All Cities / Minnesota / Minneapolis
How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Minneapolis?
✓ Fee schedule checked against city sources
Fee math from Construction Code Services Division, Community Planning Economic Development (CPED) Department, not a national average
Source: Construction Code Services Division, Community Planning Economic Development (CPED) Department · Fee schedule source ↗
Data last verified: September 28, 2026
Minneapolis issues separate building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits. Building permits use a valuation table plus 65% plan review and the state surcharge, with no plan review on simple permits such as siding and roofing, and electrical permits come from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Permit Cost by Project
Kitchen Remodel$1,227.40
Bathroom Remodel$967.70
Building Permit ($25K project)$966.20
Building Permit ($12K project)$517.83
Roof Replacement$421.30
Building Permit ($8K project)$379.87
Deck / Patio$379.42
Solar Panel Installation$376.24
Demolition$274.00
Siding Replacement$274.00
Window Replacement$231.80
HVAC Replacement$166.20
Electrical Panel$101.00
Water Heater$85.20
Plumbing Permit$85.20
EV Charger Installation$81.00
Do You Need a Permit?
No: Paint, cosmetic updates, fixture swaps
Yes: Bathroom remodel ($967.70)
Yes: Kitchen remodel ($1,227.40)
Yes: Roof replacement ($421.30)
Yes: HVAC replacement ($166.20)
Yes: Water heater ($85.20)
Yes: Deck / patio ($379.42)
Yes: Window replacement ($231.80)
Yes: Electrical panel ($101.00)
Yes: Solar panels ($376.24)
Verified Permit Cost by Project Type
Kitchen Remodel
$1,227.40
Building, Plumbing
Bathroom Remodel
$967.70
Building, Plumbing
Building Permit ($25K project)
$966.20
Building
Building Permit ($12K project)
$517.83
Building
Roof Replacement
$421.30
Building
Building Permit ($8K project)
$379.87
Building
Deck / Patio
$379.42
Building
Solar Panel Installation
$376.24
Building
Compare these permit costs across U.S. cities
Two Types of Permits
Minneapolis issues building permits for structural work and separate trade permits for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and roofing. Most remodels need both kinds. See the full breakdown of which projects need a permit and which are exempt.
Minneapolis Permit Cost Calculator
Choose a common project or enter a project value to estimate local permit fees from Construction Code Services Division, Community Planning Economic Development (CPED) Department data.
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Minneapolis calculator ready. Select a project to update the local permit estimate.
Estimated permit fee
$421.30
Updates instantly when project type or valuation changes.
✓ Verified local fee schedule
✓ Building permit, Version 6.1.2019 table at $16,200: $104.20 + $20.60 per $1,000 over $2,000 = $396.72; no plan review for a simple permit such as roofing; + Mn State Surcharge $16,200 x 0.0005 = $8.10; total $404.82. OPEN: whether the table's "and fraction thereof" makes it 15 units ($421.30).
Local sourceBuilt from Construction Code Services Division, Community Planning Economic Development (CPED) Department fee data, not a national average.
Formula-backedValuation-based projects recalculate from the local fee formula.
Bookmark friendlyThe tool lives on this city page so citations and saved links stay stable.
A Minneapolis building permit runs $379.87 on an $8,000 project and $966.20 at $25,000, counting the 65 percent plan review and the state surcharge. Simple permits such as roofing and siding skip plan review: a $16,200 re-roof is $421.30. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are separate, priced per fixture, per circuit and by level.
Minneapolis Permit Fees Explained
Minneapolis prices the building permit on a valuation table: $104.20 for the first $2,000, then $20.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction up to $25,000, with an $84.20 minimum. Plan review adds 65 percent, and the Minnesota State Surcharge adds 0.05 percent of the project value. That totals $379.87 at $8,000, $517.83 at $12,000, and $966.20 at $25,000.
"There is no plan review fee for simple permits (e.g. siding, roofing)", so a $16,200 re-roof is $421.30 and $10,000 of siding $274.00. A $7,100 deck, with plan review, is $379.42.
The trades are separate. Plumbing is $41.40 per fixture with an $85.20 minimum that includes the $1 state surcharge, so a water heater is $85.20. Existing-home mechanical work is $84.20, $132.40 or $216.60 by level, plus $1. Electrical goes through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at $12 per circuit with a $55 minimum per inspection, plus a $1 surcharge and a $25 permit fee, so a single EV charger circuit is $81.
Our remodel figures count a typical job: three plumbing fixtures ($125.20), one new circuit with rough-in and final electrical inspections ($136), and for a bathroom a fan permit ($85.20). On that count a $15,000 bathroom comes to $967.70 and a $25,000 kitchen to $1,227.40. A 200-amp panel replacement is $101, a central air replacement $166.20 with its electrical inspection, and a window replacement, which pays no plan review, $231.80 on an $8,000 job.
Chuck's Take
"I tell every customer the same thing. If my bid doesn't show a line for permits add three to five percent yourself. Minneapolis separates every trade so the number surprises people who expect one flat fee. I've seen jobs where the mechanical alone ate the contingency."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
What Needs a Permit in Minneapolis?
You need a permit for most work that touches structure, plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems. The city's exempt-from-permit list includes cabinets, countertops, floor tile, carpet, wallpaper and paint; carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms; gutters; soffits, fascia and trim; and swings and play equipment.
Outside, fences no more than seven feet high are exempt, as are one-story sheds under 200 square feet and freestanding decks, platforms and stoops under 30 inches high that are not attached with frost footings and do not serve the main entrance. Water heater replacement needs a plumbing permit.
Penalties for Skipping Permits in Minneapolis
Under Sec. 91.50 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, anyone who starts work without a required permit pays double the permit fees when they later get it, and remains subject to all the code's penalties.
That can also mean stop work orders or removal of the work. Unpermitted work tends to surface through neighbor complaints, home sales or insurance claims. Pull the permit first.
How Long Is a Building Permit Good For in Minneapolis?
The fee documents we reviewed do not state how long a Minneapolis residential permit stays valid. If none of the work has started, the city charges a $50 processing fee on a refund. Ask Development Review about the validity window before you schedule the job.
Who Should Pull the Permit in Minneapolis?
Owner-occupants can pull some of their own permits. Sec. 101.70 lets the owner-occupant of a single-family dwelling get plumbing permits for repairs, additions, replacements and alterations to their own home. Heating and air-conditioning permits go only to city-licensed installers (Sec. 105.70), with limited exceptions such as individually vented kitchen and bathroom exhaust.
Watch out for any contractor who wants you to pull the permit yourself. Your name ends up on the paperwork, and their insurance doesn't.
Chuck's Take
"Never let a contractor talk you into pulling the permit. If they won't put their name on it they won't stand behind the work. Minneapolis rules make this crystal clear. Your license. Your risk."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
Minneapolis Follows State Rules With Local Twists
Minneapolis sits under the Minnesota State Building Code with its own amendments in Title 5. The big difference is how strictly it separates the trades: building on valuation, plumbing per fixture, mechanical by level, and electrical through the state.
The city's fee pages were last updated February 27, 2026, and still print the same building, plumbing and mechanical rates as the 2019 schedule. A $12,000 re-roof is $316.20 with no plan review; the same roof valued at $25,000 is $590.50.
Quick Reference · Minneapolis Permit Requirements
| Homeowner Task | Permit? | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Paint interior / exterior | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace flooring | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace kitchen cabinets (same layout) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Swap a light fixture (same location) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace a water heater | YES | $85.20 Plumbing |
| Upgrade an electrical panel | YES | $101.00 Electrical |
| Remodel a bathroom | YES | $967.70 Building, Plumbing |
| Remodel a kitchen | YES | $1,227.40 Building, Plumbing |
| Replace / repair roof | YES | $421.30 Building |
| Build a deck or patio | YES | $379.42 Building |
| Build a fence (≤6 ft) | NO | Typically exempt |
| Install solar panels | YES | $376.24 Building |
| Replace HVAC system | YES | $166.20 Mechanical |
| Replace windows (new opening) | YES | $231.80 Building |
∗ Costs are verified for Minneapolis, MN from published fee schedule. Always confirm with your local building department.
Internal Comparison · separate trade permits
Compare Minneapolis Permit Fees With Related Cities
Use these source-linked city pages to compare Minneapolis against other Minnesota markets and cities with similar permit fee structures.
Columbus, OHAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $944.35 · -$23.35 vs Minneapolis
Salt Lake City, UTAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $883.11 · -$84.59 vs Minneapolis
San Jose, CAAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $864.00 · -$103.70 vs Minneapolis
Fort Worth, TXCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $525.95 · -$441.75 vs Minneapolis
Chicago, ILCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $325.00 · -$642.70 vs Minneapolis
Dallas, TXCross-market benchmark
Permit Guides
Permit Cost and Process Guides
Pricing a specific project in Minneapolis? These guides cover what each permit runs and how the approval process actually works.
Building permit cost, every verified city ranked
How much does a building permit cost?
How long does a permit take to get?
When is a permit not required?
Deck permit cost
Roof replacement permit cost
HVAC permit cost
Kitchen remodel permit cost
Solar panel permit cost
EV charger permit cost
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?
Do I need a permit for an electrical panel upgrade?
How to speed up a building permit
Getting an electrical permit online
What happens if you build without a permit
Before You Build
Before you build, check furnace installation costs at TheFatBook, the cost index behind these permit numbers.
Frequently Asked · Minneapolis
How much does a building permit cost in Minneapolis?
The building permit with plan review and state surcharge is $379.87 on an $8,000 project and $966.20 at $25,000. Roofing and siding skip plan review. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are added per fixture, circuit or level.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Minneapolis?
Yes, you need a plumbing permit. A single fixture at $41.40 falls under the $85.20 minimum, which includes the $1 state surcharge, so a water heater permit is $85.20.
How much is a plumbing permit in Minneapolis?
Plumbing is $41.40 per fixture with an $85.20 minimum that includes the $1 state surcharge. The count of fixtures decides the total, and the plumbing permit is separate from the building permit.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Minneapolis?
Yes, unless it is freestanding, under 30 inches high, has no frost footings and does not serve the main entrance. A $7,100 deck with plan review and state surcharge is $379.42.
Why does Minneapolis charge separate permits for each trade?
The city follows the Minnesota State Building Code with local amendments that keep building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical on separate tracks. This makes the math more predictable once you understand it. But it also means four different fees instead of one.
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