Updated
Does North Dakota require a septic license?
Yes. North Dakota requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the North Dakota DEQ and local public health units. North Dakota began licensing septic installers statewide under 2025 legislation (SB 2267); local public health units administer the program.
Who licenses septic contractors in North Dakota?
North Dakota DEQ and local public health units.
North Dakota's septic credentials:
- Annual septic installer license
How to check a septic contractor's license in North Dakota
- Open the North Dakota DEQ and local public health units lookup.
- Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number.
- Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active.
- If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
Septic permits in North Dakota
A contractor license says who may do septic work; a permit authorizes a specific system. In North Dakota, permits for new systems, replacements and most repairs come from the local health department or the state agency office that covers the property. Ask your installer to pull the permit and include the fee in the quote.
Licensed septic companies in North Dakota
The Septic Guide lists 393 septic companies and licensed professionals in North Dakota, 393 matched to the state's published list. Source list: ND annual active licensed installer list and local health unit lists. This is what we could match as of October 2026, not an official count.
- Williams County (47)
- Ward County (36)
- Morton County (27)
- Burleigh County (26)
- Cass County (26)
- McKenzie County (21)
- Stark County (19)
- McLean County (16)
All septic companies in North Dakota →
North Dakota septic licensing: common questions
Do you need a license to install septic systems in North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota requires septic installers to hold a state credential issued by the North Dakota DEQ and local public health units. North Dakota began licensing septic installers statewide under 2025 legislation (SB 2267); local public health units administer the program.
Who issues septic licenses in North Dakota?
The North Dakota DEQ and local public health units issues North Dakota's septic credentials: Annual septic installer license.
How do I check a septic contractor's license in North Dakota?
Open the North Dakota DEQ and local public health units lookup. Search by the contractor's name, the license holder's name or the license number. Check the license type covers your job (installation, pumping or inspection) and that the status is active. If the contractor's business name doesn't come up, ask which person on staff holds the license: several states license individuals, not companies.
How many licensed septic contractors are in North Dakota?
The Septic Guide lists 393 septic companies and licensed septic professionals in North Dakota, 393 of them matched to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality / local health districts list (data as of October 2026). This counts what we could match; it is not an official total.
Do you need a permit for a septic system in North Dakota?
New septic systems, replacements and most repairs need a permit before work starts. The permit comes from the local health department or the state agency office that covers your property, and the permit, not the contractor license, is what authorizes a specific job.
Sources: North Dakota DEQ and local public health units; state license lists loaded into The Septic Guide. See how we verify licenses.