Which North Dakota Cities License What: No General Business License in Fargo, Bismarck or Minot, Only Activity Permits

If you are searching for north dakota city business license requirements, the short answer is this: North Dakota has no general statewide business license, and the three largest cities in the state, Fargo, Bismarck and Minot, do not issue one either. What they do issue are permits and licenses tied to specific activities, such as door-to-door sales, pawn shops, commercial hauling or excavation work. This guide walks you through how to find out which license, if any, your business needs.

Disclaimer: This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Ordinances change, and fees vary by city. Confirm current requirements with the city and the state agency involved, and consult a qualified attorney or CPA for complex situations.

Materials You Need Before You Start

• A written description of everything your business will do, including whether you will sell door-to-door, from a vehicle, at events or from a fixed location.
• The city and physical address of each location where you will operate.
• Your proposed business name. Check whether it is available in the Secretary of State business search.
• A FirstStop account if you plan to file with the Secretary of State at firststop.sos.nd.gov.
• A list of any employees. If you have employees, plan for workers' compensation through WSI, which is the state monopoly for this coverage.
• The phone number for Secretary of State Business Services, (701) 328-2900, for timing questions the agency does not publish online.

Step 1: File Your Entity or Trade Name, If Needed

Forming an entity is a filing, not a license. Registering an LLC or corporation does not give you permission to operate an activity, and it does not replace any license your activity requires. Filing is done through FirstStop.

• LLC Articles of Organization: $135 filing fee under North Dakota Century Code Chapter 10-32.1.
• Corporation Articles of Incorporation: $100 filing fee under Chapter 10-19.1.
• Name reservation: $10, good for 12 months and renewable in successive 12 month periods.

The Secretary of State publishes no guaranteed turnaround time and no expedited filing option. Do not plan your opening date around a specific processing time until the office confirms it by phone.

Step 2: Check the State Activity Licenses

North Dakota licenses specific activities through several agencies. Find your activity on this list before you check your city, because the state license applies everywhere in the state.

• Secretary of State: contractors, home inspectors, lobbyists, athlete agents, professional employer organizations, professional fundraisers and combative sports.
• Attorney General: retail alcohol (which also requires local approval), tobacco retailers, amusement games and transient merchants. The state transient merchant license is $200 under NDCC 51-04-03 and requires a bond.
• Department of Health and Human Services: food establishments.
• State boards: occupations such as electricians, plumbers and cosmetologists. Confirm current fees with the specific board.

The contractor rule catches many new businesses. When the cost, value or price of a construction job exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work must hold a North Dakota contractor license. Class D licenses (jobs up to $100,000) cost $100, and Class A licenses (jobs over $500,000) cost $450. Contractor licenses renew annually by March 1.

Step 3: Apply for a Sales and Use 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 tap.tax.nd.gov about 30 days before you open. The state sales tax rate is 5 percent, and city and county taxes are added on top. Check the Tax Commissioner's site at tax.nd.gov for current rates.

Step 4: Check Your City for Activity Licenses

Cities license narrow activities, and they set their own fees. Home-rule cities set fees under NDCC 40-05.1-06, subsection 6, so the same activity can cost different amounts in different places. Common city-licensed activities include door-to-door and transient sales, pawn and secondhand dealers, taxis, tobacco sales (on top of the state retailer license), alcohol (city approval comes first), excavators, sign hangers, some trades, haulers and mobile home parks.

City	General business license?	Sample activity fees
Fargo	No. The city “does not require business licenses for every type of commerce.”	Excavator $250, sidewalk builder $125, pawn broker $250, commercial hauler $1,000 (2026)
Bismarck	No. The city “does not presently have a general business license, however certain occupations may require a license or permit.”	Confirm with the city
Minot	No. The city “does not require business licenses” and lists specific permits.	Confirm with the city
Williston	Activity licenses only	Mobile food $500, door-to-door $35 a day, tobacco $100 per location (2026)
Grand Forks	Activity licenses only	Door-to-door $500 a year or $75 a day (2026)
Jamestown	Activity licenses only	Transient merchant $75 a day or $500 a year (city form is undated)
Mandan	Activity licenses only	Pawn, tobacco, tree trimmer and sign contractor $75 each (2023 schedule)

Other cities, including West Fargo and Wahpeton, list activity licenses rather than a general one. For any city not shown here, check with the city clerk or the city's own website before you assume the answer. A city can add its own requirements on top of the state transient merchant license.

Step 5: Understand the County and Trade Name Rules

North Dakota has 53 counties, and counties do not license businesses. If you operate under a name other than your legal name, you may 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. Register it with the Secretary of State, not a county or city. The fees are $25 to register, $25 to amend and $25 to renew. Registration must be renewed every 5 years, and it gives you the exclusive right to that name within North Dakota only. Details are in the trade name FAQ.

Step 6: Calendar Your Recurring Filings

Set reminders for these deadlines so they do not catch you off guard:

• LLC annual report: $50, due November 15 each year for business LLCs and PLLCs. Farming or ranching LLCs and authorized livestock farm LLCs file by April 15 instead.
• Corporation annual report: $25, due August 1 each year for domestic corporations. Foreign corporations with a North Dakota certificate of authority file by May 15.

Late LLC annual reports carry a $50 late fee under NDCC 10-32.1-92. Once an LLC has been terminated, reinstatement costs $135.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not assume every city requires a license. Fargo, Bismarck and Minot do not issue a general license, and many other cities do not license your business at all unless your activity falls on their list.
• Do not confuse filing with licensing. An LLC filing or trade name registration does not authorize a regulated activity.
• Do not look for a county license. Counties do not license businesses.
• Do not start taxable sales early. Apply for your sales tax permit about 30 days before opening.
• Do not use a name without checking it. An LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC,” and it may not include “corporation,” “incorporated” or similar terms. It must also be distinguishable from existing names in Secretary of State records.
• Do not skip the registered agent. Corporations, LLCs and most partnerships need a North Dakota registered agent with a physical address in the state. A business cannot serve as its own agent, and you must get the agent's approval before naming them.
• Do not rely on old fee schedules. The Jamestown and Mandan figures above come from an undated city form and a 2023 schedule, so confirm them directly with the city.

Expected Results

Following these steps should help you learn which state filings, state activity licenses, city permits and tax registrations may apply to your business. Many businesses in North Dakota will find they need a state entity filing and a sales tax permit, but no city license at all. Businesses in regulated areas, such as construction, food service, alcohol or tobacco, will likely have a longer checklist. Your city, your activity and the timing of your opening will all affect the outcome, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee of approval.

Where to Get Help

The North Dakota Secretary of State is the place to confirm entity filings and trade name rules. The SBA North Dakota district page lists local resources, and the North Dakota Small Business Development Centers, hosted by the University of North Dakota, can help you review your activity list. For complex or regulated businesses, consult a qualified attorney or CPA before you file.