Minnesota Concrete Contractor License Requirements (2026)
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Verified · Updated · Published
Minnesota does not issue a standalone state concrete contractor license. For a direct contract with the owner of one-to-four-unit residential real estate, masonry/concrete is one special-skill area. A contractor providing only that one skill is not required to have a state license (except residential roofers); more than one special skill can require a residential building contractor or remodeler license.
Local licensing in major Minnesota cities
These Minnesota cities and counties add their own licensing on top of the state requirements. Each link opens the jurisdiction's official page; confirm the current requirement there before bidding.
| Jurisdiction | What it requires | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Paulstpaul.gov | Saint Paul issues a Concrete Masonry / Finish Cement business trade license for work on one- and two-family dwellings and their accessory structures. It requires a Saint Paul Master Concrete Masonry / Finish Cement Certificate of Competency, liability insurance, and proof of workers’ compensation. | $188.00 annual trade license fee |
Who Issues the Minnesota Concrete Contractor License?
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (DLI) administers the credential or scope-specific rules for concrete work in Minnesota under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B (Construction Codes and Licensing), and whether they apply depends on the work scope and conditions explained below. Administers the residential contractor framework; masonry/concrete is one special-skill area within that framework.
- Official portal: dli.mn.gov
- Address: 443 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155
- Phone: (651) 284-5005
Minnesota Concrete Contractor License Eligibility Requirements
This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. Nonresidents may be licensed after complying with the same Minnesota residential-contractor provisions.
Good moral character
DLI reviews statutory disclosure information, including fraud-related convictions, civil judgments, and licensing discipline.
Background investigation
Use DLI’s current application and background-check requirements.
How Much Experience Do You Need for a Minnesota Concrete Contractor License?
No statewide concrete license applies to a contractor providing only the one masonry/concrete special skill. A multi-skill residential contractor/remodeler path has separate qualifying-person requirements.
Accepted proof of experience or eligibility
- Use DLI licensing documents only when the residential multi-skill path applies.
Minnesota Concrete Contractor Exam Requirements
No statewide examination is specified for this pathway. The controlling process is: No state concrete examination for a one-special-skill contractor
Examination fee: No state concrete trade-examination fee.
Retake policy: Use DLI materials if the multi-skill residential contractor/remodeler path applies.
Minnesota Concrete Contractor Insurance and Bond Requirements
The cited sources do not require a license surety bond for the Minnesota concrete contractor license, but a permit, contract, or public-works bond can still apply to a given job, so confirm bonding before you bid.
General liability
No standalone state concrete insurance requirement was identified. DLI insurance requirements apply when the residential contractor/remodeler path applies.
Workers' compensation
Confirm workforce coverage separately.
How Much Does a Minnesota Concrete Contractor License Cost?
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance |
| Initial license | No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance |
| Renewal cycle varies by jurisdiction | No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance |
To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Minnesota concrete contractor.
Minnesota Concrete Contractor License Renewal and Continuing Education
The Minnesota concrete contractor license has no single statewide renewal cycle; follow the schedule set by DLI or the local jurisdiction. The cited sources list no separate statewide renewal fee for the Minnesota concrete contractor license. Use DLI renewal requirements only if the multi-skill residential path applies.
Continuing education: No standalone concrete-license continuing education.
Does Minnesota Accept Out-of-State Concrete Contractor Licenses?
Minnesota does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for the Minnesota concrete contractor license.
| Reciprocal State | Accepted Exam | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified. | ||
There is no Minnesota concrete-only license to reciprocate.
Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares published Concrete Contractor license requirements by state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.
How to Get a Minnesota Concrete Contractor License, Step by Step
- Confirm residential scope. This rule concerns direct contracts with owners of one-to-four-unit residential real estate.
- Count special-skill areas. Masonry/concrete is one special skill; adding another special skill can change the state licensing path.
- Check local and commercial requirements. The residential rule does not establish a statewide commercial concrete credential.
- Assemble the project-specific file. Keep the classification or registration record, insurance or bond evidence, contract scope, and the documents required by Minnesota's permitting authority together before applying for a permit or beginning work.
- Keep state authority and project approval aligned. Do not let a broad contractor credential, registration, or specialty label substitute for the actual project permit, plan review, inspection, or separately licensed trade requirement.
Application Checklist
Have each of these ready before you file with DLI:
Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.
Common Filing Mistakes
These are the problems most likely to delay or derail a Minnesota Concrete Contractor application, drawn from the instructions of DLI and the other sources cited on this page.
Miscounting special skills
The one-special-skill exemption does not extend to a contractor providing work in more than one special-skill area.
Treating a statewide starting point as complete project authority
A contractor can still be outside the applicable scope or permit rules even after completing the state registration, classification, or other initial requirement.
Bidding outside the actual concrete scope
A classification, registration, or exemption must match the particular concrete scope and project facts; it is not blanket authority for unrelated or separately regulated work.
Study and Reference Materials
These references are cited in the Minnesota sources for this guide or commonly used to prepare for concrete work; CLR receives no compensation for listing them.
- Minnesota DLI specialty skill areas — Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Use the official definition before deciding whether a residential license is needed.
Concrete Contractor Pay and Employment in Minnesota
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 3,070 cement masons and concrete finishers work in Minnesota, earning a median of $66,830 a year ($32.13 an hour). That is 17% above the national median of $57,020, ranking 6th of 51 jurisdictions BLS published. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,380 and the top 10% earn over $98,610. The trade makes up a smaller share of Minnesota's workforce than it does nationally (location quotient 0.79).
| Measure | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $66,830 | $57,020 |
| Median hourly wage | $32.13 | $27.41 |
| 10th–90th percentile | $49,380–$98,610 | $39,190–$85,480 |
| Employment | 3,070 | 206,170 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2051 (Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers). Figures cover wage and salary employees and exclude self-employed owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Minnesota issue a dedicated concrete contractor license?
No. Minnesota does not issue a standalone state concrete contractor license.
What is the main state-level path for concrete contractors in Minnesota?
For a direct contract with the owner of one-to-four-unit residential real estate, masonry/concrete is one special-skill area. A contractor providing only that one skill is not required to have a state license (except residential roofers); more than one special skill can require a residential building contractor or remodeler license.
Do local permits or local contractor cards still matter in Minnesota?
Yes. This page focuses on the statewide path, but local permit, registration, and competency rules can still control whether you may actually contract or pull permits on a concrete project.
Does the statewide route replace local concrete permits or approvals?
No. The statewide route described here is separate from the permit, inspection, zoning, right-of-way, and project-specific contractor requirements set by Minnesota's permitting authority.
Do any Minnesota cities license concrete contractors?
Yes. Saint Paul sets a local license, registration, or bonding requirement that covers concrete work. Other cities and counties set their own rules, so check the jurisdiction where the work is located.
Primary Sources
Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.
Verified 2026-09-08 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-07
Report a correction to this guide
Corrections and updates
- : The page summary said no statewide license applies. It now says the answer depends on the work, because a residential building contractor or remodeler license (for direct-to-owner work in more than one special skill) can apply to concrete projects, as this page describes.
Layout changes shared by every guide are listed in the template change log; they do not change source-check dates.
Concrete Contractor Licensing in Neighboring States
Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Minnesota's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:
- Iowa Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Iowa Concrete Contractor — Statewide Registration / No Separate Concrete Classification
- North Dakota Concrete Contractor License Requirements — North Dakota Concrete Contractor License — Secretary of State
- South Dakota Concrete Contractor License Requirements — South Dakota Concrete Contractor — Contractor’s Excise Tax License
- Wisconsin Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Wisconsin Concrete Contractor — Dwelling Contractor / Local Framework
More guides for Minnesota contractors
Other Minnesota Trade Licenses
CLR also publishes these Minnesota licensing guides for other trades:
- Minnesota General Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Electrician License Requirements
- Minnesota Plumber License Requirements
- Minnesota HVAC Technician License Requirements
- Minnesota Roofing Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Painting Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Masonry Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Solar Installer License Requirements
- Minnesota Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
- Minnesota Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Home Inspector License Requirements
- Minnesota Pool Contractor License Requirements
- Minnesota Handyman License Requirements
- Minnesota Pest Control License Requirements
- Minnesota Septic Contractor License Requirements