The short version: North Dakota licenses general contractors through the Secretary of State, and a license is required for any job over $4,000. Licenses come in four classes by project value (A through D). Verify at sos.nd.gov or the FirstStop portal. Electricians and plumbers are licensed by separate boards. Your protection is the Consumer Fraud Act, which can triple your damages when a contractor knowingly cheats you.
North Dakota requires a Secretary of State license over $4,000
North Dakota does something unusual: it licenses general contractors through the Secretary of State, not a labor or licensing department. A license is required for any construction work where the cost, value, or price of the job exceeds $4,000, counting labor and materials.1 The license requires proof of liability insurance.
For a senior bathroom remodel, ramp, or flooring job, you are over the $4,000 line and need a licensed contractor.
| What you want done | Who licenses it in North Dakota |
|---|---|
| General construction over $4,000 | Secretary of State |
| Electrical, plumbing, water well | Separate state boards |
This is the North Dakota-specific companion to our national state contractor license lookup guide. For the full pre-hire workflow, see How to Find a Senior-Friendly Contractor.
The four license classes
North Dakota issues four contractor classes, based on the maximum project value the contractor can take.1
| Class | Maximum project value |
|---|---|
| Class A | over $500,000 |
| Class B | up to $500,000 |
| Class C | up to $300,000 |
| Class D | up to $100,000 |
Most senior remodels fall well within any class, but when you run the lookup, confirm the class covers your project. A contractor cannot legally take a job larger than their class allows.
How to verify: sos.nd.gov
To verify: use the Secretary of State FirstStop portal at firststop.sos.nd.gov, or sos.nd.gov.1 Search by name or license number.
Check the license is active, the class covers your project, the name matches your contract, and there is no disciplinary history. Electricians and plumbers are licensed by their own state boards, so verify those separately.
Your protection: the Consumer Fraud Act
North Dakota’s consumer protection lives in the Consumer Fraud Act, formally the Unlawful Sales or Advertising Practices law (NDCC 51-15), enforced by the Attorney General.2 It bans deceptive and unconscionable practices, including home repair fraud.
What it gives you: a homeowner can sue, and if the court finds the contractor knowingly violated the law, it may award triple damages plus costs and attorney fees.3 That multiplier is real leverage against a contractor who takes a deposit and disappears.
Get scope, materials, total price, and dates in writing before any deposit, and pay by check or card, never cash.
North Dakota senior scam patterns
- Post-hailstorm roofers North Dakota is very hail-prone. After big storms, out-of-state crews work neighborhoods door to door and disappear with deposits.
- Transient crews Workers chasing oil-boom activity can add to the pool of here-today-gone-tomorrow contractors.
- Insurance-claim steering Crews that push you to sign over your claim. Keep control of your own money.
- Your defenses the Secretary of State license search, the Consumer Fraud Act with its triple damages, and the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.2
If something goes wrong
- Contractor fraud: file with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at attorneygeneral.nd.gov.
- Licensing issues: contact the Secretary of State; for electrical or plumbing, the relevant board.
- Elder financial abuse: contact local law enforcement and Adult Protective Services.
- Verify at sos.nd.gov or the FirstStop portal (Secretary of State)
- A license is required for any job over $4,000
- Confirm the class (A, B, C, or D) covers your project value
- Verify electrical and plumbing licenses through their separate boards
- Get scope, price, and dates in writing before any deposit
- Consumer Fraud Act allows triple damages for a knowing violation
- Hailstorm roofers active; never door-to-door and never sign over your insurance claim
Related coverage
- State Contractor License Lookup: All 50 States — national hub
- South Dakota Contractor License Lookup (No License)
- Montana Contractor License Lookup (Registration)
- Minnesota Contractor License Lookup (DLI)
- Nebraska Contractor License Lookup (Registration)
- Wisconsin Contractor License Lookup (DSPS)
- Iowa Contractor License Lookup (Registration)
- How to Find a Licensed Electrician for Senior Homes
- How to Find a Senior-Friendly Contractor — master pillar
Citations
- Contractors (License Search, FirstStop). North Dakota Secretary of State, retrieved July 12, 2026. sos.nd.gov contractors.
- Consumer Protection Division and Resources. North Dakota Attorney General, retrieved July 12, 2026. attorneygeneral.nd.gov consumer.
- Consumer Fraud Act, Treble Damages (NDCC 51-15). North Dakota Century Code, retrieved July 12, 2026. NDCC 51-15.
- Home Improvement Scams Targeting Older Adults. AARP Fraud Watch Network, June 2024. aarp.org/fraud-watch.