Do you need a license to do electrical work in South Dakota?

Yes. In South Dakota, a person or business doing electrical work, or engaged or offering to engage in business as an electrical contractor, must first obtain a license from the State Electrical Commission. Only an electrical contractor may contract for the installation of electrical wiring, except that a Class B electrician may contract for farm and residential wiring and related equipment. Engaging in the business or the work without complying with the chapter is a Class 2 misdemeanor. This is SDCL §§ 36-16-1, 36-16-2, 36-16-14.

WhatSouth Dakota
Electrician licenseState electrical license (State Electrical Commission)

Source

SDCL §§ 36-16-1, 36-16-2, 36-16-14

Read the statute in the South Dakota Codified Laws (South Dakota Legislature): sdlegislature.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.

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