How to Start a Plumbing Business in North Dakota: Licenses, Costs & Insurance

North Dakota licenses plumbers statewide through the State Plumbing Board, with apprentice, journeyman and master levels. Where there’s public water or sewer, a plumbing business must have a licensed master plumber in charge of the work. Jobs over $4,000 also need a contractor license from the Secretary of State.

This guide is for plumbers moving into ownership and for owners setting up a plumbing company in North Dakota. Forming a business, or holding a worker’s license, doesn’t by itself give the company the right to contract for plumbing work.

Reviewed October 1, 2026. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission. Paid providers are optional and don’t issue plumbing licenses.

Get your plumber license and a Secretary of State contractor license

• Apprentice: at least 18, serving four years with at least 1,900 hours a year (7,600 hours total) under a master or journeyman (N.D. Admin. Code 62-02-01).
• Journeyman plumber: four years of experience as an apprentice under a licensed master plumber, then the exam (passing grade 70%). Plumbers who worked in areas without state licensing have a five-year route.
• Master plumber: at least 21, with two years (3,400 hours) as a licensed journeyman in North Dakota or another state with a state licensing law. Then the exam (passing grade 80%).
• Business rule: in any location with public waterworks or sewerage, a business installing plumbing must have a registered, licensed master plumber in charge of the work at all times. In cities under 1,000 people and rural areas, a licensed journeyman may run a plumbing business (State Plumbing Board).

Contractor license: when a job’s cost, value or price exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor with the Secretary of State (ND SOS contractors).

Secretary of State contractor license fees by class: Class A (over $500,000 per job) $450; Class B (up to $500,000) $300; Class C (up to $300,000) $225; Class D (up to $100,000) $100. Plumbing Board exam and license fees are separate. Check the Board’s current amounts.

Write down the services your license will cover and who is responsible for supervising the work. Ask separately about specialty work such as medical gas, backflow testing, gas piping, septic systems or well work. Don’t assume every job involving pipe falls under the same license. Plan what happens if the person whose license the company relies on leaves.

Set up the business in the same name you will license

Choose the ownership structure before you finish license applications, insurance and banking. An LLC is an option, not a substitute for plumbing licensing. Our North Dakota LLC guide explains filing choices and costs so you can compare filing yourself with optional help.

Use the same legal name, and any registered trade name, on license records, estimates, insurance certificates and payment accounts. Decide who can sign contracts, approve supplier purchases and use the bank account. If there are several owners, put licensing and money responsibilities in your ownership agreement.

Use the North Dakota business requirements checklist for general setup, such as state tax accounts and registrations. Ask your city or county about local business licenses, zoning and storage rules for your office or shop, even if it’s in your home.

Open a separate business bank account and keep job-by-job records before you take deposits. Get an EIN when you need one through the IRS’s free EIN application. Track materials, labor, permit fees and customer payments separately, so unpaid invoices don’t look like cash in the bank.

Arrange plumbing liability coverage and workers’ compensation

For coverage choices, licensing limits and quote preparation, see our North Dakota plumbing insurance guide.

A Secretary of State contractor license application needs a certificate of liability insurance in the same name as the license, listing the Secretary of State as certificate holder. We didn’t verify a specific dollar minimum. If you have employees in North Dakota, you also need a certificate of payment from Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI).

WSI is the only workers’ compensation provider in North Dakota, and private insurers can’t write it. With limited exceptions, all employers must insure all employees, including part-time, seasonal and occasional workers, before they start (WSI coverage requirements).

Tell the insurer about drain cleaning, digging, gas piping, commercial work, subcontractors and the tools you keep in your van. Ask about completed work, water-damage claims, exclusions, commercial auto and equipment theft. Make sure coverage is active before you book the work; a quote request isn’t a policy.

Check permits and site access before promising a completion date

Who issues plumbing permits depends on the location. Check with the city or the State Plumbing Board before you start.

• Water heaters and fixture swaps: check whether the actual job needs a permit and inspection instead of assuming replacements are exempt.
• Repiping and remodels: plan inspections before walls are closed, and agree who repairs drywall and finishes.
• Sewer and underground work: call for utility locates before digging, and find out whether street or utility approvals are involved.
• Apartments, condos and managed buildings: agree on access, water shutoff notices, work hours and any paperwork the property manager needs.

Write down existing damage and access limits before you start. Don’t promise a permit waiver or an insurance payout you haven’t confirmed.

Budget for a North Dakota service operation, not just the license

Build the budget around the services you’ll open with: repairs and replacements, drain work, remodels or commercial subcontracting. Price the actual equipment and insurance before committing to a van or taking on debt. You can often rent specialty cameras and drain machines at first if the jobs justify it.

Example launch cash plan—not surveyed North Dakota prices

Category	Example allowance
Setup and first insurance payments	$3,000 placeholder for applications, exams, company setup and first insurance payments; replace it with your actual fees and quotes.
Tools and opening parts	$5,000 to fill gaps in an existing toolkit and stock common repair parts.
Vehicle preparation	$2,000 for a suitable vehicle you already own; doesn’t include buying a van.
Working cash	$8,000 assumed reserve for supplier bills, fuel and overhead until customer payments arrive steadily.
Example total	$18,000, not counting a vehicle purchase, employee payroll, major specialty equipment or household living costs.

Plan weekly cash needs, including a late invoice or a callback you can’t bill. New businesses may not meet a lender’s time-in-business or revenue rules. Compare total repayment, fees, payment schedule and personal guarantees before you borrow; approval isn’t guaranteed.

Price the job, document the scope and collect payment

Set a clear service-call or diagnostic fee. A short repair can still involve driving, picking up parts, paperwork and a return trip, so the wage you want isn’t the same as your billing rate. The national plumbing pricing example shows how the same monthly cost target leads to different rates at different numbers of billable hours.

Before work starts, write down the approved repair, included materials, who pulls the permit, what restoration isn’t included and how payment works. Get approval for extra work you find after opening a wall or scoping a drain. Have North Dakota contract and notice rules reviewed before you adopt standard paperwork.

Sort out sales tax before you copy an invoice template. States treat contractors differently: in some, you pay tax on materials you buy; in others, you charge tax on some jobs. Ask the North Dakota tax agency or your bookkeeper how it applies to your repair, installation and new-construction work. Our North Dakota business setup guide covers state tax registration.

Check your payment system’s fees, payout timing and dispute process. Keep the customer’s approval, before-and-after photos and completion notes with the invoice. For commercial jobs, plan for progress billing and retainage separately from pay-when-done home service calls.

Win local work before adding a second truck

Pick a service area you can cover profitably, and make your services and hours clear. Build referral relationships with property managers, remodelers and other trades. Ask happy customers for honest reviews, and track which inquiries turn into paid jobs, not just which ads make the phone ring.

For managed properties, prepare a short packet with your current license, insurance certificate, contacts and invoicing details. Agree who can approve an emergency repair and what happens if the repair costs more than first approved.

Hire for a specific bottleneck. Check the worker’s license or registration, required supervision, payroll setup and workers’ comp before the first shift. Count training, travel, unbilled hours and extra equipment in the cost of growing.

Our skilled-trade and AI construction research is useful background, but announced projects don’t prove demand for your particular service. Build your first operation around customers you can reach and work you’re licensed and equipped to do.

North Dakota plumbing startup questions

Can a journeyman run a plumbing business in North Dakota?

Only in cities under 1,000 people and rural areas. Elsewhere, a licensed master plumber must be in charge of the work.

When do I need a Secretary of State contractor license?

When a job’s cost, value or price is over $4,000.

Can I buy workers’ comp from a private insurer?

No. In North Dakota, workers’ comp comes only from WSI.

Continue with the national plumbing business guide, the North Dakota business setup hub or the North Dakota LLC filing guide.