Roofing license
Roofing license requirements in North Dakota
Yes, above a dollar threshold — North Dakota requires a state contractor license for any job, including roofing, valued over $4,000. There's no roofing-specific trade license; roofers apply for the same general contractor license as any other builder.
The short answer
Yes, above a dollar threshold — North Dakota requires a state contractor license for any job, including roofing, valued over $4,000. There's no roofing-specific trade license; roofers apply for the same general contractor license as any other builder.
Do you need a license to roof in North Dakota?
General contractor license (Class A–D, sized to the largest contract value you'll take on) issued by the Secretary of State — there is no separate roofing trade license.
Who issues it: North Dakota Secretary of State — Business Licensing & Registration.
Last verified: 2026-07-19
North Dakota roofing license at a glance
Every figure here is a plain-English starting point read from the official state board — always confirm the current requirements at the source before you rely on them.
License type / class
General contractor license (Class A–D, sized to the largest contract value you'll take on) issued by the Secretary of State — there is no separate roofing trade license.
Issuing board
North Dakota Secretary of State — Business Licensing & Registration — sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors
Exam required
No
Experience / qualification
No formal exam or minimum-years requirement — applicants sign a statement of their own experience and qualifications as part of the license application.
Bond
No statewide surety bond is required for the Secretary of State contractor license itself, though some individual cities (for example, Grand Forks or Jamestown) require their own local bond on top of the state license.
Insurance minimum
A certificate of liability insurance in the applicant's own name, naming the North Dakota Secretary of State as certificate holder; a current Workforce Safety & Insurance (workers' comp) certificate is also required if you have North Dakota employees.
Application fee
$100 to $450 depending on class: Class D (jobs up to $100,000) is $100, Class C (up to $300,000) is $225, Class B (up to $500,000) is $300, and Class A (over $500,000) is $450.
Renewal
Annually, on or before March 1, for a renewal fee of $30–$90 depending on class (Class D $30, C $45, B $60, A $90), along with an updated liability insurance certificate and confirmation that payroll taxes, Workforce Safety & Insurance premiums, and unemployment insurance are current.
Reciprocity
None — North Dakota does not offer contractor license reciprocity with other states. Out-of-state roofing contractors must obtain a North Dakota contractor license the same as an in-state business before taking a job over the $4,000 threshold.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License type / class | General contractor license (Class A–D, sized to the largest contract value you'll take on) issued by the Secretary of State — there is no separate roofing trade license. |
| Issuing board | North Dakota Secretary of State — Business Licensing & Registration — sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors |
| Exam required | No |
| Experience / qualification | No formal exam or minimum-years requirement — applicants sign a statement of their own experience and qualifications as part of the license application. |
| Bond | No statewide surety bond is required for the Secretary of State contractor license itself, though some individual cities (for example, Grand Forks or Jamestown) require their own local bond on top of the state license. |
| Insurance minimum | A certificate of liability insurance in the applicant's own name, naming the North Dakota Secretary of State as certificate holder; a current Workforce Safety & Insurance (workers' comp) certificate is also required if you have North Dakota employees. |
| Application fee | $100 to $450 depending on class: Class D (jobs up to $100,000) is $100, Class C (up to $300,000) is $225, Class B (up to $500,000) is $300, and Class A (over $500,000) is $450. |
| Renewal | Annually, on or before March 1, for a renewal fee of $30–$90 depending on class (Class D $30, C $45, B $60, A $90), along with an updated liability insurance certificate and confirmation that payroll taxes, Workforce Safety & Insurance premiums, and unemployment insurance are current. |
| Reciprocity | None — North Dakota does not offer contractor license reciprocity with other states. Out-of-state roofing contractors must obtain a North Dakota contractor license the same as an in-state business before taking a job over the $4,000 threshold. |
How to get a roofing license in North Dakota
- Estimate your typical job size to pick a license class (A–D) — most roofing jobs will fall under Class C or D unless you're bidding large commercial work.
- Get a certificate of liability insurance naming the North Dakota Secretary of State as certificate holder.
- If you have North Dakota employees, get a current Workforce Safety & Insurance (workers' comp) certificate.
- Apply for your contractor license through the Secretary of State's FirstStop portal and pay the class fee.
- Renew every year by March 1, with an updated insurance certificate and the class renewal fee.
Working without a license in North Dakota
Acting as a contractor without a required license is a class A misdemeanor, and the Secretary of State's registrar can also assess a civil penalty of up to three times the license fee before issuing a license.
Last verified: 2026-07-19
Roofing license rules change and often vary by city and county. This page is a plain-English starting point, not legal advice — always confirm the current requirements with the state board linked below before you rely on them.
Verify at the source: sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors
More official sources: North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-07 (Contractors) · Contractor License Application (FirstStop portal)
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