How to Check a Contractor's License in North Dakota (and What the Class Means)

Who this is for: homeowners holding an estimate who want to verify the contractor before they sign.

Short answer

North Dakota requires a state contractor license for any job that costs more than $4,000, and you can check one for free on the Secretary of State's FirstStop contractor search. Look for four things: Active status, Good Standing, a license class that covers the size of your project, and a liability insurance date that won't expire mid-job. The rules come from the Secretary of State's contractor licensing page and North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-07. This is general guidance, not legal advice.

Our license: check it yourself

We'd rather you check us than take our word for it. Hugo Home Improvement (legal name Hugo Home Improvement LLC) is a licensed general contractor in Bismarck and Mandan, and this is what our FirstStop record showed when we looked it up in October 2026:

• Name: Hugo Home Improvement LLC
• Trade name: Hugo Home Improvement (registered with the Secretary of State on January 21, 2026)
• License: No. 000050538, Class D (single projects up to $100,000)
• Status: Active, Good Standing
• Renewal date: March 1, 2027
• WSI standing: Good

Searching our name may also bring up an older record that is not active. Our current license is the Class D record above, No. 000050538. For questions about current documents, including insurance information, contact our office before you sign.

Step by step: using the FirstStop contractor search

The search is public and free, and you don't need an account.

1. Open the search. Go to firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/contractor.
2. Type the business's legal name exactly as it appears on your estimate. The default "Contains" option finds partial matches; "Starts with" narrows the list. When we tested it in October 2026, a license number on its own returned no results, while the business name and the SOS Control ID number did.
3. Decide on "Active contractors only." Checking that box hides old records. Leaving it unchecked shows a company's license history, which is worth a look.
4. Read the results list. Each row shows the business name with its class and license number, the SOS Control ID, the status, the standing and the filing date.
5. Open the record. The detail view lists the class, license number, status, renewal date, mailing address, business phone, standing lines for business, WSI and Job Service, and the expiration date of the liability insurance certificate on file.
6. Match it to your paperwork. The name, address and phone should match your estimate, and the class should cover your contract price.

Licenses must be renewed on or before March 1 each year, so a renewal date in the past is a reason to ask questions. If you can't find a contractor, call the Secretary of State's office at (701) 328-2900.

What the license class means for your project

The class sets the largest single project a contractor may legally take on. Under NDCC 43-07-07, a holder of each class is limited as follows:

North Dakota contractor license classes

Class	Largest single contract project
Class A	No limit
Class B	Up to $500,000
Class C	Up to $300,000
Class D	Up to $100,000

If your contract is bigger than the contractor's class allows, an active license isn't enough for that job. The class says nothing about skill or specialty, though. It's about project size, so you still need to check insurance, references and the written scope.

Insurance and workers' comp

Every licensed contractor must file a certificate of liability insurance in the same name as the license. Contractors with North Dakota employees must also provide a current certificate of payment from Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI), the state's sole workers' compensation provider. Those requirements are on the Secretary of State's licensing page.

On FirstStop, look at two lines: the WSI standing and the insurance certificate expiration date. Then ask the contractor for a copy of the certificate and check that the name matches your contract. The North Dakota Attorney General's contractor guide warns that without the contractor's liability insurance, you may be liable for injuries to workers or others on your property.

City-level checks: permits name the contractor

Permits are a second place to confirm who's doing the work. The City of Bismarck's basement finish permit application, for example, asks for the "Contractor & Contractor Number." Ask your contractor which permits your job needs and to share the permit once it's issued. The city's building FAQ notes that work done without permits can affect a home's insurability and sale. Questions: Bismarck Building Inspections, (701) 355-1465; Mandan Building Inspection, (701) 667-3230.

What if the contractor isn't licensed?

Don't sign until the license checks out. Under NDCC 43-07-02, acting as a contractor without a required license is a class A misdemeanor.

The Secretary of State accepts complaints about abandoned contracts, diverted funds, fraud, false statements on a license application, work done without a required trade license, and failure to refund an advance payment. It does not investigate workmanship or quality disputes. Complaints go on form SFN 16999. For suspected scams, the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division is at (701) 328-3404. For questions about your specific contract, talk to an attorney.

Frequently asked questions

Do contractors need a license in North Dakota?

Yes, when the cost, value or price of a job exceeds $4,000. The rule covers general contractors and subcontractors, and the license comes from the North Dakota Secretary of State. Electrical and plumbing work also need separate licenses from the State Electrical Board and the State Plumbing Board.

What is a licensed general contractor?

A company that manages a whole construction project and holds an active state contractor license. In North Dakota, that means a license from the Secretary of State in a class that covers the project's value, backed by a liability insurance certificate and, for companies with employees, WSI workers' compensation coverage.

What do license classes A, B, C and D mean?

They cap the value of a single contract project: Class A has no limit, Class B allows up to $500,000, Class C up to $300,000 and Class D up to $100,000. A contractor whose class is lower than your project's value isn't licensed for that job, even if the license is active.

What insurance should a contractor have in North Dakota?

At minimum, liability insurance in the same name as the license and, if the company has North Dakota employees, current workers' compensation coverage through WSI. FirstStop shows the insurance certificate's expiration date and WSI standing. Ask for a copy of the certificate before work starts.

Does a license mean a contractor does good work?

No. A license shows the company is registered, insured and allowed to take projects of a certain size. It doesn't measure quality. Pair the license check with local references, real project photos, a written scope and a written warranty.

The license is one step out of seven. Before you sign, go through the full 7-step hiring checklist. When you're ready, check our license and request a free written estimate. Call or text Viktor at (701) 329-9659 with your town, photos and what you want to change. Our office follows up during business hours.