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Title: Construction Contractor Registration
Alternate Title:
Description: State law requires registration of most construction contractors. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI)
Subject: Buildings and Construction
Remodelers
Residential Building Contractors
Roofers
Creation Date: 7/24/2012 1:48:20 PM
Modification Date: 8/16/2024 5:25:41 PM
Agency Name: Labor and Industry (DLI), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: http://www.dli.mn.gov
Agency Description: The agency oversees the state's programs for apprenticeship, construction codes and licensing, dual-training (PIPELINE Program), occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, workers' compensation and youth skills training programs. The Office of Combative Sports, within the Department of Labor & Industry, ensures Minnesota's combative sporting events are conducted in a manner that minimizes injuries and ensures fair competition.
Agency Phone: 651-284-5005
Agency Fax: Agency URL: http://www.dli.mn.gov
Agency Address:
443 Lafayette Road N.

St. Paul
MN 55155

Division Name: Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD)
Division URL: http://www.dli.mn.gov/about-department/our-areas-service/construction-codes-and-licensing
Division Description:
Division Phone: 651-284-5074
Division Fax: Division URL: http://www.dli.mn.gov/about-department/our-areas-service/construction-codes-and-licensing
Audience: Application URL: https://www.dli.mn.gov/ims
Renewal URL: https://www.dli.mn.gov/ims
Versa URL:
Requirements:

Review Construction Contractor Registration

Most contractors who provide residential or commercial building construction or improvement services are required to register with DLI through the Construction Contractor Registration Program if they do not hold a contractor’s license.

Register or renew a contractor registration in here

Contractors who are already licensed or bonded by DLI should not register.

Have the following documents ready before your register or renew as a construction contractor

You will be instructed to upload documents as a single or separate upload.

  1. The Minnesota Secretary of State Office active business filing for the legal business entity.

  2. The Minnesota Secretary of State active assumed name filing – if applicant is using a dba.

  3. Workers’ Compensation Certificate of Insurance – if applicant has employees.

  4. Proof of Unemployment Insurance account with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development – if applicant has employees.


Do you have to register?

An individual or business that performs commercial or residential building construction or improvement services must register with DLI unless they:

  • have a current license, certificate or registration issued by the agency;

  • are an employee of a business performing construction services; or

  • have a current residential building contractor or remodeler certificate of exemption; or

  • are excluded from registration requirements under Minn. Stat. § 326B.701

Contractors who hire unregistered subcontractors, misclassify workers or fail to register are in violation of the law and can be charged with monetary penalties.

If a license is required, do not register

If contractors are performing any construction work for which a license, certification or separate registration is required (i.e. boiler, electrical, elevator, high-pressure piping, plumbing or residential building contractor), they must apply for a license and may not submit a contractor registration. Contact 651-284-5034 or dli.license@state.mn.us for more information about licensing.

A contractor registration is not a license

Being registered does not authorize you to contract with homeowners to perform construction or remodeling work of any kind. It is a violation of state law for a registered contractor to hold him or herself out as a licensed contractor or to imply that a registration number is a license number.

Why is registration important?

  • The Contractor Registration Program was created by the legislature to assist us while investigating worker misclassification (treating employees as independent contractors) in the construction industry.

  • By law, an unregistered subcontractor is presumed to be an employee of any contractor that hires them.

  • Hiring an unregistered individual is a violation of law, though the monetary penalty is forgiven for the first violation.

  • Even if your subcontractors are registered, your relationship with them must meet the Nine Factor Test or they will be deemed to be employees of your company even if they operate as a business entity (corporation or LLC) and maintain their own liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

Online verification of registered contractors

Verify contractor registration

View information about 
searching for registrations

Questions? Contact DLI at 651-284-5074 or dli.register@state.mn.us


Rules:

Statutes: 181.723
326B.805

Forms:

Online Construction Contractor Registration Application

Have the following documents ready before your register or renew as a construction contractor

You will be instructed to upload documents as a single or separate upload.

The Minnesota Secretary of State active business filing for the legal business entity.

The Minnesota Secretary of State active assumed name filing – if applicant is using a dba.

Workers’ Compensation Certificate of Insurance – if applicant has employees.

Proof of Unemployment Insurance account with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development – if applicant has employees.


Fees:

Application fee - $0


Period of Issuance:

Contractor registrations need to be renewed by December 31 of each odd-numbered year.


Length of Determination:

Construction contractor registration renewals and applications are processed in the order received. The applicant will receive email communication when the renewal or application is processed and approved. Renewals may take up to 30 days for processing. Complete applications may take up to 10 business days to issue. For help with questions, contact us at dli.register@state.mn.us or 651-284-5074.


Other Info:
Activity: License Detail URL:

Construction Contractor Registration

License and Registration Lookup

Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry (DLI)

     


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