North Dakota Contractor License Lookup
Where to Search for a North Dakota Contractor License
The North Dakota Secretary of State maintains the official contractor license database. You can search it through the Secretary of State's business records search at sos.nd.gov. The search returns the contractor's business name, license class (A through D), license status, and registration date.
This is the only official source for verifying a general contractor's state-level license. Third-party sites like Uhire and other aggregator tools pull from this database, but they may not reflect real-time status changes — always confirm against the official source.
What to Check in the Results
When you pull up a contractor's record, verify three things:
License status. The record should show "Active." North Dakota licenses expire annually on March 1, and a contractor who missed the renewal deadline may show as lapsed or revoked. A contractor in "lapsed" status between March 2 and June 1 is operating unlawfully — they cannot legally execute contracts, submit bids, or pull permits during that gap.
License class. North Dakota issues four classes based on single-project value limits: Class A (unlimited), Class B (up to $500,000), Class C (up to $300,000), and Class D (up to $100,000). If a contractor holds a Class D license, they are legally prohibited from taking on a $150,000 kitchen renovation or any single project above $100,000. Make sure their class matches the scope of your project.
Business name match. The name on the contractor's license must match their registered business entity with the Secretary of State. If a contractor presents themselves under a different name than what appears in the database, that's a red flag — either they're operating under an unregistered DBA or using someone else's credentials.
Specialty Trades Require Separate Searches
The Secretary of State's database only covers general contractor licenses. If you need to verify a licensed electrician, plumber, or mechanical contractor, you need to search different boards:
- Electricians: The North Dakota State Electrical Board (NDSEB) at ndseb.com maintains its own licensing database. Electrical contractors must designate a licensed Master Electrician as their responsible qualifier and carry a $10,000 surety bond with the NDSEB.
- Plumbers: The North Dakota State Plumbing Board (NDSPB) handles plumbing license verification. Master Plumbers must pass a state-administered exam — unlike general contractors, this trade requires testing.
- HVAC/Mechanical: North Dakota doesn't issue a unified state-level HVAC license. Mechanical licensing is managed through a hybrid of state plumbing board rules and municipal licensing divisions. Fargo, for example, proctors its own reciprocity exams for Master and Journeyman HVAC licenses.
A general contractor's state license does not authorize them to perform electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work. If your project includes any of those trades, verify those credentials separately.
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Checking Local Municipal Registration
State license verification is only half the picture. If your project is in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, or Minot, the contractor should also be registered with the local building department or auditor's office.
Grand Forks requires all building contractors to hold a local license ($65/year) and file a $5,000 license and permit bond. Bismarck requires a $5,000 contractor license bond filed with the Building Inspections Division. Fargo mandates specialty trade registrations through the City Auditor's Office.
Contact the local building department directly to confirm municipal registration — most don't have a public online search as comprehensive as the state database.
Red Flags When Hiring a Contractor
Beyond the license search itself, watch for these warning signs:
- No results in the Secretary of State database for the contractor's business name
- License class too low for the project value (e.g., Class D on a $250,000 build)
- License expired or in "revoked" status
- Contractor cannot produce a current Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the ND Secretary of State as certificate holder
- No WSI coverage verification (required for any contractor with employees)
Under N.D.C.C. § 43-07-02, hiring an unlicensed contractor for work over $4,000 creates legal complications. The unlicensed contractor loses standing to enforce contracts or mechanics' liens in North Dakota courts — which means disputes become significantly harder to resolve.
Our North Dakota General Contractor License Guide includes a contractor verification checklist that walks you through both the state and municipal checks for any project.
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