Minnesota General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: Residential Building Contractor License · Issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).

🏗️ General ContractorMN ✔ Verified 2026-06-22

In Minnesota, general contractors must hold the Residential Building Contractor License, issued by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Minnesota

Follow these steps to earn your Residential Building Contractor License. Every figure is verified against the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. No state-mandated minimum experience required to sit for the qualifying person exam. The qualifying person must hold an ownership, management, or managing employee position within the company. No pre-exam apprenticeship or work-hour requirement is published.
Pass the Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam — for BC license and Qualifying Remodeler (QC) Exam — for CR license exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. Minnesota requires No surety bond required for new licensees. The Contractor Recovery Fund (funded by license surcharge) serves in place of a bond. Exception: if DLI pays out a Recovery Fund claim against a licensee, that licensee must post a $40,000 surety bond for reinstatement.
Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Minimum $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate; must cover premises, operations and products, and completed operations; DLI must be listed as certificate holder; insurer must be licensed in Minnesota; business name must match Secretary of State filing exactly), and workers' compensation coverage.
Clear the background check. Required: Criminal Background Check form and background disclosure form must be submitted by applicant and all owners, partners, and officers; any affirmative answers require detailed written explanation.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) — $180 (base application/license fee) application fee, plus a $180 base + Contractor Recovery Fund surcharge: $320 (under $1M gross receipts) / $420 ($1M–$5M) / $520 (over $5M); total initial cost $500–$700 license fee. Processing time: Online renewals process approximately one week faster than mail submissions; initial application processing time not publicly disclosed by DLI.
Keep the license active. Renew every 2 years (all residential building contractor and remodeler licenses expire March 31 of either odd- or even-numbered years depending on cohort), completing 14 hours of DLI-approved CE per 2-year qualifying person (Q-registration) renewal period; minimum 1 hour on Minnesota Energy Code; minimum 1 hour on business management strategies. Q-registration renews automatically upon CE completion. The qualifying person cannot serve as qualifying person for another company without at least 25% common ownership.

License types

Residential Building Contractor (BC) — Broadest residential license: can build new residential structures and perform all remodeling, repair, or alteration work on existing dwellings across multiple special skill areas. Required when contracting with homeowners for work involving more than one special skill area.
Residential Remodeler (CR) — Limited to alteration, remodeling, repair, or replacement of existing residential structures only; cannot build new homes or new detached garages.
Construction Contractor Registration — Commercial contractors (not contracting directly with homeowners for residential work) must register separately; this is a registration, not a license.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No state-mandated minimum experience required to sit for the qualifying person exam. The qualifying person must hold an ownership, management, or managing employee position within the company. No pre-exam apprenticeship or work-hour requirement is published.
Application fee	$180 (base application/license fee)
License fee	$180 base + Contractor Recovery Fund surcharge: $320 (under $1M gross receipts) / $420 ($1M–$5M) / $520 (over $5M); total initial cost $500–$700
Renewal fee	$505 (under $1M) / $605 ($1M–$5M) / $705 (over $5M) every 2 years; $90 late fee if submitted after March 31 expiration
Renewal period	Every 2 years (all residential building contractor and remodeler licenses expire March 31 of either odd- or even-numbered years depending on cohort)
Continuing education	14 hours of DLI-approved CE per 2-year qualifying person (Q-registration) renewal period; minimum 1 hour on Minnesota Energy Code; minimum 1 hour on business management strategies. Q-registration renews automatically upon CE completion. The qualifying person cannot serve as qualifying person for another company without at least 25% common ownership.
Bond required	No surety bond required for new licensees. The Contractor Recovery Fund (funded by license surcharge) serves in place of a bond. Exception: if DLI pays out a Recovery Fund claim against a licensee, that licensee must post a $40,000 surety bond for reinstatement.
Liability insurance	Minimum $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate; must cover premises, operations and products, and completed operations; DLI must be listed as certificate holder; insurer must be licensed in Minnesota; business name must match Secretary of State filing exactly
Property damage	Minimum $25,000 (included within liability policy)
Workers' comp	Required unless exempt; proof of compliance submitted on DLI-approved form
Background check	Required: Criminal Background Check form and background disclosure form must be submitted by applicant and all owners, partners, and officers; any affirmative answers require detailed written explanation.
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	None — Minnesota does not recognize other states' contractor licenses for reciprocal licensure. All applicants must pass the Minnesota exam.
Processing time	Online renewals process approximately one week faster than mail submissions; initial application processing time not publicly disclosed by DLI

Exams

Qualifying Builder (QB) Exam — for BC license	Provider: Minnesota DLI (offices in St. Paul and outstate MN locations) · Passing: 70% (110 multiple-choice questions; 5.5 hours; open book with DLI-provided references) · Fee: $50 (cross-referenced; not shown on the DLI exam page — verify with DLI)
Qualifying Remodeler (QC) Exam — for CR license	Provider: Minnesota DLI · Passing: 70% (110 multiple-choice questions; 5.5 hours) · Fee: $50 (cross-referenced; not shown on the DLI exam page — verify with DLI)

Preparing for the General Contractor exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

Local / municipal notes

The Contractor Recovery Fund provides homeowner compensation up to $550,000 per licensee lifetime for fraudulent, deceptive, or incomplete work; licensees fund it via the tiered annual surcharge. Municipalities cannot issue building permits to contractors whose license has lapsed. Active Secretary of State business filing and matching business name across all documents are required. Solar PV system contractors must hold a BC license as of July 1, 2023. Work under $15,000 annually may qualify for a Certificate of Exemption from licensing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Minnesota general contractor license cost?

Application: $180 (base application/license fee). License: $180 base + Contractor Recovery Fund surcharge: $320 (under $1M gross receipts) / $420 ($1M–$5M) / $520 (over $5M); total initial cost $500–$700. Renewal: $505 (under $1M) / $605 ($1M–$5M) / $705 (over $5M) every 2 years; $90 late fee if submitted after March 31 expiration.

Do general contractors in Minnesota need a surety bond?

No surety bond required for new licensees. The Contractor Recovery Fund (funded by license surcharge) serves in place of a bond. Exception: if DLI pays out a Recovery Fund claim against a licensee, that licensee must post a $40,000 surety bond for reinstatement.

What experience is required for a Minnesota general contractor license?

No state-mandated minimum experience required to sit for the qualifying person exam. The qualifying person must hold an ownership, management, or managing employee position within the company. No pre-exam apprenticeship or work-hour requirement is published.

Is insurance required for general contractors in Minnesota?

Liability: Minimum $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate; must cover premises, operations and products, and completed operations; DLI must be listed as certificate holder; insurer must be licensed in Minnesota; business name must match Secretary of State filing exactly Workers' compensation: Required unless exempt; proof of compliance submitted on DLI-approved form

How often must a Minnesota general contractor license be renewed?

Every 2 years (all residential building contractor and remodeler licenses expire March 31 of either odd- or even-numbered years depending on cohort). Continuing education: 14 hours of DLI-approved CE per 2-year qualifying person (Q-registration) renewal period; minimum 1 hour on Minnesota Energy Code; minimum 1 hour on business management strategies. Q-registration renews automatically upon CE completion. The qualifying person cannot serve as qualifying person for another company without at least 25% common ownership.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-22 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) before applying. This is not legal advice.