STATE LICENSE
RequiredNorth Dakota Department of Agriculture (A…
A commercial applicator — anyone who applies pesticides by contract or for hire — may not purchase, use, or supervise the use of a pesticide without certification (N.D.C.C. § 4.1-33-07). The North Dakota State University Extension Service administers the exams and issues certificates limited to the categories passed; the pesticide control board sets the classifications, which by statute may include pest control operators. NDSU's fee schedule lists $100 for one commercial category and $25 for each additional.
No commercial certificate issues without proof of $100,000 in financial responsibility — a general liability policy, a performance bond, or attested net assets — and the Agriculture Commissioner must immediately suspend a certificate when that coverage lapses. Certificates are renewable every three years on April 1 by approved seminar or exam. S.B. 2086 (2025) updated the chapter's certification standards.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Pesticide certification and enforcement are statewide under N.D.C.C. ch. 4.1-33; all governmental agencies and public utilities are subject to it too (§ 4.1-33-05). Local governments add only general business requirements.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every North Dakota county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
NDSU Extension administers exams and issues certificates; the Agriculture Commissioner enforces and can suspend, revoke, or fine.
The commissioner must immediately suspend a commercial certificate when $100,000 financial responsibility is not maintained.
S.B. 2086 (2025) amended chapter 4.1-33, including its pesticide certification standards.
A practical sequence for a new pest control contractor in North Dakota. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Knowingly violating the chapter — including applying for hire without certification — by anyone other than a private applicator.
After a hearing the commissioner may deny, suspend, revoke, or modify any certification for violations of the chapter or rules.
If an applicator cannot prove financial responsibility on request, the commissioner may stop the application until proof is furnished.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Burleigh County Bismarck | City of Bismarck Community Development — Building Inspections Division ↗ Unincorporated: Burleigh County Building/Planning/Zoning Department ↗ | eTRAKiT ↗ |
| Cass County Fargo | City of Fargo Inspections Department ↗ Unincorporated: Cass County Planning Office ↗ | Fargo License and Permit Portal ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Current name and number of the structural/household pest control category under board rule (NDSU materials reference 'Home, Industrial, and Institutional Pest Control'; the rule was not read) · Whether the NDSU $100 fee covers both core and category exams — a county Extension page lists a $75 core exam plus $25 per category · Whether pest control businesses also need the Secretary of State contractor license (pest control is not obviously 'construction' under § 43-07-01) · Exact provisions of S.B. 2086 (2025) as enacted
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.