North Dakota: up to $4,000 a job without a contractor license

The limit in North Dakota

The limit: Up to $4,000 per job. In short: Up to $4,000 per job without a state contractor license; over $4,000 per job needs one.

What counts: "when the cost, value, or price per job exceeds the sum of four thousand dollars" The state's words do not say whether materials count toward the limit.

Conditions: Plumbing needs a State Plumbing Board license (in places with public water or sewer) regardless of job size; Electrical work needs a State Electrical Board license regardless of job size.

Per job, measured by cost, value, or price of the job. An unlicensed contractor over the limit also cannot sue to collect.

Licenses in North Dakota

General contractors: State license. Secretary of State contractor license (classes by maximum job value: D up to $100,000, C up to $300,000, B up to $500,000, A over $500,000) required when a job exceeds $4,000; applies to residential and commercial.

Plumbing: State license. State Plumbing Board licenses master/journeyman plumbers; required in any location with a public waterworks or sewerage system; homeowner on own residence exempt.

Electrical: State license. State Electrical Board license required to install, alter or repair wiring for electric light, heat or power.

HVAC: no statewide license found. No state page says in words that North Dakota has no state HVAC license; cities such as Minot license mechanical work.

Your license number in North Dakota

Your license number: North Dakota's own pages show no state rule that puts it on paperwork.

North Dakota's board, and when this was checked

The board: North Dakota Secretary of State (contractor licensing). As of November 6, 2026.

This is a summary of each state's own pages as of November 6, 2026, not legal advice. Rules change, and cities and counties add licenses of their own. Check with your state's board, linked on this page, before you rely on it.

Compare North Dakota with every state's limit.

Next door to North Dakota

• Minnesota: up to $15,000 a year (with a certificate)
• Montana: under $2,500 per job (minor work only); the board disagrees
• South Dakota: no statewide license found

Official sources for North Dakota

6 of North Dakota's own pages, each quoted with its link:

• N.D. Cent. Code ch. 43-07 Contractors, § 43-07-02 License required (N.D. Cent. Code § 43-07-02): “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 ... without first having a license”
• ND Secretary of State: Contractors: “When the cost, value, or price of a job exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota”
• N.D. Cent. Code § 43-07-24 Duty to supply license number when applying for building permit (N.D. Cent. Code § 43-07-24): “When applying for a building permit, a contractor shall supply the permit issuing official that contractor's license number. That official shall enter those numbers on the permit.”
• N.D. Cent. Code § 43-18-11 License required (N.D. Cent. Code § 43-18-11): “No person, firm, corporation, or limited liability company shall engage in the business of a master plumber, journeyman plumber, or plumber's apprentice in any location of this state having a public system of waterworks or sewerage unless registered and licensed to do so by the board.”
• N.D. Cent. Code § 43-09-09 License required (N.D. Cent. Code § 43-09-09): “A person may not undertake or plan to undertake with another person to plan, lay out, supervise, install, make additions, make alterations, or make repairs, in the installation of wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electric light, heat, or power or for a power limited system, unless licensed by the board.”
• City of Minot Building Safety: Licensing: “Mechanical Contractors should possess a reciprocal license from their city or schedule a test with the City of Minot to obtain one. ... **State Board Master License Required”

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