How to check a contractor license in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the Department of Labor and Industry licenses residential building contractors, remodelers and roofers. Open DLI's iMS system, choose "Continue as guest," and search by license number or company name. An active license shows a status of "Issued." The record also shows any enforcement actions, and a registration number starting with IR is not a license.

How do I check a contractor license in Minnesota?

Search the license in iMS, the licensing system run by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). You don't need an account, and a current, active license shows a status of Issued.

Get the license number. DLI says residential license numbers begin with BC for a building contractor, CR for a remodeler and RR for a roofer.
Open iMS and choose "Continue as Guest." We last checked this lookup on 2026-10-19.
Type the complete license number into the search box at the top of the page. For other ways to search, use the "Search License/Registration holders" button.
Confirm the status reads "Issued." That is how DLI marks a current, active license.
Look for enforcement actions on the record before you sign anything.
If the number starts with IR, stop and read the section below on registrations, because it isn't a license.

You can also call DLI at 651-284-5069 or 800-342-5354 and ask whether a builder is licensed. If you're checking a long list, DLI publishes spreadsheets of licensees from its Construction Codes and Licensing Division, and it updates them nightly.

Does Minnesota require a general contractor license?

Yes, for work on homes. Minnesota law says anyone who meets the definition of a residential building contractor must be licensed as one by the state, and a residential remodeler must hold a remodeler or building contractor license.

The law has exemptions. One covers a person whose gross receipts from work that would need a license stay at or under $15,000 in a calendar year, but that person needs a certificate of exemption from the state. Licensed tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians are exempt too, and so are owner-occupants doing their own work. The license covers residential work, so for a commercial project, ask the local building official what applies.

What does an IR registration number mean?

It means the contractor is registered, not licensed. DLI says registration numbers always begin with IR, are not license numbers, and that homeowners should not hire a contractor just because it is registered. Registered contractors don't have to show proof of insurance or bonding, and they don't pay into the Contractor Recovery Fund.

Do roofers need a license in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota law says a residential roofer must be licensed as a residential roofer, residential building contractor or residential remodeler, and you check all three in the same iMS search.

A roofer's own license number starts with RR. A roofer working under a BC or CR license is also covered, so don't turn one away just because the number has a different prefix.

Who licenses electricians and plumbers in Minnesota?

DLI does. Its Construction Codes and Licensing Division issues electrical and plumbing licenses too, and iMS covers those licenses as well as plumbing bond holders.

A residential building contractor license is a different license from the trade ones. If a remodel includes new wiring or plumbing, look up the electrician or plumber doing that work in the same search.

What should you check beyond the license?

A license record tells you the state allows the contractor to do the work and whether DLI has taken enforcement action. It doesn't tell you whether the work is any good or whether the contractor's insurance is current today.

Ask the contractor for a current certificate of insurance.
Ask who will pull the permit, and confirm it with the local building official.
Hire a licensed contractor rather than a registered one if you want access to the Contractor Recovery Fund. DLI says hiring a licensed contractor gives you that access.

Each state has its own board and its own search. If the contractor also works outside Minnesota, see how to check a contractor license, state by state.

A job near a state line can involve a contractor based next door, so check that state's records too. The lookups for North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin are on their own pages.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

Sources

Agents can keep these contractors in Proferral

Proferral is a free app real estate agents use to keep a go-to list of the providers they trust and to remember every referral they send. Its license checks cover Oregon and Washington only, so for Minnesota you still run the lookup above by hand. Here's how Proferral's license checks work.

Start your list, free

It's free, no credit card needed, and you're never charged unless you choose Pro.