A provision buried in HB1126 significantly raises licensing costs for salons and independent practitioners in North Dakota—and most owners haven't heard about it yet.
Most salon and personal care business owners in North Dakota don't realize that a bill signed into law will substantially increase their annual licensing costs starting next year. The change is real, it's coming January 1, 2026, and it's worth understanding now so you can plan accordingly.
HB1126, which addresses brush rollers, school licensing, and esthetician and manicurist qualifications, contains a provision that rewrites the fee schedule for establishment licenses under North Dakota Century Code Section 43-11-28 (found on pages 19–20 of the bill).
Here's the shift:
Old fee structure: Original registration cost $80, with annual renewals at $30.
New fee structure: Original establishment license costs $150, with annual renewals at $100.
That means your annual renewal cost more than triples—from $30 to $100 per year.
The new fee schedule applies to salon and personal care establishments seeking original licenses and renewals. Importantly, the bill also creates a separate fee category for independent licensees—sole practitioners like freelance estheticians or manicurists—who previously had no distinct fee structure. They now fall under the same $150 original and $100 renewal schedule.
If you operate a salon, spa, or personal care establishment in North Dakota, or if you're a solo practitioner, this change applies to you.
The effective date is January 1, 2026 (Section 37, Page 23 of HB1126). That gives you roughly a year to adjust your budget and operational planning.
A tripling of annual renewal fees is a material cost increase. For a small salon renewing annually, that's an extra $70 per year. For a multi-location operation or a business that renews multiple licenses, the cumulative impact is larger. This isn't a one-time cost—it recurs every renewal cycle.
The timing matters too. If your renewal date falls early in 2026, you'll want to confirm whether you're grandfathered under the old fee or subject to the new one. State licensing boards typically clarify these transitions, but it's worth reaching out to the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Resources to confirm your specific renewal date and applicable fee.
For independent practitioners, the creation of a formal fee category means you can no longer operate in a gray area—you'll have a clear licensing obligation and cost associated with it.
Review your current license renewal date and cost. Budget for the increase starting in 2026. If you have questions about how this applies to your specific license type or renewal schedule, contact the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Resources directly.
Trade associations serving salon and personal care professionals in North Dakota have published detailed, business-specific guidance on HB1126's provisions. A free resource tailored to your license type is worth reviewing.
Source: HB1126, North Dakota Legislature; Section 32 (43-11-28), Pages 19–20; Effective Date Section 37, Page 23.