Minnesota Roofing License Requirements (2026) | DLI Residential Roofer Guide

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Construction Codes and Licensing Division issues the Residential Roofer license under Minn. Stat. §326B.802 et seq. Any contractor performing residential roofing work on one- to four-family dwellings must hold the license if the contractor does not also hold a Residential Building Contractor (RBC) or Residential Remodeler (RR) license. Applicants designate a Qualifying Person who passes the PSI Roofer exam and documents two years of roofing experience. Every licensee contributes to the Contractor Recovery Fund. Minnesota enforces strict insurance-claim roofing rules under Minn. Stat. §325E.66 against post-hailstorm deductible waivers.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division (DLI) pursuant to 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

DLI reviews fraud and consumer protection discipline.

Background investigation

Disclosure on application.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate two years of residential roofing experience for the Qualifying Person with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DLI Qualifying Person Verification Form
W-2 or 1099 corroboration of hours
Reference letters from licensed contractors

Education substitution

Not permitted in lieu of experience.

Examination Requirements

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

Minnesota Residential Roofer Exam — MN Residential Code R905, shingle, metal, modified bitumen, business and law — 85 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $65 paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed exams retaken at $65 each; application valid one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

Minimum $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate under Minn. Stat. §326B.802. Certificate filed with DLI.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every Minnesota employer with one or more employees under Minn. Stat. §176.181.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement. Every licensee contributes $75 to the Contractor Recovery Fund at initial licensure and at each renewal.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$140
Examination	$65
Initial license	$140
Renewal (every year)	$140

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Minnesota Residential Roofer License (DLI) comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $140. Annual renewal with Recovery Fund assessment.

Continuing education: Seven hours of DLI-approved CE each year.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Minnesota Roofing 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
North Dakota	Trade exam waived for active ND contractors in good standing	Bilateral DLI–ND Secretary of State endorsement.

Limited reciprocity. Most out-of-state applicants must pass the PSI Roofer exam.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Designate a Qualifying Person with two years experience. DLI QP Verification Form with payroll corroboration.
Submit the DLI Residential Roofer application. Online through eLicensing portal. $140 application fee plus $75 Recovery Fund assessment.
Pass the PSI Minnesota Residential Roofer exam. 70% on the 85-question combined trade and business exam.
Bind general liability at $100,000/$300,000 minimum. Certificate filed with DLI at application.
Bind Minnesota workers compensation. Mandatory at one employee under Minn. Stat. §176.181.
Adopt §325E.66 compliant contract template. Written contract for insurance-claim work with deductible non-waiver, rescission right, and required disclosures.
Receive license and renew annually. Annual renewal $140 plus Recovery Fund assessment plus seven hours of continuing education.

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

Minnesota Residential Code R905 — DLI. Roof assembly requirements.
Minn. Stat. §326B.802 — Contractor Licensing — State of Minnesota. Licensing statute.
Minn. Stat. §325E.66 — Residential Roofing Contracts — State of Minnesota. Insurance-claim contract rules.

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 Roofing application.

Storm-chaser deductible rebating

§325E.66 prohibits deductible waivers on insurance-claim roofing. The Minnesota AG and DLI actively prosecute post-hailstorm violators.

Ice and water shield failures

Minnesota requires ice barrier membrane statewide under MN Residential Code R905.1.2. Missing ice barrier is the most common inspector failure.

Attic ventilation and frost

Minnesota winters create attic frost that melts in spring. Improper ventilation during reroof triggers mold and framing damage claims.

OSHA / MN OSHA fall protection

Minnesota OSHA enforces fall protection at six feet with state-level penalties. Minneapolis and St. Paul inspect aggressively.

Recovery Fund lapse

Missed Recovery Fund assessment voids renewal. DLI auto-lapses the license on the expiration date.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with DLI:

☐ DLI Qualifying Person Verification (two years)
☐ DLI Residential Roofer application + $215 (fee + Recovery Fund)
☐ PSI exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ General liability certificate ($100K/$300K)
☐ Minnesota workers compensation declaration page
☐ Minn. Stat. §325E.66 compliant contract template

Other Minnesota Trade Licenses

Should the Roofing path not apply, these other Minnesota trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does a Residential Building Contractor need a separate Roofer license?

No. An RBC or Residential Remodeler license already authorizes roofing. The Residential Roofer license is for contractors who do roofing only.

What is the Contractor Recovery Fund?

A DLI-administered fund that compensates homeowners harmed by licensed contractors. Every licensee pays $75 at initial licensure and at each renewal.

What does Minn. Stat. §325E.66 require?

Written contract for insurance-claim roofing, prohibition on deductible waiver or rebate, three-day cancellation right, and required disclosures on policy terms.

Is workers comp mandatory?

Yes for every employer with one or more employees under Minn. Stat. §176.181.

When does the license renew?

Annually. Renewal fee $140 plus $75 Recovery Fund assessment plus seven hours of CE.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-11 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-10