Do you need a license to be a carpenter in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota doesn't license carpenters as a trade. There is no state contractor license or registration, though cities may have their own rules.
No state requirement · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
South Dakota does not license carpenters or contractors at the state level. The state requires every contractor to hold a contractor's excise tax license with the Department of Revenue and pay the 2 percent contractor's excise tax. There is no exam or experience requirement. Cities can license contractors: Rapid City issues general building contractor licenses in Class A or B, Aberdeen issues a residential building contractor license, and Sioux Falls licenses residential work locally. Check with the city where the job is before starting. Apprenticeships register through the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | Tax license only |
| General contractor license | No (local) |
| Residential contractor license | No (Sioux Falls local) |
| Home improvement registration | No |
| When a license is needed | All contractors |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Exam | No |
| Experience | None |
| Local license | Varies by city |
| Board | SD Dept of Revenue (Contractor's Excise Tax) |
Local licenses in South Dakota
Rapid City
CityGeneral building contractor license (Class A or B)
Rapid City Building Services
RCMC 15.04.140: Class A for any structure; Class B for 1-2 family dwellings. Working without a city license is unlawful.
- Source: rapidcity.municipal.codes · checked November 5, 2026
Aberdeen
CityResidential building contractor license
Aberdeen Building and Community Development
Residential contractors must be licensed by the city (exam may be waived with recognized prior licensing). Commercial contractors need no city license, only a South Dakota excise tax license.
- Source: aberdeen.sd.us · checked November 5, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (no state agency) |
Programs register through the Office of Apprenticeship; use the Partner Finder for local sponsors.
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026