A provision buried in HB1126 significantly increases licensing costs for every salon and personal care establishment in North Dakota.
Most salon and personal care owners in North Dakota don't realize that a bill signed into law will substantially increase their annual licensing costs—starting January 1, 2026.
HB1126, which addresses brush rollers, school licensing, and esthetician and manicurist qualifications, contains a fee schedule change that affects every cosmetology establishment in the state. The provision is found in Section 32 (43-11-28) on pages 19–20 of the bill.
Under the old fee structure, salon owners paid $80 for an original establishment license and $30 per year to renew. The new schedule, effective January 1, 2026, replaces those amounts with:
Original establishment license: up to $150
Annual renewal: $100 per year
For most salon owners, this means annual renewal costs will jump from $30 to $100—more than tripling the yearly expense. A salon that has been renewing for years will see a significant increase the first time they renew under the new structure.
The bill also introduces penalty fees for late or expired licenses. If you renew late, you'll owe a $50 penalty within one year of expiration. If your license remains expired longer than one year, the penalty increases to $100 per year.
These penalties are separate from the renewal fee itself, so a delayed renewal could cost considerably more than simply paying on time.
This applies to all salon and personal care establishments in North Dakota that hold a cosmetology license—hair salons, nail salons, esthetic spas, and similar businesses. Whether you're a solo operator or run a multi-chair establishment, you'll be subject to the new fee schedule when you next renew after January 1, 2026.
If your license renewal is coming up before January 1, 2026, you'll still pay under the old schedule. If your renewal date falls on or after that date, the new fees apply.
Review your current license expiration date. If you renew in late 2025, you may want to confirm whether you can renew early under the old structure—though that's a question best directed to the North Dakota Cosmetology Commission.
Mark January 1, 2026, on your business calendar as a cost change date. Budget accordingly for the higher annual renewal expense and set a reminder to renew on time to avoid the new penalty fees.
The full text of HB1126 is available through the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. For a business-specific summary of how this provision affects your particular situation, contact your state cosmetology licensing board or local salon association.
Source: HB1126, Section 32 (43-11-28), Pages 19–20; Effective Date: January 1, 2026 (Section 37, Page 23).