Minnesota · Penalties if you skip one

What you can build without a permit in Minnesota

By Mario Bailey Last checked · 18 official sources

Quick answer

Across the 2 Minnesota jurisdictions we have verified, 0 of 20 project rules need no permit at all, 8 turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes, and 12 require a permit regardless. Deck work is where the answer most often comes with a published condition rather than a flat yes: 2 of the 2 jurisdictions that answer publish one.

How to read this page

"No permit" means the jurisdiction publishes that the work needs no building permit. "Depends" means it publishes a size, height, depth, cost or scope condition that decides the answer, quoted in its own words in the last column; the number beside it is the figure that condition turns on, and which side of the number is exempt is stated by the condition, not by us. Exempt from a building permit is not exempt from zoning, setbacks, height limits, flood rules, an HOA, or a separate electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit, and several of the conditions below say exactly that.

Deck

All 2 make the deck answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes, and the 2 that state a number all publish 30 inches.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Minneapolis Depends 30 inches freestanding decks less than 30 in above grade that are not attached with frost footings and do not serve the main entrance are exempt; all other decks require a permit.
Saint Paul Depends 30 inches height of a deck or platform above grade, where it is also not attached to a structure with frost footings and does not act as a landing outside an exterior door.

Patio

All 2 make the patio answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Minneapolis Depends 30 inches freestanding platforms less than 30 in above grade that are not attached with frost footings and do not serve the main entrance are exempt; others may require a permit.
Saint Paul Depends Saint Paul does not publish a rule that names patios, so the provision that governs an uncovered patio at grade is DSI's deck and platform exemption: a platform that does not act as a landing outside an exterior door, is not more than 30 inches above grade and is not attached to a structure with frost footings needs no building permit, and DSI separately exempts residential sidewalks and driveways.

Shed

All 2 make the shed answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes, and the 2 that state a number all publish 200 sq ft.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Minneapolis Depends 200 sq ft one-story tool and storage sheds under 200 sq ft are exempt from a permit; sheds 200 sq ft or larger or more than one story require a permit.
Saint Paul Depends 200 sq ft floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use.

Fence

1 of 2 makes the fence answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. Saint Paul requires a permit for fence work regardless of size.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Minneapolis Depends 7 feet fences no more than 7 feet high are exempt from a permit; fences over 7 feet require a building permit.
Saint Paul Permit required Saint Paul is unusual in that no fence is exempt: Sec. 33.07(b) of the Legislative Code requires a fence plan review from the building official for every fence in the city, and Sec. 33.07(a) adds a permit on top of that for any fence greater than seven feet in height.

Pool

1 of 2 makes the pool answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. Minneapolis requires a permit for pool work regardless of size.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Saint Paul Depends 5,000 gallons water capacity of an in-ground or above ground swimming pool; the prefabricated pool exemption additionally requires the pool to be no more than 24 inches deep and installed entirely above ground.
Minneapolis Permit required A building permit is required for installing a private residential swimming pool in Minneapolis.

If the work is already built

Minnesota's State Building Code applies statewide, and any municipality that had adopted it by January 1, 2008 must keep administering and enforcing it, with an exception for municipalities under 2,500 population outside the Twin Cities metro area. Chapter 326B, which contains the building code and its permit provisions, is defined as part of the Department of Labor and Industry's 'applicable law.'

Minnesota penalties, the after-the-fact path, and what the statute actually says

The 20 answered rules come from 18 official sources, each linked from the permit page behind every jurisdiction name. See the full picture for the state on the Minnesota permit requirements page, or the national view of which projects need a permit at all on Do you need a building permit?

This page compiles what each Minnesota jurisdiction publishes, with a last checked date. It is not legal advice, and a project that is exempt from a building permit can still need zoning approval or a trade permit. Confirm with the office linked from the jurisdiction's page before you build.