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North Dakota · 16 statewide requirements covered

Business licences and permits in North Dakota

North Dakota's sales tax permit costs nothing and never expires — no renewal cycle at all. Its food establishment fees were rebuilt effective January 1, 2026, and its general contractor licence is tiered by project size, from $100 up to $450.

What applies everywhere in North Dakota

16 requirements are set by North Dakota itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by North Dakota that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Articles of IncorporationNorth Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services Division$100 one-time filing, domesticOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Articles of Organization (LLC)North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services Division$135 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Auto Repair Shop Licence (not required by North Dakota)North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Barbershop LicenceNorth Dakota Board of Barber Examiners$50 a year; opening a new shop adds a one-time $100 inspection feeTo every business2026-09-04
Child Care LicenceNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services$20–$95 a year, by facility size — family child care $20, group child care $25, preschool $30, a licensed center $40, a multiple licensed program $50 — or nearly double for a two-year licenceTo every business2026-09-04
Corporation Annual ReportNorth Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services Division$25 a year; late fees escalate to $45 within 90 days and $85 afterOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Cosmetology Establishment LicenceNorth Dakota State Board of Cosmetology$100–$150 up to $150 for the original licence and up to $100 a year to renew — statutory maximums the board may chargeTo every business2026-09-04
Electrician LicenceNorth Dakota State Electrical BoardFee not confirmed against a primary source — North Dakota law sets no statutory cap and leaves the amount entirely to the State Electrical Board, whose own site did not publish a current fee table when checked.Only in some cases2026-09-04
Food Establishment LicenceNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Lodging Division$130 plus 50 cents per seat for a restaurant, capped at $310; a limited restaurant is a flat $130; a mobile food unit is $130; a temporary stand is $50 per event, capped at $250 a year.To every business2026-09-04
Food Handler or Manager Certification (not required statewide by North Dakota)North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Lodging DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
General Business Licence (not required by North Dakota)North Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
General Contractor LicenceNorth Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services Division$100–$450 initial, by class — Class D (jobs up to $100,000) $100, Class C (up to $300,000) $225, Class B (up to $500,000) $300, Class A (over $500,000) $450; renewal runs $30 to $90To every business2026-09-04
LLC Annual ReportNorth Dakota Secretary of State, Business Services Division$50 a year; a late filing adds a further $50Only in some cases2026-09-04
Plumbing LicenceNorth Dakota State Board of Plumbing$100–$200 capped by statute at $100 for a journeyman and $200 for a master plumber; the board's currently posted journeyman figures run a $50 exam plus a $50 application and $100 licence feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Sales Tax PermitNorth Dakota Office of State Tax CommissionerNo feeTo every business2026-09-04
Veterinary Facility Permit (not required by North Dakota)North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical ExaminersNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04

Which North Dakota city are you opening in?

We do not yet publish a North Dakota city. The statewide requirements above are verified as far as they go, but a city or county adds its own — a local business tax receipt, a food permit, a building sign-off — and we will not guess at those. The jurisdictions we do cover are listed in full.

Is there a single North Dakota business licence?

No. North Dakota has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in North Dakota?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.