Landscaping Business Permit Requirements in Fargo, ND

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner — Sales and Use Tax Permit

   Required for any business selling taxable goods or services in North Dakota. The state sales tax rate is 5% for most retail sales, and cities and counties may levy additional local sales and use taxes that vary by location — check the Tax Commissioner’s local tax rate listings for your address. Apply for the permit in ND TAP, the state’s Taxpayer Access Point.

   Official government source

   Free·Apply through ND TAP at least 30 days before you open for business, as the Tax Commissioner advises.

   Free

   Apply through ND TAP at least 30 days before you open for business, as the Tax Commissioner advises.

2. North Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification

   If you apply pesticides or herbicides as part of landscaping services in North Dakota you must be certified as a commercial applicator. Certification and training are administered by the NDSU Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program, with licensing and registration handled by the ND Department of Agriculture Pesticide and Fertilizer Division. Under NDCC 4.1-33-10 a commercial applicator must also maintain $100,000 in financial responsibility through a bond, insurance, or net assets — an obligation that is easy to miss and applies before you may operate.

   Official government source

   Fees are set by the board rather than fixed in statute; confirm the current exam and license amounts with NDSU Extension or the ND Department of Agriculture (701-328-1500). Budget separately for the $100,000 financial responsibility requirement.·2–4 weeks

   Fees are set by the board rather than fixed in statute; confirm the current exam and license amounts with NDSU Extension or the ND Department of Agriculture (701-328-1500). Budget separately for the $100,000 financial responsibility requirement.

   2–4 weeks

1. City of Fargo Occupational License (only for listed trades)

   Fargo does not require a general business license. The city states: "The City does not require business licenses for every type of commerce; however, the Fargo Municipal Code does require a City license for the businesses listed below." The licensed categories are specific trades and regulated businesses — excavator, sidewalk builder, house mover, re-roofing, sign hanger, master plumber, master and journeyman heating contractor, commercial hauler, pawn broker, second hand dealer, transportation vehicles, alcohol sellers, mobile home communities and forestry. Check the Auditor's Office list before assuming a license applies to you.

   Official government source

   No general business license fee. Listed categories have set annual fees — for example excavator $250/year (with a $100,000 bond), master plumber $125/year, master heating contractor $125/year, sign hanger $125/year, forestry $50/year.·1–3 weeks, and only if your business type is on the city's licensed list

   No general business license fee. Listed categories have set annual fees — for example excavator $250/year (with a $100,000 bond), master plumber $125/year, master heating contractor $125/year, sign hanger $125/year, forestry $50/year.

   1–3 weeks, and only if your business type is on the city's licensed list

2. Landscaping in Fargo — No City Contractor Registration

   Fargo does not register landscaping or irrigation contractors. The city licenses a fixed list of occupations through the Auditor’s licensing office — excavator, sidewalk builder, house mover, re-roofing, sign hanger, heating and plumbing contractor, hauler, and similar — and landscaping is not among them, nor does Cass County license landscapers inside the city. What does apply: a landscaper whose job value exceeds $4,000 needs a North Dakota Contractor’s License from the Secretary of State, and irrigation work tied into the water supply needs a Fargo plumbing permit and a licensed plumber.

   Official government source

   No city landscaping registration fee. A Fargo lawn sprinkler system plumbing permit is $40; the state Contractor’s License for jobs over $4,000 runs $100-$450 depending on class.·No city registration to wait on; pull the sprinkler or plumbing permit before that portion of the work starts.

   No city landscaping registration fee. A Fargo lawn sprinkler system plumbing permit is $40; the state Contractor’s License for jobs over $4,000 runs $100-$450 depending on class.

   No city registration to wait on; pull the sprinkler or plumbing permit before that portion of the work starts.

Official Sources

• City of Fargo Finance Department
• North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner — Sales Tax Permit

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