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How do you check a contractor license in North Dakota?

North Dakota's Secretary of State issues contractor licenses and links to a public search of registered contractors in its FirstStop portal. The office says specialized licenses, such as those from the state's electrical and plumbing boards, are not part of its contractor license, and that licenses are renewed each year by March 1.

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.
Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, page on filing a complaint against a contractor, read 22 October 2026.

The license lookup is yours to run on the state's site.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Sources last read: 22 October 2026

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Key facts

Where do you search for a North Dakota contractor license?

In the Secretary of State's FirstStop portal, reached from the office's page for contractors, listed in the sources below. That page, read 22 October 2026, says: "Search contractors who are registered in North Dakota to see if their license is in good standing."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

The link on that page reads: "Use FirstStop to Search for Registered Contractors"

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

On renewal, the same page says: "If you are a licensed contractor, you must renew your license on or before March 1 of each year."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

The office also keeps the paper record. In chapter 43-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, the registrar "means the secretary of state."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

Section 43-07-13 reads: "The registrar shall maintain in the registrar's office, open to public inspection during office hours, a complete indexed record of all applications, licenses, certificates for the current contractor year, revocations, expirations, and other information maintained on contractors."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

Which North Dakota jobs need a contractor license?

Jobs above a price line set in the Century Code, quoted here. Section 43-07-02 opens: "A person may not engage in the business nor act in the capacity of a contractor within this state when the cost, value, or price per job exceeds the sum of four thousand dollars nor may that person maintain any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state related to the person's business or capacity as a contractor without first having a license as provided in this chapter."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

The office's page for contractors starts from a wide definition: "A contractor is anyone who engages in the business of construction."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

On who is covered, it says: "This includes subcontractors, general contractors, public contractors, and nonresident contractors."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

The same page says: "In addition to a contractor's license, you may need to obtain other licenses or permits as required by law."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

It adds: "These specialized licenses or permits are not part of the contractor license issued by the Secretary of State."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

What do the four North Dakota license classes cover?

Each class has its own ceiling on the value of a single project, set out in section 43-07-07 and quoted below. That section reads: "Four classes of licenses may be issued under this chapter, which must be designated as class A, B, C, and D licenses."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

For class A: "The holder of a class A license is subject to no limitation as to the value of any single contract project."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

For class B: "The holder of a class B license is not entitled to engage in the construction of any single contract project of a value in excess of five hundred thousand dollars."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

For class C: "The holder of a class C license is not entitled to engage in the construction of any single contract project of a value in excess of three hundred thousand dollars."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

For class D: "The holder of a class D license is not entitled to engage in the construction of any single contract project of a value in excess of one hundred thousand dollars."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

Where do complaints about a North Dakota contractor go?

Some go to the Secretary of State; workmanship complaints do not. Its complaints page, read 22 October 2026, says: "The Office of the Secretary of State accepts complaints against contractors in some instances."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, page on filing a complaint against a contractor, read 22 October 2026.

On workmanship, it says: "Complaints related to workmanship and the quality of work performed by a contractor are not filed with our office because we do not have the authority to investigate these complaints."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, page on filing a complaint against a contractor, read 22 October 2026.

One kind it does take is described this way: "Abandonment of Contract – deposit or other consideration is provided to the contractor and the contractor fails to start or complete the work required within the time periods provided below (unless the failure is due to circumstances beyond the control of the contractor):"

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, page on filing a complaint against a contractor, read 22 October 2026.

Another names the trade boards: "No Trade or Professional License – contractor performs work without the trade or professional license that is required to perform such work, such as a license issued by the State Electrical Board or State Plumbing Board."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, page on filing a complaint against a contractor, read 22 October 2026.

On what happens next: "If we determine that the complaint falls under our authority, a copy of the complaint will be forwarded to the contractor for their review and opportunity to provide a written response to the complaint."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, page on filing a complaint against a contractor, read 22 October 2026.

And on timing: "Most contractor complaints filed with our office are resolved within 60 days."

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, page on filing a complaint against a contractor, read 22 October 2026.

For a defect in a home, before a repair or a warranty claim, section 43-07-26 reads: "Before undertaking any repair, other than emergency repair, or instituting any action for breach of warranty in the construction of a one-family or two-family dwelling, or an improvement with a value exceeding two thousand dollars to a dwelling, the purchaser or owner shall give the contractor written notice by mail, within six months after knowledge of the defect, advising the contractor of any defect and giving the contractor a reasonable time to comply with this section."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

What should you ask a North Dakota contractor before you search?

Get the exact business name, the license number and the license class, then search FirstStop yourself before you sign; a search is an optional public-record step. These are practical suggestions, not the Secretary of State's rules.

Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

  1. Ask for the exact business name, as it will appear on the contract.
  2. Ask for the license number. For a building permit, see section 43-07-24, quoted below.

    Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

  3. Ask which class the contractor holds, and set its ceiling, quoted above, beside the value of your project.

    Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

  4. Search the name in FirstStop and read the status shown.

    Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

  5. For electrical or plumbing work, ask for that trade license as well; the Secretary of State says specialized licenses are not part of its contractor license.

    Source: North Dakota Secretary of State, contractors page with the FirstStop contractor search link, read 22 October 2026.

  6. Note the day you searched and what the search showed, and keep it with your contract.

Section 43-07-24 reads: "When applying for a building permit, a contractor shall supply the permit issuing official that contractor's license number."

Source: North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Century Code chapter 43-07 on contractors, read 22 October 2026.

Who sees your contact details when you post a job on InstaBids?

One point about InstaBids follows. Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.

Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 22 October 2026.

Post your job on InstaBids, and contractors can bid in writing on one written scope.

Homeowners anywhere in the US can post a job; once you send it, InstaBids finds contractors to bid on it.

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