Contractors and Repair Shops in North Dakota
Licensing, written contracts, deposits and estimates for home improvement contractors and auto repair shops in North Dakota.
Short answer: A person must have a state contractor license before working as a contractor on any job whose cost, value or price exceeds $4,000; N.D. Cent. Code § 43-07-02; N.D. Attorney General, Hiring a Contractor
| Home improvement contractors | A person must have a state contractor license before working as a contractor on any job whose cost, value or price exceeds $4,000; working without one is a class A misdemeanor, and an unlicensed contractor cannot sue to enforce a claim related to that work. Construction fraud, such as taking payment through deception or willfully abandoning a project, is a crime. The Attorney General advises checking the Secretary of State's licensed contractor list, getting a detailed written contract, and not paying in full until the work is finished; contractors not from the local area also need a Transient Merchant License from the Attorney General. AG guidance: https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/hiring-a-contractor/ |
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Where to get help in North Dakota
More North Dakota consumer protection
- The Lemon Law in North Dakota
- Your Right to Cancel a Purchase in North Dakota
- Filing a Consumer Complaint in North Dakota
- All North Dakota consumer protection rules
FAQ
What are the rules for home improvement contractors in North Dakota?
A person must have a state contractor license before working as a contractor on any job whose cost, value or price exceeds $4,000; working without one is a class A misdemeanor, and an unlicensed contractor cannot sue to enforce a claim related to that work. Construction fraud, such as taking payment through deception or willfully abandoning a project, is a crime. The Attorney General advises checking the Secretary of State's licensed contractor list, getting a detailed written contract, and not paying in full until the work is finished; contractors not from the local area also need a Transient Merchant License from the Attorney General.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.