Bismarck Business License: No General License, Home Occupation Rules (Minor vs Major), Door-to-Door and Alcohol Permits
Bismarck Business License: No General License, Home Occupation Rules (Minor vs Major), Door-to-Door and Alcohol Permits
If you searched for a bismarck nd business license, the short answer is that the city does not issue one. The City of Bismarck states that it does not presently have a general business license, and North Dakota has no general statewide business license either. Registering your company with the Secretary of State is a filing, not a license. The permit you need depends on what you do. A home office, door-to-door sales, alcohol, construction work and food service each trigger a different approval from a different office.
This guide covers how to identify the approvals that apply to your business in Bismarck, what they cost, and who to call. It is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current fees and requirements with the agency named before you spend money, and consult a qualified attorney or CPA if your structure or situation is complex.
Materials and Information You Need Before You Start
- Your legal business name and entity type (sole proprietorship, LLC or corporation)
- A written description of your activities, including whether you sell goods, provide services, visit customers, serve food or sell alcohol
- Your home address and zoning district, if you plan to work from home
- A list of employees, including any who will work outside your home
- A list of vehicles and trailers the business will use, and whether any vehicle requires a commercial driver's license
- A list of door-to-door salespeople, with a copy of government ID for each
- Access to the Secretary of State's FirstStop portal at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/
- A budget that covers the fees in the steps below
Step 1: Confirm Whether Your Activity Needs a Permit
Start with the activity, not the filing. North Dakota licenses by trade. The Secretary of State licenses contractors, home inspectors, lobbyists, athlete agents, professional employer organizations, professional fundraisers and combative sports. The Attorney General licenses retail alcohol with local approval, tobacco retailers, transient merchants and amusement games. Health and Human Services licenses food establishments, and state boards license electricians, plumbers and cosmetologists.
Bismarck issues its own permits for building, food service, gaming, liquor, excavation and concrete work, taxi, door-to-door sales and signs. If your work is construction and a single job costs more than $4,000, you need a North Dakota contractor license. A Class D license, for jobs up to $100,000, costs $100. A Class A license, for jobs over $500,000, costs $450. Contractor licenses renew annually by March 1.
Step 2: Register Your Entity or Trade Name
Registration is a filing, and it is separate from any permit. Use the fee schedule below and file through FirstStop.
| Filing | Fee | Timing or notes |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Articles of Organization | $135 | Filed through FirstStop |
| Corporation Articles of Incorporation | $100 | Filed through FirstStop |
| Name reservation | $10 | Lasts 12 months, renewable in 12 month periods |
| Trade name registration | $25 | Renew every 5 years at $25 |
| LLC annual report | $50 | Due November 15 each year (April 15 for farming or ranching LLCs) |
| Corporation annual report | $25 | Due August 1 each year |
If you operate under a name other than your legal name, you need a trade name registration. A trade name is any name a sole proprietor or other business uses that is not its own legal name. Registration is with the Secretary of State, not the county, and it gives you exclusive use of that name within North Dakota only. Details are at https://sos.nd.gov/business/business-services/trade-name-franchise-name/north-dakota-trade-name-faqs.
LLC names must include "limited liability company," "LLC" or "L.L.C." They cannot include "corporation" or "incorporated" or their abbreviations, and they must be distinguishable from every registered name in the Secretary of State's records. Corporations and LLCs must also name a North Dakota registered agent with an in-state physical address. Your business cannot serve as its own agent, and you must get the agent's approval before you name them.
North Dakota has no franchise tax, and an LLC pays no separate privilege tax. The Secretary of State publishes no guaranteed processing time and no expedited option. Call Business Services at (701) 328-2900 for current timing.
Step 3: Determine Your Home Occupation Tier
Bismarck regulates home-based businesses under zoning section 14-10-07(10), and the Planning guide was revised September 9, 2026. The tier you fall into controls how many employees you can have, how much storage you can keep and how many vehicles you can run. Confirm your tier with Planning before you buy equipment or sign a lease.
| Feature | Minor | Major |
|---|---|---|
| Outside employees | Up to 1 | Up to 3 |
| Outdoor storage | Not allowed | Screened storage up to 5% of the lot, maximum 10,000 square feet, not in the front yard |
| Sign | One sign up to 3 square feet | No lighted signs; confirm sign size with Planning |
| Noise | Confirm with Planning | 55 dB(A) during the day, 50 dB(A) at night |
| Customers and events | One party (or 4 students) at a time, up to 4 larger events a year | Confirm limits with Planning |
| Vehicles | Up to 2 vehicles and 2 trailers, no commercial driver's license vehicles | Up to 1 commercial driver's license vehicle |
| Approval | Allowed by right | Special use permit in urban residential zones (45 day review, not guaranteed); allowed by right in rural areas |
Both tiers share several rules. The business may use up to 50% of the floor area of the home plus one accessory building. Customer visits are limited to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The property must keep a residential appearance, and no lighted signs are permitted. State-licensed child care falls under the minor tier. Short-term rentals are not settled in the guidance, so check with Planning at 701-355-1840 before listing a property.
Step 4: Apply for a Door-to-Door Sales Permit
Door-to-door permits are issued by Bismarck Administration and Police at 701-355-1300. The current form was revised April 17, 2026. The city charges a $225 business application fee for new applications and renewals, plus $50 for each individual salesperson. A business with two salespeople would pay $325 in city fees at filing.
Assemble these items before you file:
- A copy of government ID for each salesperson
- A North Dakota sales and use tax permit (see Step 5)
- The state transient merchant license, which the Attorney General issues
- A completed background check for each salesperson
Step 5: Get Your Sales Tax Permit
Any business making taxable sales must hold a sales and use tax permit from the Office of State Tax Commissioner. Apply through ND TAP at https://tap.tax.nd.gov/?Link=Application about 30 days before you open. The state rate is 5%. Bismarck adds a 2.0% city tax and a 1% Burleigh County tax, for a combined rate of 8.0% on general sales. Lodging, food and liquor carry separate local taxes that the state administers, so confirm those rates with the Tax Commissioner at https://www.tax.nd.gov/.
Step 6: Apply for an Alcohol Permit
Retail alcohol is licensed by the state Attorney General with local approval. In Bismarck, the new retail alcohol application costs $200 and requires approval from the Board of City Commissioners. Class license fees follow the city's schedule. Administration and Police handle the application at 701-355-1300. Plan for the Board's approval step, which adds time to your opening date.
Step 7: Handle Signs, Food, Building and Workers' Compensation
- Signs: Apply for a sign permit through Building Inspections. The fee is not in the city summary, so confirm it with the city before you order a sign.
- Food service: Contact Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health at 701-355-3400 before you prepare or sell food.
- Building and other local permits: Gaming, excavation, concrete and taxi permits are issued by the city. Check the city pages for the current forms and fees.
- Employees: Workers' compensation in North Dakota is a state monopoly through WSI, so any business with employees must obtain coverage through WSI.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Searching for a general business license. Bismarck and the state do not issue one. Paying a site that sells one wastes money.
- Assuming a home business is allowed. Pick the wrong tier and you risk a code complaint. Get written confirmation from Planning.
- Counting on major tier approval. In urban residential zones the special use permit has a 45 day review and is not guaranteed.
- Skipping the registered agent approval. Naming someone who has not agreed to serve can lead to involuntary dissolution.
- Using a trade name you have not registered. A trade name must be registered with the Secretary of State.
- Missing the LLC annual report. Reports are due November 15. A $50 late fee applies after the due date, and a $135 reinstatement fee applies if the LLC has been terminated.
- Starting door-to-door sales early. Sending salespeople out before each one has a background check, ID copy and permit puts the whole operation at risk.
- Waiting on the sales tax permit. Apply about 30 days before opening so the permit is in hand when you need it.
What Results to Expect
After you complete these steps, you should have a registered entity, a confirmed home occupation tier, and the permits that match your activities. Timelines may vary. The Secretary of State does not publish a turnaround, and a special use permit may take about 45 days for review, with no guarantee of approval. Where possible, start the zoning check, entity filing and sales tax application at the same time rather than in sequence. The earlier you confirm the rules, the less likely you are to redo paperwork or delay opening.
Contacts and Official Resources
| Office | Contact | Handles |
|---|---|---|
| Bismarck Administration and Police | 701-355-1300 | Alcohol, door-to-door, gaming, taxi company |
| Bismarck Planning | 701-355-1840 | Home occupations, short-term rentals |
| Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health | 701-355-3400 | Food service |
| North Dakota Secretary of State Business Services | (701) 328-2900 | Entity filings, trade names, contractor licensing questions |
| North Dakota Secretary of State | https://www.sos.nd.gov/ | Entity and name records, business search at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/business |
| Office of State Tax Commissioner | https://www.tax.nd.gov/ | Sales tax, income tax and rates |
| North Dakota Small Business Development Centers | https://und.edu/ndsbdc/index.html | Free business advising |
Disclaimer: This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Fees, deadlines and rules change. Verify every figure with the agency named before you file, and consult a qualified attorney or CPA for decisions about entity structure, taxes or zoning disputes.