Quick answer: North Dakota licenses contractors by the dollar value of the work, not by trade. Any person or business whose job exceeds $4,000 (labor plus materials) must hold a contractor license issued by the ND Secretary of State, graded into Class A, B, C or D by project size. This single license covers general contractors, roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers, handymen and HVAC installers. Plumbers are separately licensed by the ND State Plumbing Board and electricians by the ND State Electrical Board for essentially all work. Cleaners need no state license.
The table below shows which of the common trades need a North Dakota state license and which do not.
Which trades need a license in North Dakota?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Yes | State license required for essentially all plumbing work – North Dakota State Plumbing Board (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master). Separate from the Secretary of State contractor license. |
| Electrician | Yes | State license required for essentially all electrical work – North Dakota State Electrical Board (Journeyman, Master, Class B, plus Electrical Contractor licenses). |
| HVAC | Maybe | No standalone statewide HVAC license, but a Secretary of State contractor license is required once the job exceeds $4,000. EPA 608 certification and local city licenses may also apply. |
| General Contractor | Yes | Secretary of State contractor license required for any job over $4,000. Class A/B/C/D by project value. No state exam, but liability insurance and a surety bond are required. |
| Roofer | Maybe | No roofing-specific license, but the Secretary of State contractor license is required once the job exceeds $4,000. Class A/B/C/D by project value. |
| Painter | Maybe | No painting-specific license, but the Secretary of State contractor license is required once the job exceeds $4,000. |
| Carpenter | Maybe | No carpentry-specific license, but the Secretary of State contractor license is required once the job exceeds $4,000. |
| Landscaper | Maybe | No landscaping-specific license, but the Secretary of State contractor license is required once construction/hardscape work exceeds $4,000. Pesticide application is separately regulated by the ND Dept. of Agriculture. |
| Handyman | Maybe | No handyman license, but the Secretary of State contractor license is required once the job exceeds $4,000. Below that threshold no state contractor license is needed. |
| Cleaner | No | No state occupational or contractor license required for residential or commercial cleaning. |
"Yes" means a state license is required. "Maybe" means no trade-specific license exists, but a Secretary of State contractor license is required once the job exceeds $4,000; smaller jobs are exempt. A local business license or city trade license may still apply.
How North Dakota licenses contractors
Unlike many states that license each trade through its own board, North Dakota uses a single, value-based contractor license issued by the Secretary of State. Under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-07, "when the cost, value, or price of a job exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor." A contractor is broadly defined as anyone engaged in the business of construction – building, repairing, altering, dismantling or demolishing real or personal property and structures attached to land.
Because the trigger is the dollar value of the work rather than the trade, the same license applies to general contractors, roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers, handymen and HVAC installers. Subcontractors, general contractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors all fall under the requirement.
The four license classes (A, B, C, D)
The Secretary of State grades contractor licenses into four classes by the maximum value of a single job:
- Class A – unlimited; jobs over $500,000 ($450 fee)
- Class B – up to $500,000 per job ($300 fee)
- Class C – up to $300,000 per job ($225 fee)
- Class D – up to $100,000 per job ($100 fee)
North Dakota does not require a state trade exam for this license, but applicants must provide proof of general liability insurance, a financial statement and a surety bond that varies with the class. Licenses are applied for and renewed through the Secretary of State's FirstStop online portal.
Plumbers and electricians: separate boards
Two trades are carved out of the Secretary of State system and licensed by their own dedicated boards, generally regardless of job value. Plumbers must be licensed by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board: per the board, "any person performing plumbing in the state of North Dakota must be licensed." Credentials run Apprentice, Journeyman and Master, with additional sewer/water and water-conditioning categories.
Electricians must be licensed by the North Dakota State Electrical Board. State law requires anyone who plans, installs, alters or repairs electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for light, heat or power to hold a license – issued as Journeyman, Master, Class B (limited residential master) and separate Electrical Contractor licenses for businesses.
HVAC and other trades without a dedicated license
North Dakota has no standalone statewide HVAC license for apprentices, technicians or contractors. Heating and cooling work is treated like other construction: if the job exceeds $4,000, the installer needs the Secretary of State contractor license. Technicians handling refrigerant still need federal EPA Section 608 certification, and cities such as Fargo and Bismarck issue their own local HVAC licenses.
Roofing, painting, carpentry, landscaping and handyman work similarly have no trade-specific state license – they are covered by the same $4,000 contractor-license threshold. Cleaning requires no state contractor or occupational license at all.
Local and city requirements
The Secretary of State license is a statewide credential, but it does not replace local rules. Many North Dakota cities – including Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot – require their own registration or trade licenses (for example, city HVAC or electrical licenses) and building permits for specific projects. Landscapers who apply pesticides must also be certified through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Because thresholds and permit rules vary by jurisdiction, always confirm requirements with the local city or county before starting work.
How to get licensed in North Dakota
- Estimate the total value of your job (labor plus materials). If any single job will exceed $4,000, you must hold a North Dakota Secretary of State contractor license before you contract for or perform the work.
- Choose the license class that fits your largest expected job: Class D (up to $100,000), Class C (up to $300,000), Class B (up to $500,000) or Class A (unlimited).
- Gather your documentation: proof of general liability insurance, a financial statement, and a surety bond sized to your class. No state trade exam is required for the SoS contractor license.
- Apply and pay the class fee through the Secretary of State FirstStop online portal, and renew annually to keep the license active.
- If you plan to do plumbing or electrical work, license separately through the North Dakota State Plumbing Board or State Electrical Board, and check the city where you work for local trade licenses and permits.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a contractor license in North Dakota?
Yes, if the cost, value or price of the job exceeds $4,000 (including labor and materials). North Dakota licenses contractors by dollar value through the Secretary of State, not by trade, so general contractors, roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers, handymen and HVAC installers all need the license once they cross that threshold. Jobs of $4,000 or less do not require the state contractor license.
What are the North Dakota contractor license classes?
There are four classes graded by job value: Class A (unlimited, jobs over $500,000), Class B (up to $500,000), Class C (up to $300,000) and Class D (up to $100,000). You pick the class that covers your largest single job. There is no state trade exam, but insurance, a financial statement and a surety bond are required.
Who licenses plumbers and electricians in North Dakota?
Plumbers are licensed by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board and electricians by the North Dakota State Electrical Board – separate agencies from the Secretary of State. Both require a license for essentially all work in the trade, regardless of job value, with credentials such as Journeyman and Master.
Does North Dakota have a statewide HVAC license?
No. North Dakota does not issue a standalone statewide HVAC license for technicians or contractors. HVAC work is covered by the Secretary of State contractor license once a job exceeds $4,000. Technicians who handle refrigerant still need federal EPA Section 608 certification, and cities like Fargo and Bismarck have their own local HVAC licenses.
Sources: ND Secretary of State – Contractors Licensing, North Dakota State Plumbing Board – FAQ, North Dakota State Plumbing Board, North Dakota State Electrical Board – Licensing, North Dakota State Electrical Board, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.