How to check if a contractor is licensed in Minnesota
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In Minnesota, the state keeps license or registration records for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. Check the record before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, and treat the board's own record as final.
Which board covers which trade
| Trade | Who keeps the record | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Codes and Licensing Division | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Codes and Licensing Division (Board of Electricity) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Codes and Licensing Division (Plumbing Board) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Codes and Licensing Division | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Codes and Licensing Division | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official Minnesota lookup run by Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and search the contractor by name or number.
- The free iMS lookup shows license status, continuing education, work experience, plumbing bond holders and any enforcement actions, with no account needed. source A current, active license or registration shows the status Issued. source Mechanical (HVAC) contractor bonds can be checked on the same lookup. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Residential Building Contractor or Residential Remodeler or Qualifying Builder or Qualifying Remodeler or Certificate of Exemption). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above A residential contractor with gross annual receipts from residential work under $15,000 may hold a Certificate of Exemption instead of a license. source
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: No license bond for residential building contractors or remodelers; the statute requires a bond only of roofers and manufactured home installer. source General liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate for bodily injury, and $25,000 property damage (or a $300,000 single limit). source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
Homeowner protections in Minnesota
- The Contractor Recovery Fund pays a homeowner at most $100,000 per licensee. source
- Total Recovery Fund payouts are capped at $550,000 per licensee across all homeowners. source
- A Recovery Fund application must be served within two years after the court judgment against the contractor became final. source
- Residential solar installers must hold a residential building contractor or remodeler license, so homeowners can claim against the Recovery Fund. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Minnesota?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Minnesota lookup run by Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, then confirm the record is active and covers the type of work. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's lookup in the table on this page.
- What can I do if a contractor in Minnesota is not licensed?
- Complaints against residential contractors, remodelers and roofers must be in writing, filed online through iMS, by mail, or by email. For a workmanship complaint DLI first needs a local building official citation for a State Building Code violation.
All Minnesota licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/residential-contractors/residential-contractor-licensing
- https://ims.dli.mn.gov/
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/electrical-contractors/electrical-contractor-licensing-basics
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/plumbing-contractors/plumbing-contractor-licensing-basics
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/plumbing-contractors/mechanical-contractor-bond-requirements
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/residential-contractors/roofer-license
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/residential-contractors/who-needs-roofer-license
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.83
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/residential-contractors/contractor-roofer-and-remodeler-exams
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.86
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/residential-contractors/contractor-remodeler-license-renewals
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.092
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.33
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.49
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/workers/plumber/plumbing-license-experience-requirements
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.46
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.89
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/license-and-registration-lookup
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/residential-contractors/residential-building-contractor-complaints
- https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/ccld/data/MNDLILicRegCertExport_Residential_Contractors.csv
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/about-department/about-dli/disclaimer
- https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/ccld/data/MNDLILicRegCertExport_Electrical.csv
- https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/ccld/data/MNDLILicRegCertExport_Plumbing.csv
- https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/ccld/data/MNDLILicRegCertExport_Mechanical_Contractor_Bond.csv
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.