North Dakota Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 6 min read

North Dakota requires a contractor license from the Secretary of State for construction work when the cost, value or price per job exceeds $4,000, subcontractors included. A license runs for the contractor year, March 2 through March 1, and must be renewed on or before March 1 of each year through the FirstStop Portal. The renewal fee is $90, $60, $45 or $30 depending on your class, and you file a list of the North Dakota projects over $50,000 you completed in the past calendar year and the nature of the work on each, a certificate of liability insurance and a certification that your payroll taxes and insurance premiums are paid. Miss March 1 and you're treated as unlicensed; you can still renew until June 1 by paying a $50 penalty fee plus the renewal fee, after which the license expires.

At a glance

Renews every: Every year. A North Dakota contractor license runs for the contractor year, March 2 through March 1, and must be renewed on or before March 1 of each year
Who must be licensed: Anyone acting as a contractor in North Dakota when the cost, value or price per job exceeds $4,000. This includes subcontractors, general contractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors. The law's exceptions include government representatives and suppliers of products they don't attach to real property
License classes: Class A: no limit on the value of a single contract project. Class B: up to $500,000. Class C: up to $300,000. Class D: up to $100,000
Renewal fee: $90 for Class A, $60 for Class B, $45 for Class C and $30 for Class D
New license fee: $450 for Class A, $300 for Class B, $225 for Class C and $100 for Class D. Renewing under a different class from your current license means paying the fee for issuing a license in the new class
What you file: A list of each project, contract or subcontract over $50,000 you completed in North Dakota during the preceding calendar year and the nature of the work on each, a certificate of liability insurance naming the Secretary of State as certificate holder (unless a current one is already on file), and a certification that payroll taxes (including North Dakota income tax), Workforce Safety and Insurance premiums and unemployment insurance premiums due at the time of renewal are paid
How to renew: Online, through the Contractor License Renewal in the Secretary of State's FirstStop Portal
Late renewal: Miss the March 1 deadline and your license is not in good standing: you're treated as unlicensed. The Secretary of State notifies you by mail within 60 days after March 1, and you have until June 1 to renew by paying a $50 penalty fee plus the renewal fee. A license not renewed by June 1 expires
First license: A new license runs until the end of the current contractor year, March 1, except that one issued in January or February is valid until March 1 of the following year
Insurance and business registration: If you let your liability insurance lapse, or let your business registration (such as a trade name, corporation or LLC) lapse, the Secretary of State classifies your license as not in good standing, no sooner than 20 days after sending you written notice. You must then stop soliciting or entering new contract projects. If you don't fix it within 30 days of the notice that your license is not in good standing, or you solicit or enter new contract projects while it isn't, the Secretary of State starts proceedings to revoke the license
Name changes: Notify the Secretary of State within 10 days of a change in your name, with a $10 fee. Corporations, LLCs, limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships registered with the Secretary of State aren't covered by this rule
Building permits and public bids: Give your license number when you apply for a building permit. Bids on public contract projects covered by the law must include a copy of your license or current-year certificate, and you must hold the license at least 10 days before bids are due (bids to the Department of Transportation are among the exceptions)
Working unlicensed: A class A misdemeanor, and the Secretary of State can also assess a civil penalty, which must be paid before you're issued a license

The contractor license doesn't replace trade licenses: the Secretary of State says you may also need a license from the North Dakota State Electrical Board or the State Plumbing Board. See the North Dakota electrician guide.

Your liability insurance and business registration count all year, not only at renewal: letting either lapse can put your license out of good standing.

How to renew

Check your certificate of liability insurance is current and names the North Dakota Secretary of State as certificate holder.
List each North Dakota project, contract or subcontract over $50,000 you completed in the past calendar year, with the nature of the work on each.
Make sure your payroll taxes, Workforce Safety and Insurance premiums and unemployment insurance premiums are paid.
Complete the Contractor License Renewal in the FirstStop Portal and pay your class's renewal fee on or before March 1.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

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Deadline checklist

JanuaryGather your list of North Dakota projects over $50,000 you completed last year (with the nature of the work on each) and an up-to-date certificate of liability insurance.
By March 1Renew in the FirstStop Portal and pay your class's renewal fee ($90, $60, $45 or $30).
If you missed itYou're treated as unlicensed until you renew. Renew by June 1 with the $50 penalty fee plus the renewal fee, or the license expires.
All yearKeep your liability insurance and business registration current, and report a name change within 10 days (registered corporations, LLCs, limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships are exempt).

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your North Dakota State Electrical Board or State Plumbing Board license, if you hold one
Your business registration with the Secretary of State (such as a trade name, corporation or LLC), if you have one
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When does a North Dakota contractor license expire?

The license runs for the contractor year, March 2 through March 1, and must be renewed on or before March 1 of each year. Miss it and you're treated as unlicensed; a license not renewed by June 1 expires.

How much does it cost to renew a North Dakota contractor license?

$90 for Class A, $60 for Class B, $45 for Class C and $30 for Class D. A late renewal, made by June 1, adds a $50 penalty fee.

What happens if I miss the March 1 deadline?

Your license is not in good standing and you're treated as unlicensed. The Secretary of State notifies you by mail within 60 days after March 1, and you have until June 1 to renew by paying a $50 penalty fee plus the renewal fee. A license not renewed by June 1 expires.

Who needs a contractor license in North Dakota?

Anyone acting as a contractor in North Dakota when the cost, value or price per job exceeds $4,000, including subcontractors, general contractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors. The law's exceptions include government representatives and suppliers of products they don't attach to real property.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractors

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other North Dakota guides

All North Dakota guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

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How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

North Dakota Contractor License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 6 min read

At a glance

Renews every: Every year. A North Dakota contractor license runs for the contractor year, March 2 through March 1, and must be renewed on or before March 1 of each year
Who must be licensed: Anyone acting as a contractor in North Dakota when the cost, value or price per job exceeds $4,000. This includes subcontractors, general contractors, public contractors and nonresident contractors. The law's exceptions include government representatives and suppliers of products they don't attach to real property
License classes: Class A: no limit on the value of a single contract project. Class B: up to $500,000. Class C: up to $300,000. Class D: up to $100,000
Renewal fee: $90 for Class A, $60 for Class B, $45 for Class C and $30 for Class D
New license fee: $450 for Class A, $300 for Class B, $225 for Class C and $100 for Class D. Renewing under a different class from your current license means paying the fee for issuing a license in the new class
What you file: A list of each project, contract or subcontract over $50,000 you completed in North Dakota during the preceding calendar year and the nature of the work on each, a certificate of liability insurance naming the Secretary of State as certificate holder (unless a current one is already on file), and a certification that payroll taxes (including North Dakota income tax), Workforce Safety and Insurance premiums and unemployment insurance premiums due at the time of renewal are paid
How to renew: Online, through the Contractor License Renewal in the Secretary of State's FirstStop Portal
Late renewal: Miss the March 1 deadline and your license is not in good standing: you're treated as unlicensed. The Secretary of State notifies you by mail within 60 days after March 1, and you have until June 1 to renew by paying a $50 penalty fee plus the renewal fee. A license not renewed by June 1 expires
First license: A new license runs until the end of the current contractor year, March 1, except that one issued in January or February is valid until March 1 of the following year
Insurance and business registration: If you let your liability insurance lapse, or let your business registration (such as a trade name, corporation or LLC) lapse, the Secretary of State classifies your license as not in good standing, no sooner than 20 days after sending you written notice. You must then stop soliciting or entering new contract projects. If you don't fix it within 30 days of the notice that your license is not in good standing, or you solicit or enter new contract projects while it isn't, the Secretary of State starts proceedings to revoke the license
Name changes: Notify the Secretary of State within 10 days of a change in your name, with a $10 fee. Corporations, LLCs, limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships registered with the Secretary of State aren't covered by this rule
Building permits and public bids: Give your license number when you apply for a building permit. Bids on public contract projects covered by the law must include a copy of your license or current-year certificate, and you must hold the license at least 10 days before bids are due (bids to the Department of Transportation are among the exceptions)
Working unlicensed: A class A misdemeanor, and the Secretary of State can also assess a civil penalty, which must be paid before you're issued a license

Your liability insurance and business registration count all year, not only at renewal: letting either lapse can put your license out of good standing.

How to renew

Check your certificate of liability insurance is current and names the North Dakota Secretary of State as certificate holder.
List each North Dakota project, contract or subcontract over $50,000 you completed in the past calendar year, with the nature of the work on each.
Make sure your payroll taxes, Workforce Safety and Insurance premiums and unemployment insurance premiums are paid.
Complete the Contractor License Renewal in the FirstStop Portal and pay your class's renewal fee on or before March 1.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

JanuaryGather your list of North Dakota projects over $50,000 you completed last year (with the nature of the work on each) and an up-to-date certificate of liability insurance.
By March 1Renew in the FirstStop Portal and pay your class's renewal fee ($90, $60, $45 or $30).
If you missed itYou're treated as unlicensed until you renew. Renew by June 1 with the $50 penalty fee plus the renewal fee, or the license expires.
All yearKeep your liability insurance and business registration current, and report a name change within 10 days (registered corporations, LLCs, limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships are exempt).

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your North Dakota State Electrical Board or State Plumbing Board license, if you hold one
Your business registration with the Secretary of State (such as a trade name, corporation or LLC), if you have one
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When does a North Dakota contractor license expire?

How much does it cost to renew a North Dakota contractor license?

$90 for Class A, $60 for Class B, $45 for Class C and $30 for Class D. A late renewal, made by June 1, adds a $50 penalty fee.

What happens if I miss the March 1 deadline?

Who needs a contractor license in North Dakota?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractors

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other North Dakota guides

All North Dakota guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet