Minneapolis Building Permit Office
Minneapolis
City of Minneapolis
612-673-3000
Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
505 4th Avenue S, Room 220, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415
Minneapolis construction permitting is handled through the City of Minneapolis Community Planning & Economic Development department. Minneapolis Development Review manages permit intake and plan submission, while Construction Code Services performs building-code plan review and on-site inspections.
The local workflow has an unusual split: a building permit application is submitted first, but construction plans are not normally attached to that initial application. When plan review is required, the City creates the permit record and sends the applicant an invitation to upload plans and supporting documents through ProjectDox.
Application First, ProjectDox After Intake
Complete the correct permit application
For a standard building permit, the City provides a fillable building permit application. Property owners applying for their own permit must include valid identification when required by the City’s applicant rules.
Submit the application without construction plans
The City’s building permit instructions specifically direct applicants not to send construction plans with the initial application. Minneapolis Development Review receives the application and a development coordinator starts the permit record.
Use ProjectDox when plans are required
For projects subject to plan review, the applicant receives an email invitation to ProjectDox. Plans and supporting documents are then uploaded to that electronic review system. ProjectDox is not the initial building permit application portal.
Respond to City review comments
Construction Code Services reviews applicable plans for code compliance. Other City reviews can also apply depending on the site, zoning, preservation status, public infrastructure impacts, or project scope.
Obtain the permit before starting regulated work
A building permit provides authorization to begin the covered construction. The City warns that starting work before a required permit is issued can result in doubled permit fees and may require work to be exposed, altered, or removed for code verification.
Some Common Projects No Longer Go Through Building Plan Review
On October 2, 2026, the City announced that certain projects no longer require applicants to upload plans for building plan review. The examples identified by the City include commercial and residential flat roofs, siding, and replacement windows and doors.
The City said permits affected by the revised process may be issued, or made available for payment, within one or two days of application in many cases, with some permits potentially available immediately. The exemption is project-specific; it does not remove building-code requirements or mean that every roof, window, door, or exterior project is automatically exempt from other applicable reviews.
Minneapolis also operates an Express Limited Permit system for pre-approved licensed contractors. Eligible work on existing one- and two-family homes can include reroofing, siding, same-size window replacement, certain plumbing work, HVAC work and other listed scopes. Contractors must meet the City’s eligibility requirements before using that system.
A Footprint Change Can Trigger Review Before the Permit Application
Changes to the building footprint
The City states that a project changing a building’s footprint must go through Preliminary Development Review before permit application. This makes additions and new construction different from many interior alterations and replacement projects.
Zoning approval is not the same as building approval
Zoning and land-use requirements can apply independently of construction-code review. Site plan review applies to many new buildings, large additions and specified uses, while other projects can require separate land-use or preservation approval depending on the property and scope.
Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and Fire Work Do Not All Follow One Route
Building, plumbing and mechanical
Minneapolis issues separate construction permit types for work such as building, plumbing and mechanical systems. A building permit does not automatically replace trade permits required for the same project.
State electrical process
Electrical inspections are not scheduled through the City’s building, plumbing and mechanical inspection process. Minneapolis directs applicants to the State of Minnesota for electrical inspection, and Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry provides the state electrical permit and inspection system.
Separate fire permits
Fire protection systems such as sprinklers, standpipes, fire pumps, alarms and smoke-control systems have a separate City permit process administered through Fire Inspection Services. Fire plans may also be routed through ProjectDox when required.
The Permit Holder Arranges Required Construction Inspections
The homeowner or contractor who applied for the permit is responsible for arranging the inspections that apply to the project. The assigned inspector’s contact information is shown on the permit. Minneapolis uses these inspections to verify that completed work follows the approved plans, state law and City code.
- Required inspections vary with the permit and construction scope.
- Building, plumbing, mechanical and final inspections are handled through the City’s construction inspection process.
- Electrical inspections follow the Minnesota state electrical inspection process.
- All applicable inspections must be completed.
- The project must pass its final inspection.
- Required inspection costs are included in the permit fee, although additional charges can apply when work is not ready or a reinspection is necessary.
After a project passes final inspection, the inspector records the final approval and the City’s Property Information Search can show that the permitted work has been approved. The same public property system is also useful for checking inspection and permit-related history associated with an address.
Owner-Builder and Contractor Rules Differ
Owner-occupied residential work
An individual who owns and lives in a unit within a one- to four-unit dwelling may apply to perform qualifying construction work and must provide valid photo identification. Corporations, LLCs and partnerships cannot use the individual owner-builder provision.
For attached or detached single-family homes, qualifying resident owners may perform their own plumbing or mechanical work, but the City does not allow the owner-builder exception for work on gas-fired heating equipment.
Licensing can affect permit eligibility
Contractors applying for building permits must meet the licensing requirements published by Minneapolis and the State of Minnesota for the work involved. City specialty licensing can also apply to certain trades. The Express Limited Permit system is restricted to contractors that have already been approved to use it.
Building Permit Fees Are Tied to Construction Value
Minneapolis calculates building permit fees using the value of the work, including labor and materials. Other components can apply, including plan review charges and the Minnesota state surcharge. Plumbing, mechanical, sign, soil erosion control, street use and other permit categories have their own fee schedules.
The City states that permit fees are paid when the permit is issued. Because schedules vary by permit type and can change, the current City fee pages are more useful than a fixed fee table for estimating a project.
Minneapolis Permit and Review Links
Construction Permits
City hub for permit types, building safety, ProjectDox, project requirements and related construction services.
Building Permit Application
Official application page with the building permit form and Minneapolis submission instructions.
ProjectDox Instructions
Instructions for uploading and submitting construction plans after the City creates the permit review project.
Preliminary Development Review
City process used before permit application when a project changes the building footprint.
On-Site Construction Inspections
City instructions covering inspection responsibility, scheduling, final inspection and reinspection charges.
Property Information Search
Search Minneapolis property records, including building information and inspection history.
Express Limited Permits
Permit tool for pre-approved licensed contractors performing eligible work on existing one- and two-family homes.
Construction Permit Fees
Current City fee schedules and information on permit valuation, payment and refunds.
Fire Protection Permits
Separate application process for fire sprinkler, alarm, standpipe, fire pump and related fire-safety systems.
Minnesota Electrical Permits
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry information for electrical permits and state electrical inspection procedures.