Minnesota Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Construction Codes and Licensing Division licenses Residential Building Contractors and Residential Remodelers under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B. Masonry contractors performing residential work above $15,000 (gross annual receipts) must hold an active DLI license with the qualifying person passing the trade and law exam. Contractors must contribute to the Contractor Recovery Fund. Commercial masonry has no separate Minnesota state license. This page documents the verified path including the Recovery Fund, MNOSHA silica enforcement, and Minnesota Building Code (IBC with MN amendments) compliance.

The Licensing Authority

Licensing for this trade is governed by Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (DLI), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under 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

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Minnesota residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Good moral character

DLI reviews prior license discipline and consumer complaints. Felonies relating to fraud may bar issuance.

Background investigation

Self-disclosure of criminal history on the DLI application; DLI requests court records for any disclosed conviction.

Experience and Education Requirements

The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is No state experience requirement, but the qualifying person must pass the DLI Residential Building Contractor or Remodeler exam covering Minnesota Building Code Chapter 21 and business law..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers
Project list with addresses and dates

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to Minnesota DLI, breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Minnesota Residential Building Contractor / Remodeler Examination — MN Building Code Chapter 21, masonry, business and law — 110 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $50 PSI exam fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken with a new $50 fee. Application remains valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

DLI requires GL on the application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 176 for any Minnesota employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 is one of the highest manual rates in Minnesota.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement. Annual contribution to the Contractor Recovery Fund (Minn. Stat. §326B.89) is mandatory and currently $40 per license year.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$260
Examination	$50
Initial license	$260
Renewal (every 2 years)	$260

License Renewal

The Minnesota Residential Building Contractor / Remodeler (Masonry) — DLI must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $260. Minnesota DLI licenses renew every two years. Late renewal incurs reinstatement fees and possible re-exam.

Continuing education: Seven hours of DLI-approved continuing education each renewal cycle including one hour of energy code.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Minnesota grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

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

Minnesota has no reciprocity for masonry contractors. Out-of-state applicants must pass the DLI exam.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Form a Minnesota or foreign entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Minnesota Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Pass the DLI Residential Building Contractor / Remodeler exam. Score 70% or better on the 110-question PSI exam covering Minnesota Building Code Chapter 21 and business law.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp for any employees.
Submit DLI license application. File the Residential Building Contractor or Remodeler application with $260 license fee, exam scores, GL/workers comp certificates, and Recovery Fund contribution.
Receive DLI license number. DLI issues the license; it must appear on every contract and ad per Minn. Stat. §326B.84.
Use Minnesota residential contract requirements. Minn. Stat. §326B.809 mandates written contracts on residential work above $1,000 with specific disclosures.
Implement MNOSHA silica program. MNOSHA (Minnesota state OSHA plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with state-specific recordkeeping; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Preparation Resources

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Minnesota Building Code Chapter 21 (IBC with Minnesota amendments) — Minnesota DLI. Required reference for the DLI exam — Minnesota cold-climate masonry amendments.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under Minnesota Building Code Chapter 21.
Minn. Stat. Chapter 326B — Construction Codes and Licensing — State of Minnesota. Minnesota contractor licensing law including the Recovery Fund.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to DLI, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Minnesota Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and Minnesota Department of Revenue tax account
☐ PSI DLI exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp certificates
☐ Contractor Recovery Fund contribution ($40)
☐ DLI application with $260 fee
☐ Minn. Stat. §326B.809 compliant contract template
☐ MNOSHA silica written exposure control plan

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Minnesota Masonry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Severe freeze-thaw veneer failure

Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles cause spalling and tie corrosion in undersized or improperly bedded veneer; Twin Cities inspectors fail jobs without proper flashing and weeps.

Non-compliant residential contract

Minn. Stat. §326B.809 contracts without required disclosures cannot be enforced. Contractors lose Minnesota court disputes routinely over this.

CE missed at renewal

Seven CE hours including one hour of energy code are required at every two-year renewal. Missed CE blocks renewal.

Recovery Fund skipped

The annual Recovery Fund contribution voids the license if skipped at renewal.

Silica plan absent

MNOSHA targets Twin Cities and Duluth masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations with Minnesota recordkeeping penalties.

Other Minnesota Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Minnesota trades; the published ones are listed here:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Minnesota license masonry as a trade?

Yes for residential. Minnesota DLI licenses Residential Building Contractors and Remodelers covering masonry. Commercial masonry has no separate state license.

What triggers DLI licensing?

$15,000 in gross annual residential construction receipts triggers mandatory DLI licensing under Minn. Stat. §326B.802.

What is the Recovery Fund?

A consumer protection fund under Minn. Stat. §326B.89 funded by $40 annual contributions from each licensee. Compensates homeowners for losses up to $75,000 per claim.

Does Minnesota enforce OSHA silica?

Yes. MNOSHA (Minnesota state OSHA plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with stricter recordkeeping than federal OSHA.

Are anchored veneer ties critical in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota severe freeze-thaw exposure requires corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Twin Cities and Duluth inspectors enforce strictly.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-06 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-04