43-07 Contractors — State of North Dakota. North Dakota contractor licensing statute including class definitions.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry (North Dakota-adopted edition) — International Code Council. North Dakota adopts IBC at the local jurisdiction level.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to ND SOS:

☐ North Dakota Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and ND tax registration
☐ GL insurance certificate ($1M+ practical)
☐ ND WSI workers compensation account
☐ ND SOS Contractor License (Class A/B/C/D)
☐ Local business license (city of operation)
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a North Dakota Masonry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Wrong license class

Taking a project above the chosen class limit triggers SOS discipline; upgrade class before bidding larger jobs.

WSI lapse

ND WSI workers comp lapses trigger automatic license suspension and back-premium assessment; monopolistic state offers no alternative carrier.

Severe freeze-thaw veneer failure

North Dakota severe freeze-thaw cycles cause spalling; Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks inspectors fail jobs without proper flashing and weeps.

Anchored veneer ties undersized

North Dakota high-wind exposure requires corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Fargo and Minot inspectors enforce strictly.

Silica plan absent

OSHA targets Fargo and Bismarck masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Other North Dakota Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these North Dakota licensing guides:

Common Questions

Does North Dakota license masonry as a trade?

No. ND Secretary of State licenses all contractors but does not test or classify masonry separately.

What triggers the license requirement?

Performing construction work valued at $4,000 or more triggers mandatory licensing under N.D.C.C. §43-07-02.

What are the four classes?

Class D (≤$100K), Class C (≤$300K), Class B (≤$500K), Class A (unlimited). Set by anticipated project value.

Is workers comp required from a private carrier?

No. North Dakota is a monopolistic state — workers comp must be obtained from North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI).

Does North Dakota enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in North Dakota. Written exposure control plan is mandatory for masonry cutting, grinding, and mixing.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-27 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-26