License: Construction Contractor Registration

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry external site

443 Lafayette Road North

St. Paul, MN 55155

(651) 284-5005

State law requires registration of most construction contractors. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) <p style="font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><strong>Review <a href="http://www.dli.mn.gov/business/independent-contractor-registration">Independent Contractor Registration</a></strong></p> <p style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><strong>Construction contractor registration with DLI</strong></p> <p style="outline: none; font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><strong style="outline: none;">Most</strong> contractors who provide residential or commercial building construction or improvement services are required to register with DLI through the <a href="https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/license/initialapp.aspx?code=IR" target="new" style="outline: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 109); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Construction Contractor Registration Program</span></a> if they do not hold a contractorâ??s license.</p> <p style="outline: none; font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="http://www.dli.mn.gov/business/independent-contractor/construction-contractor-registration-renewal" title="Construction contractor registration renewal" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 86, 179); touch-action: manipulation; outline: 0px;">Registration renewal information</a></p> <p style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="outline: none; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Note: If contractors are performing any construction work for which a license, certification or separate registration is required under <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B">Minn. Stat. Chapter 326B</a> (i.e. Boiler, Electrical, Elevator, HPP, Plumbing or Residential Building Contractor) <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">they must apply for a license and may not submit a Contractor Registration.</strong> Contact CCLD's Licensing Services at (651) 284-5031 (personal licenses) or (651) 284-5034 (business licenses) for more information. <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></p> <hr xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" /> <h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-family: "Montserrat Semibold", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(0, 56, 101); font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Do you need to register?</span></h2> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">An individual or business that performs commercial or residential building construction or improvement services must register with us <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">unless</strong> they:</p> <ul type="disc" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Montserrat Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">have a current license, certificate or registration issued by the agency;</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">are an employee of a business performing construction services; or</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">have a current residential building contractor or remodeler certificate of exemption; or</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">are excluded from registration requirements under <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/326B.701" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Minn. Stat. § 326B.701</span></a></p> </li> </ul> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Contractors who hire unregistered subcontractors, misclassify workers or fail to register are in violation of the law and can be charged with monetary penalties.</p> <ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Montserrat Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/registrationFAQ.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;">Background information and frequently asked questions about the law</a></p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">Nine-factor test: <a href="http://www.dli.mn.gov/business/independent-contractor/contractor-registration-nine-factor-test" title="Contractor registration - nine-factor test" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What are the nine conditions to be an independent contractor?</span></a></p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dli.mn.gov/business/independent-contractor/contractor-registration-enforcement-actions" title="Contractor registration enforcement actions" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Contractor registration enforcement actions</span></a> </p> </li> </ul> <h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-family: "Montserrat Semibold", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br /> If a license is required, do not register</h2> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">If contractors are performing any construction work for which a license, certification or separate registration is required (i.e. boiler, electrical, elevator, high-pressure piping, plumbing or residential building contractor), they <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">must apply for a license and may not submit a contractor registration</strong>. Contact 651-284-5034 or <a href="mailto:dli.license@state.mn.us" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">dli.license@state.mn.us</span></a> for more information about licensing.</p> <h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-family: "Montserrat Semibold", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br /> A contractor registration is not a license</h2> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Being registered does not authorize you to contract with homeowners to perform construction or remodeling work of any kind. It is a violation of state law for a registered contractor to hold him or herself out as a licensed contractor or to imply that a registration number is a license number.</p> <h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-family: "Montserrat Semibold", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br /> Why is registration important?</h2> <ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Montserrat Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">The Contractor Registration Program was created by the legislature to assist us while investigating worker misclassification (treating employees as independent contractors) in the construction industry.</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">By law, an unregistered subcontractor is presumed to be an <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">employee </strong>of any contractor that hires them.</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">Hiring an unregistered individual is a violation of law, though the monetary penalty is forgiven for the first violation.</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">Even if your subcontractors are registered, your relationship with them must meet the<a href="http://www.dli.mn.gov/business/independent-contractor/contractor-registration-nine-factor-test" title="Contractor registration - nine-factor test" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;"> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Nine Factor Test</span></a> or they will be deemed to be employees of your company even if they operate as a business entity (corporation or LLC) and maintain their own liability and workersâ?? compensation insurance.</p> </li> </ul> <h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-family: "Montserrat Semibold", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br /> Online verification of registered contractors</h2> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/lookup/licensing.aspx" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;">Verify contractor registration with DLI's License Lookup searchable database</a></p> <ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Montserrat Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">"License class" select "Business"</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">"Select a discipline" select "Registered Contractors"</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">"Select a classification" select "CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION"</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">Click "Search" button</p> </li> <li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: square;"> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif;">Results will show names and status of currently registered contractors</p> </li> </ul> <h2 style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-family: "Montserrat Semibold", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br /> Questions? </h2> <p style="font-size: 10pt;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Contact DLI at 651-284-5074 or </span><a href="mailto:dli.register@state.mn.us?subject=From%20DLI%20website:%20Contractor%20registration" style="font-family: "Open Sans Regular", Arial, Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 108, 223); text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">dli.register@state.mn.us</span></a></p> None