Minnesota HVAC replacement: mechanical contractors hold NO state license — DLI verbatim, 'there is no state license required for mechanical contractors' — so the credential is the $25,000 mechanical contractor bond filed with DLI ($100 filing, valid two years, $100 renewal), plus whatever the city requires (comp cards for workers are local). Electrical work on the unit needs a Board of Electricity license, and the contracting company registers under § 326B.701 when it holds no residential license. § 326B.805 subd. 6(6) exempts mechanical contractors from the residential license.
No state license for mechanical contractors or their workers (verified absence) — and they are exempt from the residential license — Minnesota has NO state mechanical contractor license: DLI verbatim 'there is no state license required for mechanical contractors' and 'Minnesota also has no state license requirement for individual employees of mechanical contractors. However, cities may require licensure or a competency card for workers performing mechanical work' (read 2026-10-05). Minn. Stat. § 326B.805 subd. 6(6) separately exempts 'a mechanical contractor' from the RESIDENTIAL contractor license while the bond regime applies. The credential surface for HVAC/fuel-gas work is the $25,000 bond (REQ-MN-MECHANICAL-BOND-001) plus local requirements. S-MN-DLI-MECHANICAL-BOND
Mechanical contractors: $25,000 bond filed with DLI ($100 fee, two-year validity) — instead of a license — DLI verbatim: 'While there is no state license required for mechanical contractors, businesses must file a $25,000 mechanical contractor bond with DLI in order to contract to perform gas, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel burning or refrigeration work. The bond must be on the form approved by DLI and written by a surety company licensed to do business in Minnesota … The fee for filing a bond with DLI is $100 and the filing is valid for two years. The renewal fee for a bond filing is $100.' 'In addition to filing a bond with DLI, mechanical contractors must comply with local licensing requirements' and cities may require individual comp cards for workers (not issued by DLI). Code: Minnesota Mechanical Code ch. 1346 (2012 International Mechanical & Fuel Gas Codes + amendments). S-MN-DLI-MECHANICAL-BOND
Electrical work needs DLI electrical licenses (contractor/electrician/sign/satellite); employers register unlicensed helpers — DLI verbatim: 'We license electrical contractors, electricians, satellite system installers, sign contractors and register unlicensed individuals.' The Board of Electricity adopted 'the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) with an effective date of Aug. 17, 2026' — 'Electrical permits filed before Aug. 17, 2026, must comply with the 2023 NEC. Electrical permits filed on or after Aug. 17, 2026, must comply with the 2026 NEC. Electrical licensing exams will transition to the 2026 NEC beginning Sept. 8, 2026.' Statutory skeleton: §§ 326B.31–399 (Board of Electricity, § 326B.33 licenses) with § 326B.092 fees (business base $180 + $8 board fee for 2 years + $50 exam where commissioner-administered) — per-class fee rows were not read this phase (research §J item 5). Since July 1, 2023 the residential SOLAR installation itself must be performed by a Minnesota-licensed electrical contractor (REQ-MN-SOLAR-001). S-MN-DLI-ELECTRICAL
Construction contractor registration required for single-skill residential work and ALL commercial work — Minn. Stat. § 326B.701 subd. 2(a) verbatim: 'any person who provides or performs building construction or improvement services in the state of Minnesota must register with the commissioner as provided in this section before providing or performing building construction or improvement services. The requirements for registration under this section are not a substitute for, and do not relieve a person from complying with, any other law requiring that the person be licensed, registered, or certified.' DLI: the program is 'for those who provide one specialty skill for residential projects and for all commercial projects, if they do not hold a residential contractor's license' — and 'If a license is required, do not register.' Exemptions (subd. 2(b)): current ch. 299M/326B credentials, a bond under § 326B.197 or § 326B.46, employees, architects/engineers, school districts/technical colleges, volunteers, and § 326B.805 subd. 6(4) persons. Registration expires December 31 of each odd-numbered year (renewals from October 1); each day unregistered is a separate violation (subd. 5(c)); engaging an unregistered registrant is itself prohibited (subd. 5(b)(3)). Application contents: legal/assumed names, addresses, ownership percentages, identification numbers, WC and unemployment compliance, violations history and attestation (subd. 3(b)). No fee amount is published on the statute or DLI page — NOT_VERIFIED. S-MN-MCL-326B-701
State license preempts local licensing for in-scope work — with the on-site sewage exception and DLI's boundaries — Minn. Stat. § 326B.835 subd. 1 verbatim: 'a political subdivision may not require a person licensed under sections 326B.802 to 326B.885 to also be licensed or pay a registration or other fee related to licensure under any ordinance, law, rule, or regulation of the political subdivision. This section does not prohibit charges for building permits or other charges not directly related to licensure.' Subd. 2 exception: local licensure/certification for 'persons who engage in the installation of an on-site sewage treatment system.' DLI FAQ adds the operational boundaries: cities and counties cannot require a local license from a state licensee for work COVERED by the state license, but they can require local licensing for Certificate of Exemption holders, specialty contractors, and state licensees working OUTSIDE their state scope (city-owned property, HVAC installation or maintenance, commercial work). S-MN-MCL-326B-835