Minnesota Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Minnesota regulates residential carpentry through the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Construction Codes and Licensing Division under Minn. Stat. Chapter 326B.802 et seq. Any person who contracts with a homeowner for two or more "special skills" (one of which is carpentry, masonry, roofing, etc.) on residential construction or remodeling must hold either a Residential Building Contractor (new construction) or Residential Remodeler (alterations) license. Carpentry alone is a "special skill", so a contractor performing only carpentry can be exempt — but the moment carpentry is combined with another trade like drywall or roofing, the license is mandatory. Applicants must pass a DLI exam, contribute to the Contractor Recovery Fund, and submit a $400 fee.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Independent of Minnesota licensing, federal law (the EPA Lead RRP Rule) governs any paint-disturbing renovation, repair, or painting in pre-1978 housing. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (DLI) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B (Construction Codes and Licensing). DLI licenses residential building contractors, remodelers, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical (HVAC) contractors statewide; administers the Contractor Recovery Fund; and enforces the Minnesota State Building Code, Electrical Code, and Plumbing Code.

Official portal: https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/licensing-and-registration/
Address: 443 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (651) 284-5005

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Minnesota residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Required Experience and Education

There is no published year count for this credential in the cited sources. What actually controls eligibility is No experience minimum. The qualifying person must pass the DLI Business, Law and Project Management exam..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to DLI. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Minnesota Business, Law and Project Management — 110 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $400 application fee plus $50 PSI exam fee.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

DLI does not impose a state GL minimum, but Minnesota cities typically require $300,000 to $1,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under Minn. Stat. §176.181 for any contractor with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required, but Recovery Fund contribution scaled to gross volume.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$400
Examination	$50
Initial license	$400
Renewal (every 2 years)	$200

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Minnesota Residential Building Contractor / Residential Remodeler (Carpentry) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $200. Biennial renewal on March 31. Late renewal incurs a $50 reinstatement fee.

Continuing education: 14 hours of continuing education each two-year cycle, including one hour each of energy code, accessibility code, business and law, and at least seven hours of building code.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Minnesota Carpentry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Minnesota for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Minnesota has no formal reciprocity. North Dakota and Wisconsin contractors must complete the full DLI application.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Carpentry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Determine if the work requires a license. Carpentry alone is exempt; carpentry combined with another trade triggers licensure.
Designate a Qualifying Person. Will sit for the DLI Business, Law and Project Management exam.
Submit the DLI application with $400 fee. Online via dli.mn.gov.
Pass the PSI exam at 70%. Schedule with PSI.
Pay the Contractor Recovery Fund surcharge. Scaled to gross volume.
File proof of GL insurance and workers compensation. Per DLI requirements.
Receive the Residential Building Contractor or Remodeler license number. Display on every contract.
Renew biennially on March 31 with 14 CE hours. Submit renewal fee and current insurance.

Recommended References

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

Minnesota Residential Code (Chapter 1309) — Department of Labor and Industry. Adopted IRC with state amendments.
DLI Residential Builder Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Free PDF with content outline.
Minn. Stat. Chapter 326B — State of Minnesota. Licensing statutes.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Minnesota Carpentry application.

Combining trades without a license

A carpenter who also installs windows or trim is now performing two special skills and must have the DLI license.

Skipping the Recovery Fund

Failure to pay the Recovery Fund surcharge prevents license issuance.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required and Minnesota Department of Health enforces concurrently.

Statutory written contract

Minn. Stat. §326B.809 requires a written contract for any residential project over $500.

Misrepresenting the special skill exemption

DLI investigators audit social media and online ads. Listing multiple trades while claiming the carpentry-only exemption is enforcement bait.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with DLI:

☐ DLI application with $400 fee
☐ Designated Qualifying Person
☐ PSI Business, Law and Project Management exam pass certificate
☐ Contractor Recovery Fund surcharge
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if employees)
☐ EPA Lead RRP certification (pre-1978 work)
☐ Statutory written contract template

Other Minnesota Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Minnesota trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does carpentry alone require a Minnesota license?

No. Pure carpentry is a single "special skill" and is exempt under Minn. Stat. §326B.802 Subd. 11. The license becomes mandatory when carpentry is combined with another trade (drywall, roofing, masonry, etc.) or when contracting directly with a homeowner.

What is the difference between Residential Building Contractor and Residential Remodeler?

Residential Building Contractor builds new residential structures. Residential Remodeler alters or improves existing residential structures.

What is the Contractor Recovery Fund?

A consumer compensation fund that pays homeowners up to $75,000 per claim for losses caused by licensed contractors. Contractors contribute at issuance and renewal.

What is the project value threshold?

Any contract for two or more special skills with a homeowner requires the license, regardless of value.

How often does the license renew?

Every two years on March 31 with 14 hours of continuing education.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-02