How to check a contractor license in North Dakota
North Dakota's Secretary of State licenses contractors for any job worth more than $4,000. Search the contractor in the FirstStop portal to confirm the license is in good standing, and ask which class, A through D, it holds, since the class caps the size of each job. Electricians and plumbers also need a license from their own state board.
How do I check a contractor license in North Dakota?
Search for the contractor in the Secretary of State's FirstStop portal. Confirm the license is in good standing and the name matches the business you're hiring.
- Get the business name or the contractor license number.
- Open FirstStop's contractor search. We last checked this lookup on 2026-10-19. The search is a web app that needs a full browser to load, so open it in a regular web browser. The Secretary of State's contractor licensing page links to it too.
- Confirm the license is in good standing and the name matches the one on your bid or contract.
- Ask the contractor which class its license is, and compare the class limit to the price of your job.
- If the contractor isn't from your area, also check the Attorney General's list of licensed transient merchants, linked from its Hiring a Contractor page.
If FirstStop won't load or a record is unclear, call the Secretary of State at 701-328-2900. Skip any third-party site that charges for the same search.
Does North Dakota require a contractor license?
Yes, when the cost, value or price of a job exceeds $4,000. The person doing the work must then be licensed as a contractor by the North Dakota Secretary of State.
| Class | Largest job it allows |
|---|---|
| Class A | Over $500,000 |
| Class B | Up to $500,000 |
| Class C | Up to $300,000 |
| Class D | Up to $100,000 |
Every applicant files a certificate of liability insurance naming the Secretary of State as certificate holder, plus proof of coverage from Workforce Safety and Insurance, the state's workers' compensation agency. That proof was current on the day they applied, and coverage can lapse after that. Licenses must be renewed on or before March 1 each year.
Who licenses electricians and plumbers in North Dakota?
The North Dakota State Electrical Board licenses electricians and electrical contractors, and the North Dakota State Plumbing Board licenses plumbers. Those licenses are in addition to the Secretary of State contractor license, so check both for electrical or plumbing work.
The electrical board has a licensed contractor search by last name, business name or city, plus a separate lookup for individual electricians. The plumbing board's home page has a License Lookup for current plumbing, sewer and water, and water conditioning license holders. If a record is unclear, call the electrical board at 701-328-9522 or the plumbing board at 701-328-9977.
The electrical board is replacing its online licensing system in early 2027, so its search may look different after that. Existing licenses stay valid during the switch.
What does a North Dakota license lookup not tell you?
It tells you the contractor is licensed, not whether the work will be good. An active license is the minimum before you refer anyone. If the contractor is based in Minnesota, South Dakota or Montana, the state-by-state guide has those states' lookups.
- The class matters. A Class D license tops out at $100,000 per job, so a contractor bidding a bigger addition needs a higher class.
- Insurance was checked at application. For a big job, ask the contractor for a current certificate of insurance.
- Out-of-area contractors need a second license. A contractor who isn't from the local area also needs a Transient Merchant License from the Attorney General.
A job near a state line can involve a contractor based next door, so check that state's records too. The lookups for Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana are on their own pages.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the Secretary of State or the trade board.
Sources
- North Dakota Secretary of State: Contractors
- North Dakota Secretary of State: FirstStop contractor search
- North Dakota Attorney General: Hiring a Contractor
- North Dakota State Electrical Board: Find a Licensed Contractor
- North Dakota State Plumbing Board: North Dakota Plumber Licenses
Agents can keep these contractors in Proferral
Proferral is a free app real estate agents use to keep a go-to list of the providers they trust and to remember every referral they send. Its license checks cover Oregon and Washington only, so for North Dakota you still run the lookup above by hand. Here's how Proferral's license checks work.
It's free, no credit card needed, and you're never charged unless you choose Pro.