- Jobs over $4,000.
- You sign a statement of your experience and qualifications.
- Every year, on or before March 1.
Do you need a state license in North Dakota?
North Dakota licenses some landscaping 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.
Jobs over $4,000.
North Dakota license types for landscaping work
North Dakota splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Class D | Jobs up to $100,000 |
| Class C | Jobs up to $300,000 |
| Class B | Jobs up to $500,000 |
| Class A | Jobs over $500,000 |
Steps to get licensed in North Dakota
- Register your business or trade name with the Secretary of State if required.
- Get liability insurance and your WSI certificate.
- Apply in the FirstStop Portal and pay the fee for your class.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. You sign a statement of your experience and qualifications.
The license to apply for. Contractor license (Class A, B, C or D by job size).
North Dakota landscaping 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 4 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 C license | $225 |
| Class B license | $300 |
| Class A license | $450 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. A certificate of liability insurance listing the Secretary of State as holder, plus workers' compensation proof from WSI if you have employees in North Dakota.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year, on or before March 1.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
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 landscaper 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 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how landscaping companies run on Koira.