- No contractor license needed for jobs of $4,000 or less.
- No state contractor bond. The bond section of the contractor law was repealed in 1995.
- Every year by March 1 once licensed.
Do you need a state license in North Dakota?
North Dakota licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No contractor license needed for jobs of $4,000 or less.
Check with your city for building permits.
The North Dakota license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Class D | Single projects up to $100,000 |
Steps to get licensed in North Dakota
- Keep each job at $4,000 or less if you want to work without a license.
- For bigger jobs, get liability insurance and WSI workers compensation proof.
- Apply for a Class D license through the Secretary of State FirstStop portal.
- Renew by March 1 each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's pages do not list one.
North Dakota handyman exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in North Dakota
The board lists 2 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class D license | $100 |
| Class D annual renewal | $30 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. For a licensed contractor: a liability insurance certificate naming the Secretary of State, plus workers compensation proof from WSI.
Bond. No state contractor bond. The bond section of the contractor law was repealed in 1995.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year by March 1 once licensed.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in North Dakota
- Plumbing in any part of the state with a public water or sewer system needs a state plumbing license, whatever the job size.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the North Dakota Secretary of State, contractor licensing and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.