STATE LICENSE
RequiredNorth Dakota State Plumbing Board
Under N.D.C.C. §§ 43-18-10 and 43-18-11, no one may engage in the business of plumbing in any location with a public system of waterworks or sewerage unless licensed by the State Plumbing Board, and a firm installing plumbing there must have a registered master plumber in charge at all times — though in cities under 1,000 people and rural areas a licensed journeyman may run the business. Homeowners may do code-compliant plumbing in the home they own and occupy unless a local ordinance forbids it.
A journeyman applicant needs a four-year apprenticeship (7,600 hours) under a master; a master applicant must be 21 with two years (3,400 hours) as a licensed journeyman. Board rule sets a $50 application fee, a $50 exam fee, and $100 journeyman / $200 master license fees. Licenses expire December 31 every year, and renewal requires 2 to 4 continuing-education credit hours per two-year period.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
State licenses are valid statewide except in cities whose ordinances require a municipal plumbing license or registration in addition (N.D.C.C. § 43-18-16). Political subdivisions may inspect plumbing within their limits; otherwise the board inspects public buildings and new dwelling units (§ 43-18-17.3). Local permit officials report willful code violations and incompetence to the board (§ 43-18-22).
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.
State plumbing licensing applies in any location with a public system of waterworks or sewerage.
An unlicensed owner may do code-compliant plumbing in the residence they own and occupy, unless a local ordinance forbids it.
A state license works statewide except in cities whose ordinances require a municipal plumbing license or registration too (§ 43-18-16).
A practical sequence for a new plumbing 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.
Working as a plumber without a license, running a plumbing business without a master in charge, or violating the state plumbing code.
Plumbing inspectors may seek injunctions, and anyone injured by a violation may sue for damages.
Advertising as a plumbing contractor without the required license, or without the license number.
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: Exact continuing-education hours the board currently requires within the statutory 2-to-4-hour range · Whether H.B. 1541 (2025), which proposed moving sewer, septic, and private water system authority from the Plumbing Board to the Department of Environmental Quality, was enacted · Current water conditioning and sewer and water license fees (chapters 62-02-02 and 62-02-03 not reviewed in full) · Whether gas piping and gas appliance work fall under the Plumbing Board or are left to local codes
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.