Quick answer: South Dakota only licenses electricians (through the SD State Electrical Commission under SDCL 36-16) and plumbers (through the SD Plumbing Commission under SDCL 36-25) at the state level. There is no statewide general-contractor, roofing, HVAC, painting, carpentry, landscaping, handyman or cleaning license. HVAC is left to local governments – cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City license mechanical contractors. Anyone doing construction work must, however, hold a contractor's excise tax license from the SD Department of Revenue – that is a tax registration, not a competency license.
The table below shows which of the common trades need a South Dakota state license and which do not.
Which trades need a license in South Dakota?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Yes | State license required – South Dakota Plumbing Commission under SDCL 36-25. Plumbing contractor, journeyman plumber and apprentice licenses are issued statewide. |
| Electrician | Yes | State license required – South Dakota State Electrical Commission under SDCL 36-16. Apprentice, journeyman, Class B and electrical contractor licenses are issued statewide. |
| HVAC | Local | No statewide HVAC license. Regulation is left to local governments – cities such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City require a mechanical contractor license for HVAC work within city limits. |
| General Contractor | No | No state competency license. Anyone doing construction must hold a contractor's excise tax license from the SD Department of Revenue (SDCL 10-46A) – a tax registration, not a skills license. |
| Roofer | No | No state license for roofing. Roofers doing construction work must hold the contractor's excise tax license; local permits may still apply. |
| Painter | No | No state license. Painting is unregulated at the state level, though painting done as part of a construction contract falls under the contractor's excise tax. |
| Carpenter | No | No state license for carpentry, framing or cabinetry – unless the job crosses into a licensed trade such as electrical or plumbing. Excise tax applies to construction work. |
| Landscaper | No | No state contractor license for general landscaping or lawn care. Separate rules apply to pesticide application and to underground irrigation, which the Plumbing Commission licenses. |
| Handyman | No | No state handyman license. A handyman cannot perform work reserved for licensed electricians or plumbers, and construction work is subject to the contractor's excise tax. |
| Cleaner | No | No state occupational or contractor license required for residential or commercial cleaning. |
"Yes" means a state license is required (electrician, plumber). "Local" means no state license exists but a city may require one (HVAC). "No" means no state competency license – but construction work still requires a contractor's excise tax license from the Department of Revenue, and local permits or business licenses may apply.
How South Dakota licenses the trades
South Dakota is one of the most deregulated states for the construction trades. Unlike states such as Florida or California, it has no statewide general-contractor license and no state licensing board for roofing, HVAC, painting, carpentry, landscaping, handyman work or cleaning. Only two trades are licensed at the state level: electricians, through the South Dakota State Electrical Commission under SDCL chapter 36-16, and plumbers, through the South Dakota Plumbing Commission under SDCL chapter 36-25. Both commissions are housed administratively within the Department of Labor & Regulation (DLR) but retain independent licensing and disciplinary authority.
This does not mean construction is unregulated. Everyone performing construction work in the state must hold a contractor's excise tax license from the Department of Revenue, and cities and counties enforce building codes, permits and – in some cases – their own local trade licenses.
Electricians: licensed statewide
Electrical work is the most tightly regulated trade in South Dakota. The State Electrical Commission, based in Pierre, licenses every electrician working in the state, inspects wiring installations and investigates complaints. License tiers run from licensed apprentice electrician through journeyman, Class B and electrical contractor. A journeyman candidate must complete four years (8,000 hours) as a licensed apprentice under a licensed contractor before sitting the journeyman exam, and licensees must earn 16 hours of continuing education – at least eight on the National Electrical Code – each renewal. Your working hours only count toward the exam if you were licensed while you earned them.
Plumbers: licensed statewide
The South Dakota Plumbing Commission licenses plumbers to protect the public from unsafe drinking water and waste disposal. Its main license tiers are apprentice plumber, third-year apprentice, journeyman plumber and plumbing contractor, and it also issues specialty licenses covering sewer and water, underground irrigation, water conditioning, appliances and on-site wastewater systems. A journeyman candidate needs two years of apprentice experience at 1,900+ hours per year. Plumbing licenses expire annually on December 31, and licensees by exam must show continuing education before renewal.
The trades with no state license
General contractors, roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers, handymen and cleaners have no state competency license in South Dakota. There is no state general-contractor exam and no state board for these trades. HVAC is a special case: the state issues no HVAC license, but local governments do – cities such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City require a mechanical contractor license (Sioux Falls, for example, requires an exam, four years of experience and a $10,000 compliance bond) for HVAC work inside city limits.
Being unlicensed at the state level does not remove other duties: these businesses still need the contractor's excise tax license for construction work, must follow local permit and building-code rules, and cannot cross into electrical or plumbing work reserved for a state-licensed trade. Technicians handling refrigerants also need federal EPA Section 608 certification.
The contractor's excise tax license
South Dakota's one near-universal requirement for builders is the contractor's excise tax license, issued by the Department of Revenue under SDCL 10-46A (and 10-46B for qualified utility projects). Any person entering a contract for the construction, building, installation or repair of a fixture to real property must obtain this license before starting work, with a separate license for each business location. It carries a 2% excise tax on gross receipts but no fee, no exam and no bond – it is a tax registration, not proof of skill. Do not confuse it with the competency licenses that states like Florida require of general contractors; in South Dakota a general contractor's only mandatory state credential is this tax license.
How to get licensed in South Dakota
- Identify whether your trade is state-licensed (electrician or plumber), locally licensed (HVAC in some cities), or unlicensed at the state level – this determines which agency you deal with.
- For electricians, apply to the South Dakota State Electrical Commission: work the required licensed apprentice hours, then pass the journeyman and (later) contractor exams and keep up 16 hours of continuing education per renewal.
- For plumbers, apply to the South Dakota Plumbing Commission: complete two years of apprentice experience (1,900+ hours per year), pass the journeyman exam, and renew annually by December 31 with continuing education.
- If you do any construction work, register for a contractor's excise tax license with the South Dakota Department of Revenue before starting a project, and file the 2% excise tax returns by the 20th of each month.
- Check the city and county where you will work – for HVAC and some other trades, a local mechanical or contractor license, bond, permit or business license may be required even though the state does not license the trade.
Ready to price your work? Build a quote with the free estimate generator, or invoice from your phone with BIG INVOICE.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Dakota require a general contractor license?
No. South Dakota does not issue a statewide general-contractor competency license. The only mandatory state credential for a builder is the contractor's excise tax license from the Department of Revenue, which is a tax registration – it carries a 2% excise tax but no exam or bond. Local building permits and, in some cities, local licenses may still apply.
Which trades need a state license in South Dakota?
Only two: electricians, licensed by the South Dakota State Electrical Commission under SDCL 36-16, and plumbers, licensed by the South Dakota Plumbing Commission under SDCL 36-25. All other common trades – general contracting, roofing, HVAC, painting, carpentry, landscaping, handyman work and cleaning – have no state competency license.
Do I need an HVAC license in South Dakota?
Not from the state – South Dakota issues no statewide HVAC license. However, HVAC is regulated locally: cities such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City require a mechanical contractor license (often with an exam, experience and a compliance bond) for HVAC work within city limits. Technicians handling refrigerants also need federal EPA Section 608 certification.
What is the contractor's excise tax license?
It is a tax registration, not a competency license. Under SDCL 10-46A, anyone contracting for construction, building, installation or repair of real property in South Dakota must hold this Department of Revenue license before starting work and pay a 2% excise tax on gross receipts. There is no fee, exam or bond to obtain it, and it does not certify any skill.
Sources: South Dakota State Electrical Commission – Licensing, South Dakota Plumbing Commission – Licensing, SD Department of Revenue – Contractor's Excise Tax, City of Sioux Falls – Mechanical Contractor Licensing, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.