Roofing license
Roofing license requirements in South Dakota
No — South Dakota does not license roofing contractors at the state level. Every contractor doing construction work in the state, including roofers, must instead hold a Contractor's Excise Tax License from the Department of Revenue, and many cities layer on their own local contractor licensing (Sioux Falls, for example, has its own Residential Roofing & Repair Contractor License).
The short answer
No — South Dakota does not license roofing contractors at the state level. Every contractor doing construction work in the state, including roofers, must instead hold a Contractor's Excise Tax License from the Department of Revenue, and many cities layer on their own local contractor licensing (Sioux Falls, for example, has its own Residential Roofing & Repair Contractor License).
Do you need a license to roof in South Dakota?
No state roofing or general-contractor trade license exists. All contractors must register for a Contractor's Excise Tax License (a tax registration, not a skills-tested license) with the SD Department of Revenue. Local licensing — such as city building-permit contractor licenses — is separate, varies by municipality, and isn't tracked at the state level.
Who issues it: South Dakota Department of Revenue (administers the Contractor's Excise Tax License); no state board licenses roofing trade competency..
Last verified: 2026-07-19
South 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
No state roofing or general-contractor trade license exists. All contractors must register for a Contractor's Excise Tax License (a tax registration, not a skills-tested license) with the SD Department of Revenue. Local licensing — such as city building-permit contractor licenses — is separate, varies by municipality, and isn't tracked at the state level.
Issuing board
South Dakota Department of Revenue (administers the Contractor's Excise Tax License); no state board licenses roofing trade competency. — dor.sd.gov/businesses/taxes/contractors-excise-tax
Exam required
No
Experience / qualification
None required at the state level — the excise tax license is a tax registration, not a skills-tested credential. Local jurisdictions that license roofers (Sioux Falls, for example) may require passing a trade exam instead of proving years of experience.
Bond
No state bond requirement. Some cities that separately license roofing contractors require their own compliance bond — check with the city where you'll work.
Insurance minimum
No state insurance minimum applies to the excise tax license. Cities that license roofers locally typically set their own liability insurance minimums — confirm with the city before bidding work there.
Application fee
No fee is published for the Contractor's Excise Tax License itself; local contractor licenses, where required, charge their own separate fees.
Renewal
The Contractor's Excise Tax License itself doesn't run on a fixed renewal cycle, but licensed contractors must file excise tax returns (2% of gross receipts) monthly — returns due the 20th of each month (electronic payments due the 25th). Local licenses typically renew annually — check your city.
Reciprocity
Not applicable at the state level, since South Dakota doesn't license the roofing trade; out-of-state contractors doing SD construction work still need the excise tax license. Any local reciprocity is set city by city.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License type / class | No state roofing or general-contractor trade license exists. All contractors must register for a Contractor's Excise Tax License (a tax registration, not a skills-tested license) with the SD Department of Revenue. Local licensing — such as city building-permit contractor licenses — is separate, varies by municipality, and isn't tracked at the state level. |
| Issuing board | South Dakota Department of Revenue (administers the Contractor's Excise Tax License); no state board licenses roofing trade competency. — dor.sd.gov/businesses/taxes/contractors-excise-tax |
| Exam required | No |
| Experience / qualification | None required at the state level — the excise tax license is a tax registration, not a skills-tested credential. Local jurisdictions that license roofers (Sioux Falls, for example) may require passing a trade exam instead of proving years of experience. |
| Bond | No state bond requirement. Some cities that separately license roofing contractors require their own compliance bond — check with the city where you'll work. |
| Insurance minimum | No state insurance minimum applies to the excise tax license. Cities that license roofers locally typically set their own liability insurance minimums — confirm with the city before bidding work there. |
| Application fee | No fee is published for the Contractor's Excise Tax License itself; local contractor licenses, where required, charge their own separate fees. |
| Renewal | The Contractor's Excise Tax License itself doesn't run on a fixed renewal cycle, but licensed contractors must file excise tax returns (2% of gross receipts) monthly — returns due the 20th of each month (electronic payments due the 25th). Local licenses typically renew annually — check your city. |
| Reciprocity | Not applicable at the state level, since South Dakota doesn't license the roofing trade; out-of-state contractors doing SD construction work still need the excise tax license. Any local reciprocity is set city by city. |
How to get a roofing license in South Dakota
- Apply for a South Dakota Contractor's Excise Tax License with the Department of Revenue before starting work (no state trade exam or bond required for this).
- Register to collect and remit the 2% contractor's excise tax on your South Dakota construction gross receipts, filing by the 20th of each month.
- Check whether the city or county where you'll work requires its own roofing/contractor license — Sioux Falls, for example, requires a separate Residential Roofing & Repair Contractor License with its own exam, bond, and insurance.
- Get general liability insurance (and any bond) at the levels your local jurisdiction requires, even though the state itself sets no minimum.
- Renew any local license on that city's schedule (commonly annual) and keep filing excise tax returns for as long as you do SD construction work.
Working without a license in South Dakota
Doing construction work in South Dakota without a Contractor's Excise Tax License is a misdemeanor; continuing to operate without one after written notice from the Department of Revenue becomes a felony (SDCL 10-46A-13.1). Working without a required local license can bring separate city penalties.
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: dor.sd.gov/businesses/taxes/contractors-excise-tax
More official sources: SD Dept. of Revenue — Contractor's Excise Tax Guide (PDF) · Sioux Falls — Residential Roofing & Repair Contractor License
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