Real Estate Agent Permits & Licenses in Minot, ND

CE can be completed through approved providers listed on the Commission’s website.

Required for foreign LLCs; domestic LLCs file Articles of Organization ($135). Renewal via biennial report.

Applies to all LLCs formed or qualified in ND.

Real estate agents must work under a licensed broker; LLC cannot hold license directly. Prerequisites: 75-hour pre-licensing course, pass exam (national + state), background check, errors & omissions insurance. Effective rules as of 2023.

Required for LLC operating as real estate brokerage. Must designate a qualifying broker (active ND broker license held 24+ months). Branch office addendum $50. Trust account and E&O insurance required.

Required if using assumed/trade name. Search availability first.

Real estate agency services generally exempt, but conditional if selling other items (e.g., signs). No fee, but monthly/quarterly filing if registered.

Other municipalities in ND have similar requirements; check the specific city’s website.

LLC members report income on their personal returns; the LLC itself files no separate corporate tax if taxed as a partnership.

Real estate brokerage services are generally not subject to sales tax in North Dakota. However, if the LLC sells taxable items (e.g., office supplies, digital products), registration may be required. See N.D. Cent. Code § 57-40-02. Most real estate agent services (e.g., commissions) are not taxable as services.

Required for employers who withhold state income tax from employee wages. Applies to all employers in North Dakota with employees. See N.D. Cent. Code § 57-38-03.

All employers with employees in North Dakota must register with Job Service. New employers pay a standard rate (0.10% to 1.00%) based on experience rating. See N.D. Cent. Code § 57-32-03.

All LLCs formed or registered in North Dakota must file an annual report and pay the $50 fee by April 30 each year. This is a requirement of the Secretary of State, not a tax per se, but often referred to as a franchise tax equivalent. See N.D. Cent. Code § 10-32.1-22.

Some cities (e.g., Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks) require a local business license or privilege tax for businesses operating within city limits. Fees and requirements vary. Check with the specific city clerk’s office. No statewide local tax, but local compliance is mandatory where applicable.

Real estate agents classified under professional services; LLC must register with state first

Allowed for real estate agents if no client visits; limited signage; Fargo Municipal Code 10-20-20

Real estate offices permitted in commercial zones (C-1 and above); Cass County Zoning Ordinance Section 503

Real estate signs limited to 6 sq ft on residential property; Fargo Sign Code Chapter 10-16

Required for interior office build-outs over 100 sq ft; Bismarck City Code 19-01

Real estate offices typically low-risk but required for new occupancy; Grand Forks Code 15-04

Required for all commercial properties with monitored alarms

Simple registration form; not a license but required for tax purposes

North Dakota law requires any employer with at least one employee to carry workers’ comp. The LLC owner may elect coverage for themselves.

The Commission requires a minimum of $100,000 per claim and $300,000 aggregate limits for E&O coverage.

The bond serves as a financial guarantee that the licensee will comply with state real‑estate statutes.

Required by the Real Estate Commission to protect client monies held in trust.

Required if the taxpayer expects to owe $1,000 or more in state tax for the year.

Employers must register for UI and file quarterly wage reports.

Proof of coverage must be kept on file at the principal place of business.

Includes contracts, escrow documents, trust account records, and correspondence.

North Dakota requires minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage.

While not required by North Dakota law, many brokers carry general liability to protect against third‑party bodily injury or property damage claims.

Real estate agents do not sell physical products; therefore product liability insurance is not required.

Real estate activities do not involve the sale or service of alcoholic beverages; liquor liability insurance is not required.

All LLCs that have employees, more than one member, or that elect to be taxed as a corporation must obtain an EIN.

Multi‑member LLCs are treated as partnerships by default and must file Form 1065 with Schedule K‑1s to members. Single‑member LLCs are disregarded and report on the owner’s Schedule C.

Even a single employee triggers these obligations.

Real‑estate offices are generally covered; if the LLC has fewer than 10 employees, recordkeeping is not required but the employer must still comply with OSHA safety standards.

Real‑estate offices are places of public accommodation; they must provide accessible facilities and ensure websites are reasonably accessible.

Real‑estate agents must avoid deceptive or misleading statements about property features, pricing, or licensing status.

Even a single employee triggers FLSA obligations.

Most small real‑estate LLCs will not meet the employee threshold, but the requirement is noted for completeness.

Even independent contractors who are treated as employees for tax purposes must be verified.

Real‑estate agents often pay referral fees or marketing contractors; those payments trigger 1099‑NEC reporting.

Standard residential real‑estate brokerage activities do not trigger EPA permitting; however, if the LLC owns, develops, or demolishes property with hazardous materials, applicable EPA permits may be required.

The filing includes basic entity information and a $50 fee. Must be filed online through the Secretary of State portal.

The license must be legible and visible to the public.

Includes FLSA, OSHA, EEOC, and ND minimum wage posters.

Many counties require a personal property schedule to be filed annually.

Agents who are not brokers typically do not maintain a trust account.

Audit must be performed by a CPA licensed in ND.

Renewal must be completed online; the license remains active until the expiration date provided the renewal is submitted before that date.

All dates are calendar dates; if a deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the due date is the next business day.