South Dakota contractor license lookup
South Dakota contractors must hold a free contractor's excise tax license from the Department of Revenue. It is a tax license, not a skills license; ask your city or county about local rules. (source: SD DOR: Contractor's Excise Tax (opens in a new tab), source: SD DOR: License Requirements (PDF) (opens in a new tab))
How: We couldn't confirm a public search. Ask for the contractor's excise tax license number, which appears on prime contractor exemption certificates. (source: SD DOR: Contractor's Excise Tax (opens in a new tab))
Checked against official South Dakota Department of Revenue sources. See sources.
1. Who needs a license
Anyone contracting for construction services, or building, installing or repairing fixtures to real property, needs a contractor's excise tax license, whatever their receipts. (source: SD DOR: Contractor's Excise Tax (opens in a new tab), source: SD DOR: License Requirements (PDF) (opens in a new tab))
2. License types and classes
| Class | Name | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| CET | Contractor's excise tax license | Tax license, not a competency license (source: SD DOR: Contractor's Excise Tax (opens in a new tab)) |
3. Required insurance and bonds
We're still verifying this, check the official board: SD DOR website (opens in a new tab).
4. How to look up a contractor
How: We couldn't confirm a public search. Ask for the contractor's excise tax license number, which appears on prime contractor exemption certificates. (source: SD DOR: Contractor's Excise Tax (opens in a new tab))
5. Red flags when hiring
- No South Dakota contractor's excise tax license number. (source: SD DOR: Contractor's Excise Tax (opens in a new tab))
6. Consumer protections and complaints
We're still verifying this, check the official board: SD DOR website (opens in a new tab).
7. Sources and last verified
Last verified: . Next check due: . Every fact on this page links to one of these official pages. How we verify.
- SD DOR: Contractor's Excise Tax (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- SD DOR: License Requirements (PDF) (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- SDCL 10-46A-13.1: Violation of chapter as criminal offense (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- SDCL 22-6-2: Misdemeanor classes and penalties (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
Spot something out of date? Email [email protected].
Common questions
What if a contractor works without one?
Engaging in business without a contractor's excise tax license is a Class 1 misdemeanor: up to $2,000 and/or one year in jail. (source: SDCL 10-46A-13.1: Violation of chapter as criminal offense (opens in a new tab), source: SDCL 22-6-2: Misdemeanor classes and penalties (opens in a new tab))