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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

National Exams
National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?

Electrical, plumbing and asbestos abatement work requires licensing by the state.

Highway construction projects over $200,000 require prequalification by the state.

Who Regulates Construction?

Prequalification applications and information may be obtained from:

South Dakota Department of Transportation Division of Finance and Management
700 East Broadway Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-2586
(605) 773-3284
https://www.sddot.com

Electrical licensing information may be obtained from:

South Dakota State Electrical Commission
308 South Pierre Street
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 733-3523/Fax (605) 773-6213
https://www.electrical.sd.gov

Plumbing licensing information may be obtained from:

South Dakota Department of Labor State Plumbing Commission
308 South Pierre Street
c/o 1320 East Sioux Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3429/Fax (605) 773-5405
http://dlr.sd.gov/plumbing

Asbestos abatement licensing information may be obtained from:

South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Waste Management Program
523 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3153/Fax (605) 773-6035
http://denr.sd.gov/des/wm/asb/asbhomepage.aspx

Requirements?

Highway Prequalification:
For projects over $200,000, contractors must submit a completed prequalification statement at least 14 days prior to the date of the letting of the bid. Contractors may submit an audited financial statement or a surety certification. Bid limits are based on the financial statement or surety certification. Prequalification is good for 18 months from the date of the financial statement, or date listed on surety certification. Application processing time averages 2 weeks.

Electricians:
Applicants must pass a trade examination with a minimum score of 70%. 2 years journeyman experience and a $10,000 bond are also required. All licenses expire on June 30th of even numbered years. The biennial renewal fee is $100. Application processing takes 30 to 45 days.

License Type / License Fee / Application Fee / Biennial Renewal
Contractor / $100 / $40 / $100
Journeyman / $40 / $40 / $40
Apprentice / $20 / N/A / $20
Class B / $40 / $40 / $40
Inspector / $40 / $40 / $40

Plumbers: Contractor applicants must pass a trade examination with a minimum score of 80% and provide documentation of 6 years experience. Journeyman applicants must have a minimum score of 70% and provide documentation of 4 years experience. The average processing time on applications is 30 days.

License Type / Application Fee / Exam Fee / Annual Renewal
Contractor / $275 / $100 / $275
Journeyman / $105 / $100 / $105

Annual renewal fee at the end of each year, December 31.

Asbestos Licenses:
Any person wishing to do asbestos related work in South Dakota needs to be certified by the state. Individuals can be certified as inspectors, management planners, abatement project designers, contractor/supervisors and workers. One person can be certified in more than one discipline.

Duration / Certification Fee
1 Year Initial / $100
1 Year Renewal / $50

Initial certification is valid for 1 year from the date of the training examination. The renewal fee requires the individual to take a refresher course within 90 days prior to or 90 days after the certificate's expiration date and apply for recertification within this 180 day time frame.

Asbestos training completed in another state satisfies South Dakota's training requirements if the course is fully approved by EPA under AHERA.

Other: All persons intending to engage in realty improvements in South Dakota are required to have a contractor's excise tax license.

For public work contracts under $25,000, bond requirements may be waived. When the contract price is over $25,000, performance/payment bonds are required in an amount of 100% of the contract price.

Special permits may be required by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for gravel pits, asphalt plants, concrete plants, rock crushers, large construction sites (over 5 acres), pumping water and storage tanks.

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS

South Dakota has reciprocal agreements for Electrical Contractors and Journeyman with Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming and for Journeyman only with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Plumbing reciprocity exists with Iowa, Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota.

South Dakota has reciprocal agreements for Plumbing Contractors and Journeymen with Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota, as well as anyone who has taken an exam with the International Plumbing Code, IPC, or the Star Mastery Exam - NITC.