Nail Salon Permit Requirements in Minneapolis, MN

Complete permit and license guide for starting a nail salon in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Verified 2026-09-03 8 stops $500–$1,700 est. 5–10 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

2 stops
  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)

  2. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard Compliance

    Nail salons handle hazardous chemicals. OSHA requires Safety Data Sheets, employee training, and adequate ventilation (29 CFR 1910.1200).

    Official government source

    Free (compliance requirement)Implement before opening

State of Minnesota

3 stops
  1. Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners — Cosmetology Salon License

    All nail salons in Minnesota must be licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. The salon license requires an application and compliance with Minnesota Statutes chapter 155A and Minnesota Rules chapter 2105, covering ventilation, sanitation, equipment and facility standards.

    Official government source

    $350 initial salon license and $225 renewal, each covering a 3-year term (Minn. Stat. 155A.25)Issued after application review and inspection; the salon license runs a 3-year term expiring on the last day of the month in which the salon was first licensed

  2. Individual Nail Technician License (per employee)

    Every nail technician working in the salon must hold a valid Minnesota nail technician license issued by the Board of Cosmetologist Examiners under Minn. Stat. chapter 155A. This requires completing an approved nail technology training program and passing the written exam.

    Official government source

    $195 for the initial license — a $155 license fee plus a $40 application fee — covering a 3-year term; $115 to renew (Minn. Stat. 155A.25)Issued after the approved training program and the written exam; the license runs a 3-year term and expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month

  3. Minnesota Sales Tax Registration (Minnesota Tax ID)

    Required for selling retail products such as polishes, files and gift cards in your salon. Register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Nail and other cosmetology services are not on the state's list of taxable services, but tangible products you resell are taxable. The Minnesota state rate is 6.875% and the combined rate in Minneapolis is 9.025%.

    Official government source

    FreeOnline through e-Services (Business Tax Registration)

City of Minneapolis / Hennepin County

3 stops
  1. No Minneapolis Business License for Nail Salons — Licensed by the State

    Minneapolis does not license nail salons. The city's own list of what it does not license puts beautician and barber licensing with the State of Minnesota, and nail salons are not a Minneapolis license category. Nail salons are not Body Art Establishments either — that Minneapolis category covers tattooing and piercing only. Salons and nail technicians are licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners under Minn. Stat. chapter 155A and Minn. Rules chapter 2105.

    Official government source

    $0 to the City of Minneapolis. State fees under Minn. Stat. 155A.25: salon license $350 initial and $225 renewal; individual nail technician license $195 initial and $115 renewal — each covering a 3-year term.No city process; state salon and practitioner licenses run 3-year terms

  2. City of Minneapolis — Certificate of Occupancy

    Minneapolis requires a Certificate of Occupancy before a new building is occupied and whenever a building's use or occupancy classification changes, which covers converting a space to a nail salon. Community Planning & Economic Development (Construction Code Services) handles the review, and the building official issues the certificate after the final CoO inspection confirms the space meets building, fire and accessibility codes.

    Official government source

    No separate Certificate of Occupancy fee — the certificate is issued as part of the building permit process, and Minneapolis building permit fees are based on the valuation of the job including labor and materials (Minneapolis Code Title 5, Chapter 91)Issued after the final Certificate of Occupancy inspection, which is requested once all on-site construction inspections such as mechanical and plumbing have passed

  3. No Minneapolis Nail Salon Permit — Salons Licensed by the State

    Minneapolis has no "Health Establishment Permit" for nail salons, and nail salons are not one of the city's licensed business categories. Nail salons and nail technicians are licensed statewide by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners under Minn. Stat. ch. 155A and Minn. Rules ch. 2105, which set the ventilation, sanitation, equipment and chemical-handling standards that apply in Minneapolis.

    Official government source

    $0 to the City of Minneapolis; the state salon license is $350 initial and $225 renewal (Minn. Stat. 155A.25)No city process; the state salon license runs a 3-year term and is issued after application review and inspection

Terminus

Open for business — est. $500–$1,700 · 5–10 weeks to obtain all licenses and permits

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