How to get a Residential building contractor license in Minnesota

Minnesota general contractor licenses

Minnesota issues 4 general contractor credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Rules shared by several license levels

These rules are the same for several of the Minnesota general contractor licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level except Certificate of exemption

Requirements

Education or training

No prerequisite education to sit the qualifying person exam.⁷

Experience

No prerequisite experience to sit the qualifying person exam.⁷

Background check

Background check required³
Chapter 364 (the rehabilitation law) does not apply where the underlying conduct would be grounds for denying or sanctioning the license. Applicants answer a background disclosure form.¹

Social Security number

The exam application requires a Social Security number.¹¹

Business requirements

Designate a qualifying person who is an owner, officer, member, partner, chief manager or managing employee; one person can qualify several companies only with 25% common ownership.⁵

Business requirements

Replace a departed qualifying person within 120 days or the license terminates.¹

Business requirements

Active Secretary of State filing, except a proprietorship or partnership using the full legal names of its owners.⁵

Business requirements

Workers’ compensation certificate and employment insurance account number.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Choose a business structure and file with the Minnesota Secretary of State where required, using the exact name on every document.¹²¹³
2. Name a qualifying person. That person files the exam application with the $50 fee and passes the DLI exam.⁵ Form (PDF, dli.mn.gov)¹¹
3. Get the liability insurance certificate and workers’ compensation compliance form, with DLI listed as certificate holder.⁵
4. Apply and pay online through iMS, or mail the packet with a check or money order.⁵ ims.dli.mn.gov⁵

Apply online

ims.dli.mn.gov⁵

Application form

Form (PDF, dli.mn.gov)¹²¹³

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁶¹

Continuing education

At least 14 hours each renewal period¹

Approved courses

Courses must be DLI-approved.⁵

If it expires

A license can be renewed up to two years after expiry; a Q registration inactive more than two years means retaking the exam.¹
While expired, the licensee cannot do licensed work, and cities cannot issue permits.¹

Renew online

ims.dli.mn.gov⁶¹⁰

From another state

2. Residential building contractor and Residential remodeler

Requirements

Insurance

Commercial general liability: at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate for bodily injury plus $25,000 property damage, or a $300,000 single limit.¹

Fees

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

Renewal

When it expires

Two-year cycle ending March 31; the qualifying person’s Q registration has its own two-year date.⁶

Renewal fee

$505⁶ (Gross annual receipts less than $1 million; includes base, $5 continuing education and recovery fund fees)

Required topics

At least 1 hour on the Energy Code⁵
At least 1 hour on business management strategies⁵

Late renewal

Renewal plus late fee: $595⁶ (total renewal plus late fee, gross annual receipts less than $1 million)
Renewal plus late fee: $695⁶ (total renewal plus late fee, gross annual receipts $1 million to $5 million)
Renewal plus late fee: $795⁶ (total renewal plus late fee, gross annual receipts more than $5 million)

Who needs a Residential building contractor license

New homes and detached garages plus all remodeling work on residential real estate of one to four units, using two or more special skills.⁵

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

• Work on buildings with more than four units needs no contractor license.⁵
• One-skill specialty contractors need no state license, except roofers; they register instead.⁵
• Gross annual receipts under $15,000 with a Certificate of Exemption.⁵

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Employees of a licensee, material suppliers who do not install, owner-occupants, architects and engineers, licensed plumbers and electricians within their license, and others listed by statute.¹
• Commercial contractors need no state contractor license but must register.⁵

Requirements for a Residential building contractor license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Exam

Qualifying builder²
Given by: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (administered by the department)⁵
Passing score: 70% or higher⁷
When you can take it: No prerequisites; the qualifying person passes before the company applies for the license.⁷
110 multiple-choice questions, about 60% on the Minnesota Residential Building Code and the rest on statutes and rules; five and a half hours⁷
Retakes: Wait 30 days, then file a new application and fee.⁷
Exam waived: General retailers whose main business is not residential contracting, and who completed an equivalent exam in another state, are exempt.¹

How to apply

1. After passing, the qualifying person receives a Q number starting with QB. It is a registration, not a license, and goes on the license application.⁵

Renewal and continuing education

Certificate of exemption

For builders, remodelers and roofers expecting $15,000 or less in gross annual receipts from work that needs a license.¹

Requirements

Also required

A sworn affidavit on expected receipts⁹

Fees

How to apply

1. File the certificate of exemption application with the affidavit and $10 fee.⁹ Form (PDF, dli.mn.gov)⁹

Renewal

How often

Every year⁹

When it expires

Expires March 31 each year.⁹

Renewal fee

$10⁹

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $5⁹

Residential remodeler

Work on existing residential structures only, using two or more special skills; no new homes or detached garages.⁵

Requirements

Exam

Qualifying remodeler²
Given by: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (administered by the department)⁵
Passing score: 70% or higher⁷
When you can take it: No prerequisites; the qualifying person passes before the company applies for the license.⁷
110 multiple-choice questions, about 60% on the Minnesota Residential Building Code and the rest on statutes and rules; five and a half hours⁷
Retakes: Wait 30 days, then file a new application and fee.⁷
Exam waived: General retailers whose main business is not residential contracting, and who completed an equivalent exam in another state, are exempt.¹

How to apply

1. After passing, the qualifying person receives a Q number starting with QC. It is a registration, not a license, and goes on the license application.⁵

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Residential roofer

Roofing only on residential real estate; no gutters, downspouts, soffit or fascia.⁵

Requirements

Exam

Qualifying roofer²
Given by: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (administered by the department)⁵
Passing score: 70% or higher⁷
When you can take it: No prerequisites; the qualifying person passes before the company applies for the license.⁷
110 multiple-choice questions, about 60% on the Minnesota Residential Building Code and the rest on statutes and rules; five and a half hours⁷
Retakes: Wait 30 days, then file a new application and fee.⁷
Exam waived: General retailers whose main business is not residential contracting, and who completed an equivalent exam in another state, are exempt.¹

Surety bond

$15,000¹⁰

Fees

How to apply

1. After passing, the qualifying person receives a Q number starting with QR. It is a registration, not a license, and goes on the license application.⁵
2. Get the $15,000 surety bond on the DLI form, signed, sealed and notarized, with the power of attorney.¹⁰ Form (PDF, dli.mn.gov)¹⁴

Renewal

When it expires

Effective for two years, expiring March 31.¹

Renewal fee

$185¹⁵

Required topics

1 hour on energy codes or energy conservation, 1 hour on business management¹⁶

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $90¹⁵ (added to the renewal fee)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Construction contractor registration: not a license

Minnesota requires a construction contractor registration, not a license.⁴

Required for commercial work and one-skill residential work by anyone without a residential contractor license.¹⁷

• Exempt: holders of a chapter 326B license, employees, architects and engineers in professional practice, and volunteers, among others.¹
• Do not register for work that needs a license.¹⁷

The official wording

“Commercial falls under contractor registration if you do not hold a residential license.”⁴

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

City and county rules

Certificate of exemptionCities can require their own license from certificate holders; Saint Paul does.¹⁸

Cities can require a local license for commercial work and for one-skill contractors.²

Residential building contractorCities and counties cannot add a local license for work the state license covers, but they can license Certificate of Exemption holders, one-skill specialty contractors, and work outside the state license such as commercial work.²

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a general contractor in Minnesota, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Minnesota is on the Minnesota license lookup page.

Look up a license

secure.doli.state.mn.us²²

File a complaint

dli.mn.gov²³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Minn. Stat. 326B.801-326B.89 (residential contractors, remodelers, roofers; contractor recovery fund)
• Minn. Stat. 326B.092
• Minn. R. ch. 2891

Common questions

General contractor licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin