Minneapolis permit search

Minneapolis permit requirements

The municipal overview describes a broad building-permit requirement before work starts, while leaving the additional permit requirements dependent on the project. Its exemption page supplies examples and tells applicants to examine size, location and other conditions.

Almost all projects require you to get a building permit before you start work. Additional permit requirements vary by project.

Source: Construction Permits Overview - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

Minneapolis review estimates at a glance

Download this table: CSV · JSON

How to search a permit by address in Minneapolis

The City of Minneapolis directs property research to its address lookup tool. The instructions start with the street number and street name, then direct you to select the returned address or parcel number. The city describes inspection history among the information available through the tool.

Search for an address

Click on Search. See your address and parcel number. Click on the your address or parcel number. For best results, keep your search simple: enter a street number and street name.

Source: Property Information Search - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

For a building application, the city uses a different workflow: a development coordinator starts the permit and sends an invitation for submitting construction plans and documents through ProjectDox.

A development coordinator (DC) will start a permit for your project. You will receive an email invitation with instructions for using ProjectDox to submit construction plans and documents.

Source: Permit Application Process - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

See ProjectDox instructions

Do I need a permit for a fence in Minneapolis?

The city fence handout distinguishes fences by height and function. A fence over seven feet requires a building permit and a site plan showing found boundary monuments or a survey. The shorter-fence statement retains zoning requirements, and the pool-barrier statement applies regardless of height.

• “Fences over 7 feet high do require a building permit and plan submittal including a site plan with found property boundary monuments or a survey.”
• “Fences up to 7 feet high do not require a building permit but must comply with zoning requirements.”
• “Pool barrier fences of any height require building permits and plan submittal including a site plan with found property boundary monuments or a survey to demonstrate compliance with building code and zoning requirements.”

Source: Fences, driveways, parking pads, sidewalks, patios and similar site features at private residential lots, 06/2025, read 2026-11-01

The handout places these requirements alongside Minneapolis Code of Ordinances Title 5 and the Minnesota Residential Code. Its site-plan requirement is part of the fence permit documentation, rather than a substitute for the zoning requirements named in the shorter-fence statement.

Start my request for a fence in Minneapolis

Do I need a permit to repair or replace a roof in Minneapolis?

The city asphalt-shingle handout covers reroofing of one-family and two-family residential structures with sloped roofs. Its permit paragraph states a repair exception measured by shingles and roof area. Repairs to rafters or trusses have an additional permit and framing-inspection requirement.

A building permit is required for all re-roofing work, except repairs involving less than one bundle of shingles (33 1/3 square feet of roof area).

Source: Roofing at single-family and two-family dwellings, 05/2016, read 2026-11-01

If repairs are needed to the roof framing system (rafters or trusses), an additional permit and a framing inspection are required.

Source: Roofing at single-family and two-family dwellings, 05/2016, read 2026-11-01

Read the repair exception together with the framing requirement when describing the intended roof work. The document discusses the roof covering and the framing system separately; its framing paragraph specifically names rafters and trusses.

Start my request for a roof repair or replacement in Minneapolis

Can a homeowner pull their own permit in Minneapolis?

For 1 to 4-unit dwellings, the city permits owner-occupants to apply for their own construction work and requires photo identification. The rule excludes corporations, LLCs and partnerships. For owner-performed plumbing or mechanical work at a single-family home, the city separately excludes work on gas-fired heating equipment.

1 to 4-unit dwellings Individuals who own and live in a unit can apply for a permit to do their own construction work. You must show a valid photo ID. You cannot apply for a permit to do your own construction work if you are a: Corporation LLC Partnership

Source: Permit Applicants - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

Individuals who own and live in the home can do their own plumbing or mechanical work. You are not allowed to work on gas-fired heating equipment. You cannot apply for a permit to do your own construction work if you are a: Corporation LLC Partnership

Source: Permit Applicants - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

The applicant guidance also sets a separate credential requirement when someone builds or improves more than one property within a 24-month period. The person doing the work should prepare the application.

Homeowners and contractors can apply for construction permits. The person doing the work should prepare the application.

Source: Permit Applicants - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

What work does not need a permit in Minneapolis?

The city presents its exemption items as examples subject to conditions. It tells readers to review the complete code list and consider project size and location before starting. The interior examples include cabinets, countertops, floor tile, carpeting, wallpaper and paint, with a direction to confirm the project meets the code conditions.

Make sure you do not need a permit. Review the code for a complete list of projects you can do without a construction permit. Look at the details. The project size, location and other conditions may apply.

Source: Work Exempt from Permit - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

Cabinets and countertops Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms Floor tile and carpeting Wallpaper and paint Check the code to make sure your project meets the conditions Contact us to confirm you do not need a permit

Source: Work Exempt from Permit - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

Its exterior examples include freestanding decks, platforms and stoops subject to height, attachment and entrance-use conditions. The same list includes limits for fences, sheds and awnings. These examples come with directions to consult the code and confirm whether a permit is needed.

How much is a permit and how long does it take in Minneapolis?

The construction application guide gives review estimates for remodeling or building one-family and two-family homes. Initial plan review is listed at 15 business days, with five business days for each resubmission. These are plan-review estimates from the application guide, rather than the October expectation for specified expedited projects.

• “15 business days for the initial plan review”
• “Five business days each time you re-submit plans”

Source: Permit Application Process - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

The October announcement describes removal of building plan review for certain projects, including commercial and residential flat roofs, siding, and replacement windows and doors. The city expects permits for this process to be issued or available for payment within one to two days of application, and says some may be available immediately.

The revised process still requires projects to comply with applicable building codes but removes the building plan review requirement for specific project types. With this improvement, the City expects hundreds of permits each year to be issued, or available for payment, within one to two days of application. Some permits may be available immediately.

Source: Minneapolis announces construction permit process change, expediting development timelines for businesses and residents - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

For the municipal schedule, use Permit Fees.

The application guide also says the applicant must coordinate inspections, that inspection counts vary by project, and that a final inspection is required.

You must plan and coordinate all inspections. The number of inspections you need varies by project. All projects require a final inspection.

Source: Permit Application Process - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

Before you apply in Minneapolis: checklist

Have the person doing the work prepare the application. For owner-performed construction, the city asks for a valid photo ID and sets owner-occupancy and applicant-entity conditions. A development coordinator then starts the project permit and sends the invitation used to submit plans and documents in ProjectDox.

A development coordinator (DC) will start a permit for your project. You will receive an email invitation with instructions for using ProjectDox to submit construction plans and documents.

Source: Permit Application Process - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

For a fence over seven feet, the handout requires a site plan with found property boundary monuments or a survey. For a roof project involving repairs to rafters or trusses, account for the additional permit and framing inspection described in the roof handout.

Fences over 7 feet high do require a building permit and plan submittal including a site plan with found property boundary monuments or a survey.

Source: Fences, driveways, parking pads, sidewalks, patios and similar site features at private residential lots, 06/2025, read 2026-11-01

How do I contact the Minneapolis building department?

The construction-permits overview names Minneapolis Development Review within Community Planning & Economic Development as its contact office. Use the city contact page to reach municipal services.

Minneapolis Development Review Community Planning & Economic Development

Source: Construction Permits Overview - City of Minneapolis, read 2026-11-01

See various ways to contact 311

Sources

• Construction Permits Overview - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov), read 2026-11-01
• Permit Applicants - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov), read 2026-11-01
• Fences, driveways, parking pads, sidewalks, patios and similar site features at private residential lots (minneapolismn.gov), 06/2025, read 2026-11-01
• Roofing at single-family and two-family dwellings (minneapolismn.gov), 05/2016, read 2026-11-01
• Permit Application Process - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov), read 2026-11-01
• Property Information Search - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov), read 2026-11-01
• Minneapolis announces construction permit process change, expediting development timelines for businesses and residents - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov), read 2026-11-01
• Work Exempt from Permit - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov), read 2026-11-01