Electrical Contractor Permit Requirements in Minneapolis, MN

Complete permit and license guide for starting a electrical contractor in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Verified 2026-09-03 6 stops $700–$2,000 est. 6–10 weeks to obtain all licenses and permits
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop
  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Minnesota

3 stops
  1. Minnesota Master Electrician License

    A master electrician is required to qualify an electrical contracting business in Minnesota. The licence is issued by the Department of Labor and Industry. Applicants need at least five years (60 months) of qualifying electrical experience, or one year as a licensed journeyworker electrician, or an electrical engineering degree, and must pass the state master electrician exam. The business itself separately holds an electrical contractor licence.

    Official government source

    $50 application and examination fee, then $88 for the two-year master licence ($80 base fee plus an $8 board fee); renewal is $93 for two years ($80 base, $8 board, $5 continuing education) under Minn. Stat. 326B.092. The electrical contractor licence the master qualifies costs $188 initial or renewal and requires a $25,000 surety bond plus liability insurance of $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate and $50,000 property damage.Two-year licence term; a renewal received after expiry carries a late fee equal to half the renewal fee

  2. Minnesota Electrical Contractor License

    The contracting business must also hold a Minnesota Electrical Contractor license issued by the DLI, in addition to the individual Master Electrician license. The license must designate the qualifying Master Electrician.

    Official government source

    $188 (initial application and biennial renewal fee)2–4 weeks

  3. Minnesota Business Entity Registration (if applicable)

    LLCs and corporations must register with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

    Official government source

    $135 (mail filing) or $155 (online filing)Immediate (online or in person); 4-7 business days if filed by mail

City of Minneapolis / Hennepin County

2 stops
  1. Minnesota Electrical Contractor License (state, not city)

    Minneapolis does not issue a city electrical contractor licence. The city's own list of what it does not license puts "Electricians Licenses" with the State of Minnesota, and electrical does not appear among Minneapolis's contractor trade licences, which cover plumbing, mechanical and HVAC, gas fitting and similar trades. Electrical contractors and master electricians are licensed solely by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

    Official government source

    $0 to the City of Minneapolis. The state electrical contractor licence is $188 initial and $188 to renew, and requires a $25,000 surety bond plus liability insurance of $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate and $50,000 property damage. The qualifying master electrician pays a $50 application and examination fee, then $88 for a two-year licence and $93 to renew (Minn. Stat. 326B.092).No city process; the state electrical contractor licence and the master electrician licence both run two-year terms

  2. Minnesota Electrical Contractor License (State) — No Minneapolis Business License

    Minneapolis has no general business licence and does not license electrical contractors at the city level — electrical is absent from the city's contractor trade licences, and the city's own list of what it does not license puts "Electricians Licenses" with the State of Minnesota. Electrical contractors and electricians are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, which applies statewide including in Minneapolis.

    Official government source

    $0 to the City of Minneapolis. The state electrical contractor licence is $188 initial and $188 renewal, with a $25,000 surety bond and liability insurance of $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate and $50,000 property damage. The qualifying master electrician pays a $50 application and examination fee, then $88 for two years and $93 to renew (Minn. Stat. 326B.092).No city process; the state contractor and master licences both run two-year terms

Terminus

Open for business — est. $700–$2,000 · 6–10 weeks to obtain all licenses and permits

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