Fargo and West Fargo Business License: No General License, $250 Excavator, $1,000 Hauler, West Fargo Short-Term Rental License From July 1, 2026

Searching for a fargo nd business license? You won't find one that covers every company. Neither Fargo nor West Fargo issues a general business license, and North Dakota doesn't issue one statewide. Licensing in both cities works by activity or trade, so the real question is which licenses your specific work triggers. This guide walks through the steps, the fees we can verify, and the mistakes that slow new businesses down.

Informational notice: This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Some fees and rules below are marked for you to confirm with the agency named. For a complicated structure, multiple activities, or a tax question, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.

Start with the North Dakota basics

North Dakota has no general statewide business license. Registering an LLC, a corporation, or a trade name with the Secretary of State is a filing, not a license. State licensing is also by activity:

• The Secretary of State licenses contractors, home inspectors, lobbyists, athlete agents, professional employer organizations, professional fundraisers, and combative sports.
• The Attorney General licenses alcoholic beverages, amusement games, tobacco retailers, and transient merchants.
• Other agencies and state boards license by occupation, such as electricians, plumbers, and cosmetologists.

Counties don't license businesses, and cities license specific activities only. That's why the Fargo and West Fargo rules below are short lists rather than a single application.

Materials and information to gather first

• A business name you've checked in the Secretary of State business search
• Your entity type and its formation document: Articles of Organization for an LLC ($135 through FirstStop), or Articles of Incorporation for a corporation ($100)
• A North Dakota registered agent with a physical address in the state, and that person's approval before you name them
• A payment method accepted by FirstStop and the city or state offices you'll use
• The address where you'll work, store equipment, or host guests, since city rules depend on location
• For construction work: the value of your largest planned job and the contractor class you'd need
• For a short-term rental: proof of liability insurance of at least $500,000, two off-street parking spaces, and a system for keeping guest records
• For bonded trades: the bond amounts, which are $100,000 for an excavator, $25,000 for a sidewalk builder, and $5,000 for a pawn broker or secondhand dealer

Step-by-step: getting licensed in Fargo or West Fargo

1. List every activity you'll perform. Fargo's licenses attach to activities such as excavating, roofing, plumbing, heating, and hauling, not to the business as a whole. A landscaper who also excavates may need the excavator license, and a company doing heating work may need a master or journeyman heating license. Confirm the full list on the City of Fargo licensing page or with the Fargo Auditor at 701-241-1304.
2. Check and reserve your name. Your name must be distinguishable from every other registered entity, reserved name, and registered trade name. An LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC,” and it can't include “corporation,” “incorporated,” or similar wording. A name reservation costs $10 and holds the name for 12 months, renewable in 12-month periods.
3. File your formation document. File through FirstStop. An LLC files Articles of Organization under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 10-32.1 for $135. A corporation files Articles of Incorporation under Chapter 10-19.1 for $100. The Secretary of State publishes no guaranteed turnaround, so call Business Services at (701) 328-2900 for current timing.
4. Appoint a registered agent. Corporations, LLCs, and all partnerships except general partnerships must maintain a North Dakota registered agent. A business can't serve as its own agent. The agent must be a North Dakota resident, or a registered corporation or LLC with a North Dakota business office. Get the agent's approval first, because failing to do so may result in involuntary dissolution.
5. Register a trade name if you'll operate under a different name. A trade name is any name a sole proprietor or other business uses that isn't its legal name. Registration costs $25, amendments cost $25, and renewals cost $25. Registration must be renewed every 5 years, and it gives you the exclusive right to that name within North Dakota only.
6. Get any state activity license. If you'll perform construction jobs where the cost, value, or price exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work needs a North Dakota contractor license from the Secretary of State. Classes run from $100 for Class D (jobs up to $100,000) to $450 for Class A (jobs over $500,000). Contractor licenses renew annually by March 1.
7. Apply for the city licenses for your activity. Use the Fargo or West Fargo sections below. In Fargo, roofers, plumbers, heating contractors, and sidewalk builders need city licenses on top of any state license.
8. Get your sales and use tax permit. Any business making taxable sales must hold a permit from the Office of State Tax Commissioner, applied for through ND TAP. Apply about 30 days before you open.
9. Set up employer obligations before you hire. Workers' compensation in North Dakota is a state monopoly administered by WorkForce Safety & Insurance (WSI). Confirm your coverage with WSI before your first employee starts work.
10. Calendar your annual reports. A business LLC files its $50 annual report by November 15 each year. Farming or ranching LLCs file by April 15 instead. A $50 late fee applies after the due date. A domestic corporation files its $25 annual report by August 1.

Fargo: the activity license list

Fargo doesn't require a license for every type of commerce. The table below covers the licenses with set fees as listed on the city's licensing page. Confirm each figure before you apply, because the city's page is the authority.

License	Issued through	Fee	Bond or notes
Excavator	City of Fargo	$250 a year	$100,000 bond
Sidewalk builder	City of Fargo	$125 a year	$25,000 bond
House mover, re-roofing, sign hanger, master heating, master plumber	City of Fargo	$125 each a year	None listed
Journeyman heating	City of Fargo	$100 per 3 years	None listed
Commercial hauler	Fargo Auditor, 701-241-1304	$1,000 a year	None listed
Pawn broker and secondhand dealer	Fargo Auditor	$250, plus a $250 first-time investigation fee	$5,000 bond
Transportation vehicles	Fargo Auditor	$100 (3 vehicles)	None listed
Mobile home community	Fargo Auditor	$5 per lot	None listed
Forestry	Fargo Auditor	$50	None listed

A few Fargo points affect most new businesses:

• Sales tax: The combined rate is 7.75%, made up of the 5% state rate, the city's 2.25%, and Cass County's 0.5%. These rates took effect October 1, 2026.
• Lodging tax: The city lodging tax is 3% and is administered locally. Voters approved a second 3% on November 5, 2024, for a convention center, but it's collected only after certain project steps. Ask the City of Fargo which rate applies to you now.
• Food businesses: Contact Fargo Cass Public Health at 701-241-1360. Don't assume a license from another jurisdiction carries over, especially for mobile food.
• Renaissance Zone: Fargo has a Renaissance Zone. Ask whether your project or location qualifies before you sign a lease.
• Door-to-door, home occupation, and short-term rentals: No current rule for these is confirmed for Fargo. Check with the Fargo Auditor at 701-241-1304 and the city's Planning office.

West Fargo: short-term rentals starting July 1, 2026

West Fargo has no general license chapter in its code. If you sell door to door, you need a permit from the City Auditor, plus the North Dakota transient merchant license from the Attorney General. For short-term rentals, the city's Chapter 10-16 took effect July 1, 2026. Its requirements include:

• An annual license that runs July 1 to June 30
• A $150 application fee, prorated by month, plus a $65 inspection fee
• Liability insurance of at least $500,000
• A North Dakota sales tax permit
• A safety inspection
• Two off-street parking spaces
• No exterior signage
• Guest records kept for 12 months

West Fargo's combined sales tax rate is 8.0%, made up of the state's 5%, the city's 2.5%, and Cass County's 0.5%. The city lodging tax is 3%.

Tips and common mistakes

• Don't search for a general Fargo license. Ask which activity-specific licenses apply to your work, then apply for those.
• Don't name a registered agent without approval. Get the agent's consent before filing, or you risk involuntary dissolution.
• Don't assume a state license covers a city license. Fargo roofers, plumbers, heating contractors, and sidewalk builders need both.
• Don't bid a construction job over $4,000 without a contractor license. The license is required once the job's cost, value, or price exceeds that amount.
• Don't open before your sales tax permit clears. Apply through ND TAP about 30 days ahead.
• Don't take short-term rental bookings in West Fargo before your license and inspection are complete.
• Don't miss the November 15 LLC annual report. A late fee applies, and the reinstatement fee is higher if the entity is terminated.
• Don't rely on memory for fees. City fees change, so verify each one with the agency before you pay.

What to expect when you're done

If you complete these steps, you should end up with a filed entity, a name on record, any state activity license your work requires, and the city licenses for each activity. The timing isn't guaranteed. The Secretary of State publishes no turnaround estimate, so plan extra time and call (701) 328-2900 for current timing. The steps that tend to take longest are usually city inspections, bonding, and waiting on the sales tax permit, so start those early. Your results may vary with your activity, location, and entity type.

Official resources

• North Dakota Secretary of State
• North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner
• North Dakota Small Business Development Centers, hosted by the University of North Dakota
• SBA North Dakota district office