Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in Minnesota
Minnesota requires a state license for foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, electrical work, concrete flatwork, and drainage and detention work. It has no state license for HVAC work, so cities and counties set any rules for that work. The official sources do not settle the state rule for plumbing, landscape irrigation, and demolition. The main contractor license is the Residential Building Contractor or Residential Remodeler license, which costs $500 to start and needs the Qualifying Builder or Remodeler exam. Of the 6 trades we could rate, HVAC work is the easiest to get licensed for and roofing the hardest.
The Minnesota contractor license
| License | Residential Building Contractor or Residential Remodeler license (DLI) |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, concrete flatwork, and drainage and detention work |
| Fee | $500 ($180 + $320 recovery fund (smallest tier)) |
| Exam | Qualifying Builder or Remodeler exam. Given by DLI. |
| Experience | None; qualifying person exam. |
| Insurance | Public liability and workers compensation. Source |
How to apply
- Name a qualifying person and pass the DLI qualifying exam.
- Gather liability and workers compensation proof and background check forms.
- Apply with the $180 fee plus the Contractor Recovery Fund fee.
- Pull the city or county permit.
Licensing turns on how many special skill areas a homeowner contract covers.
State license requirements for each trade in Minnesota
| Foundation repair | Residential Building Contractor | $500 | Qualifying Builder | None listed | Moderate · 34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | Residential Building Contractor | $500 | Qualifying Builder | None listed | Moderate · 34 |
| Roofing | Residential Roofer license | $180 | Qualifying Roofer | None listed | Moderate · 36 |
| Plumbing | Not settled | Not rated | |||
| Electrical | Electrical contractor license | None listed | None listed | Not rated | |
| HVAC | No state license | Easy · 0 | |||
| Irrigation | Not settled | Not rated | |||
| Concrete flatwork | Residential Building Contractor | $500 | Qualifying Builder | None listed | Moderate · 34 |
| Drainage and detention | Residential Building Contractor | $500 | Qualifying Builder | None listed | Moderate · 34 |
| Demolition | Not settled | Not rated |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Trades ranked from easiest to hardest in Minnesota
- HVAC, easy (0)
- Concrete flatwork, moderate (34)
- Drainage and detention, moderate (34)
- Foundation repair, moderate (34)
- General contracting, moderate (34)
- Roofing, moderate (36)
Plumbing, electrical work, landscape irrigation, and demolition are not rated because their rules are not fully published.
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| License | Residential Building Contractor (BC) or Residential Remodeler (CR) license |
|---|---|
| Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) |
| Fee | $500 ($180 base license fee + $320 Contractor Recovery Fund (under $1 million gross receipts; $420 or more above)) |
| Exam | Qualifying Builder (QB) or Qualifying Remodeler (QC) exam. Given by DLI. |
| Experience | No years required; a qualifying person must pass the exam. |
| Insurance | Public liability insurance and Minnesota workers compensation proof. |
| Bond | None; the Contractor Recovery Fund replaces a bond. |
| Background check | Required. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background check form. |
Required to contract directly with an owner of a 1 to 4 unit home for work in more than one of 8 special skill areas. A contractor doing only one special skill needs no state license (roofers excepted). Builders with under $15,000 in gross annual residential receipts may get a Certificate of Exemption. Foundation work spans the excavation and masonry/concrete special skills (drain systems, poured walls, footings, waterproofing). A contract that covers more than one skill area needs the license.
Ask the city or county building department whether the repair needs a permit and an engineer letter or sealed design.
- Name a qualifying person and pass the DLI qualifying exam.
- Gather liability and workers compensation proof and background check forms.
- Apply with the $180 fee plus the Contractor Recovery Fund fee.
- Pull the city or county permit.
Difficulty 34, moderate (exams 15, fees 10, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI residential contractor licensing (special skills, fees, insurance); DLI residential contractors, remodelers, roofers hub; DLI contractor, roofer and remodeler exams.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| License | Residential Building Contractor (BC) or Residential Remodeler (CR) license |
|---|---|
| Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) |
| Fee | $500 ($180 base license fee + $320 Contractor Recovery Fund (under $1 million gross receipts; $420 or more above)) |
| Exam | Qualifying Builder (QB) or Qualifying Remodeler (QC) exam. Given by DLI. |
| Experience | No years required; a qualifying person must pass the exam. |
| Insurance | Public liability insurance and Minnesota workers compensation proof. |
| Bond | None; the Contractor Recovery Fund replaces a bond. |
| Background check | Required. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background check form. |
Required to contract directly with an owner of a 1 to 4 unit home for work in more than one of 8 special skill areas. A contractor doing only one special skill needs no state license (roofers excepted). Builders with under $15,000 in gross annual residential receipts may get a Certificate of Exemption. BC also covers new construction; CR covers existing structures only.
Ask the city or county building department about building permits for remodels and additions.
- Name a qualifying person and pass the DLI qualifying exam.
- Gather liability and workers compensation proof and background check forms.
- Apply with the $180 fee plus the Contractor Recovery Fund fee.
- Pull the city or county permit.
Difficulty 34, moderate (exams 15, fees 10, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI residential contractor licensing (special skills, fees, insurance); DLI residential contractors, remodelers, roofers hub; DLI contractor, roofer and remodeler exams.
Roofing
| License | Residential Roofer license |
|---|---|
| Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) |
| Fee | $180 (license fee) |
| Exam | Qualifying Roofer (QR) exam. Given by DLI. |
| Insurance | Liability of at least $300,000 per occurrence including $10,000 property damage, plus workers compensation. |
| Bond | $15,000 surety bond. |
| Background check | Required. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background check. |
Roofers need a license even though roofing is a single special skill.
Ask the city or county building department whether a reroof needs a permit.
- Pass the qualifying roofer exam.
- File the $15,000 bond and insurance certificate.
- Apply with the $180 fee.
Difficulty 36, moderate (exams 15, fees 4, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI roofer license; DLI exams.
Plumbing
We could not confirm from official sources whether Minnesota requires a state license for plumbing.
| License | Master plumber license and plumbing contractor requirements |
|---|---|
| Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) |
DLI licenses plumbers and plumbing contractors; details were not checked in this pass.
Ask the city or county building department who may pull plumbing permits.
Check DLI plumbing licensing pages.
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI residential contractors hub.
Electrical
| License | Electrical contractor license (with licensed electricians) |
|---|---|
| Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry / Board of Electricity |
DLI licenses electrical contractors and electricians; licensing exams move to the 2026 NEC from Sept. 8, 2026. Fees and experience not checked here.
Ask the city or county building department who may pull electrical permits.
Apply for the electrical contractor license and bond with DLI.
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI electrical contractors.
HVAC
There is no state license for mechanical contractors, but businesses must file a $25,000 mechanical contractor bond with DLI to contract for gas, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel burning or refrigeration work, and must meet local licensing. Cities may require competency cards for workers.
Ask the city about mechanical permits and local competency cards.
- Buy the $25,000 mechanical contractor bond.
- File it with DLI ($100).
- Meet any city licensing or competency card rules.
Difficulty 0, easy (nothing in the rubric applies).
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI mechanical contractor bond requirements.
Irrigation
We could not confirm from official sources whether Minnesota requires a state license for landscape irrigation.
Irrigation is not one of the 8 special skill areas listed by DLI. Whether the water connection needs a licensed plumber was not confirmed here.
Ask the city or county building department and the water utility about permits and backflow devices for the water connection.
Ask DLI and the city.
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI residential contractor licensing (special skills, fees, insurance).
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| License | Residential Building Contractor (BC) or Residential Remodeler (CR) license |
|---|---|
| Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) |
| Fee | $500 ($180 base license fee + $320 Contractor Recovery Fund (under $1 million gross receipts; $420 or more above)) |
| Exam | Qualifying Builder (QB) or Qualifying Remodeler (QC) exam. Given by DLI. |
| Experience | No years required; a qualifying person must pass the exam. |
| Insurance | Public liability insurance and Minnesota workers compensation proof. |
| Bond | None; the Contractor Recovery Fund replaces a bond. |
| Background check | Required. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background check form. |
Required to contract directly with an owner of a 1 to 4 unit home for work in more than one of 8 special skill areas. A contractor doing only one special skill needs no state license (roofers excepted). Builders with under $15,000 in gross annual residential receipts may get a Certificate of Exemption. Masonry/concrete (slabs) and asphalt paving (general installation specialties) are special skills. Flatwork alone is one skill area and needs no state license; adding another skill area on the same homeowner contract does.
Ask the city or county building department about driveway, sidewalk and right-of-way permits.
- Name a qualifying person and pass the DLI qualifying exam.
- Gather liability and workers compensation proof and background check forms.
- Apply with the $180 fee plus the Contractor Recovery Fund fee.
- Pull the city or county permit.
Difficulty 34, moderate (exams 15, fees 10, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI residential contractor licensing (special skills, fees, insurance); DLI residential contractors, remodelers, roofers hub; DLI contractor, roofer and remodeler exams.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| License | Residential Building Contractor (BC) or Residential Remodeler (CR) license |
|---|---|
| Board | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) |
| Fee | $500 ($180 base license fee + $320 Contractor Recovery Fund (under $1 million gross receipts; $420 or more above)) |
| Exam | Qualifying Builder (QB) or Qualifying Remodeler (QC) exam. Given by DLI. |
| Experience | No years required; a qualifying person must pass the exam. |
| Insurance | Public liability insurance and Minnesota workers compensation proof. |
| Bond | None; the Contractor Recovery Fund replaces a bond. |
| Background check | Required. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background check form. |
Required to contract directly with an owner of a 1 to 4 unit home for work in more than one of 8 special skill areas. A contractor doing only one special skill needs no state license (roofers excepted). Builders with under $15,000 in gross annual residential receipts may get a Certificate of Exemption. Excavation, trenching and site grading form one special skill area; drain systems fall under masonry/concrete. One skill alone needs no state license.
Ask the city or county building department about grading, drainage and stormwater approvals.
- Name a qualifying person and pass the DLI qualifying exam.
- Gather liability and workers compensation proof and background check forms.
- Apply with the $180 fee plus the Contractor Recovery Fund fee.
- Pull the city or county permit.
Difficulty 34, moderate (exams 15, fees 10, insurance 5, background check 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI residential contractor licensing (special skills, fees, insurance); DLI residential contractors, remodelers, roofers hub; DLI contractor, roofer and remodeler exams.
Demolition
We could not confirm from official sources whether Minnesota requires a state license for demolition.
Demolition is not one of the 8 special skill areas listed by DLI. Ask the city about demolition permits and any local license.
Ask the city or county building department about demolition permits.
Ask the city.
Checked October 18, 2026 against DLI residential contractor licensing (special skills, fees, insurance).
Exams for a Minnesota license
| Minnesota Residential Building Contractor, Remodeler or Roofer exam | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry | New application and fee, after a 30 day wait | Reference materials (current statutes and codes) are provided at the exam | 110 | 5.5 hours | 70% |
|---|
Tap a column to sort. Each exam name opens the provider's bulletin or exam page. A blank cell is a fact not confirmed from the provider, and the linked bulletin has the full rules.
Checked October 18, 2026 against Minnesota DLI License Examination Guide; Minnesota DLI contractor, roofer and remodeler exams.
Official sources
- DLI residential contractor licensing
- DLI roofer license
- DLI mechanical contractor bond
- DLI electrical contractors
Licensing pages for nearby states cover North Dakota.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.