Title: Fire Protection Sprinkler System Designer Contractor License
Alternate Title:
Description: A person who contracts to design a fire protection system or its parts or related equipment. Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) - State Fire Marshal
Subject: Fire Protection
Sprinkler Systems
Creation Date: 9/11/2008 2:13:08 PM
Modification Date: 1/30/2025 2:13:39 PM
Agency Name: Public Safety (DPS), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: https://dps.mn.gov
Agency Description:
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), Emergency Communication Networks, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Office of Justice Programs, State Fire Marshal, Pipeline Safety, State Highway Patrol, Capitol Security and Traffic Safety.
Agency Phone: 651-201-7000
Agency Fax: Agency URL: https://dps.mn.gov
Agency Address: Public Safety (DPS), Minnesota Dept. of
445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul
MN
55101
Division Name: State Fire Marshal
Division URL: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm
Division Description:
Division Phone: Division Fax: Division URL: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm
Division Address:
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 145
St. Paul
MN 55101-5145
Unit Name: Sprinkler Questions
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: Unit Fax: Contact person(s): fm.fire.sprinklers@state.mn.us
Unit URL:
Audience:
Application URL:
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:
Review:
Fire Sprinklers
Fire protection licensing requirements
Fire Protection Contractor Licensing Requirements
Fire Protection Design
Design of Fire Protection Systems
License required
Minn. Stat. § 299M.03, subd. 1 requires that contractors be licensed to perform design work in Minnesota. Included below is the language from the statute (emphasis added):
Minn. Stat. § 299M.03, subd. 1 Contractor license. Except for residential installations by the owner of an occupied one- or two-family dwelling, a person may not sell, design, install, modify, or inspect a fire protection system, its parts, or related equipment or offer to do so unless annually licensed to perform these duties as a fire protection contractor. No license is required under this section for a person licensed as a professional engineer under Minn. Stat. § 326.03 who is competent in fire protection system design or a person licensed as an alarm and communication contractor under Minn. Stat. § 326B.34 for performing activities authorized by that license.
Exceptions to licensure
There are two exceptions:
- Minnesota-licensed professional engineers can do sprinkler design work.
- Minnesota-licensed alarm and communication contractors can work on fire alarm portions of sprinkler systems.
Contractor options
Minn. Rules 7512.0500, subpart 3 allows for a “designer contractor license.” There are licensed design contractors in Minnesota. Here are the options for fire protection contractors and the design of fire protection systems:
- Contractors can employ designers and do the design in-house.
- Contractors can hire another Minnesota-licensed fire protection contractor to design the system.
- Contractors can hire a Minnesota-licensed design contractor to design the system.
- Contractors can hire a Minnesota-licensed professional engineer to design the system.
- Design contractor identified on plans
The name, contractor license number, and designer contact information must be displayed on all installation drawings (Minn. Rules, part 7512.0900, subpart 1).
Rules: 7512.0500
7512.0900
Statutes:
Forms:
Fees:
See Fire Protection Fees
Period of Issuance:
July 1 thru June 30 of the next year.
Length of Determination: Approximately four weeks.
Other Info:
Activity: Sprinkler Systems
Fire Protection
License Detail URL:
Fire Sprinklers

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