What's Required in Minneapolis
- Cabinets, countertops, flooring, tile and paint need no permit.
- Removing or opening walls or cutting structural members requires a building permit.
- Moving or adding a sink, dishwasher or other fixture requires a plumbing permit.
- A new or rerouted kitchen exhaust vent requires a mechanical permit.
- New circuits and outlets require an electrical permit from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
- Gas piping for heating appliances must be done by a licensed gas installer under a separate permit.
- Building permit applications are emailed to the city, and plans go through ProjectDox.
- Wiring must be inspected at rough-in before walls are covered and again at final.
Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Minneapolis?
It depends on what the remodel touches. Minnesota Rules 1300.0120 exempts painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, and the city's exempt-work list says the same for cabinets, countertops, floor tile and paint. Ordinary repairs also need no permit, but the rule excludes opening or removing a wall, cutting a beam, and relocating water, drain, vent or gas piping or electric wiring. In practice a Minneapolis kitchen remodel can need up to four permits: a building permit for walls and structure, a plumbing permit for new or moved fixtures, a mechanical permit for a new range hood duct, and an electrical permit from the state.
How much does a kitchen remodel permit cost in Minneapolis?
The building permit is priced on the value of the work, labor and materials included. From $25,001 to $50,000 the schedule charges $578.00 for the first $25,000 plus $14.90 for each additional $1,000; below that, $104.20 for the first $2,000 plus $20.60 per $1,000. When plans are reviewed, add a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee, and the state surcharge of 0.0005 times the value. Plumbing is per fixture: $41.40 each, with an $85.20 minimum that includes the $1 surcharge.
- Moving the sink and adding a dishwasher, no wall work: two fixtures at $41.40 is $82.80 plus $1, so the $85.20 minimum applies.
- A $30,000 remodel that opens walls: building permit $578.00 + 5 x $14.90 = $652.50, plan review $424.13, surcharge $15.00, plus the $85.20 plumbing permit = $1,176.83.
A new kitchen exhaust vent falls under the mechanical Level 1 flat fee of $84.20 plus the $1 surcharge. New circuits are permitted by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI): fewer than 15 circuits cost $12 each, but you pay at least $55 per inspection trip, plus a $25 permit fee and $1 surcharge. Four new circuits with a rough-in and a final inspection come to $110 + $25 + $1 = $136.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint | No permit | Finish work, Minn. R. 1300.0120 |
| Replacing a dishwasher or disposal on existing hookups | No permit | 1-2 family homes, piping not altered |
| Moving the sink or adding a fixture | Plumbing permit | $41.40 per fixture, $85.20 minimum |
| Removing or opening a wall | Building permit | Valuation fee, plan review, surcharge |
| New or rerouted range hood duct | Mechanical permit | Level 1 flat fee $84.20 + $1 |
| New circuits or outlets | State electrical permit (DLI) | $12 per circuit, $55 per inspection minimum |
| Gas range on a new gas line | Licensed gas work and permit | Gas piping fee 1.99% of value or the minimum |
Can I do my own kitchen remodel work in Minneapolis?
Owner-occupants of one- to four-unit dwellings can get building permits for their own construction work. Owners who live in a single-family home can also do their own plumbing and mechanical work under the license exemption in Section 85.80, but not work on gas-fired heating equipment. For wiring, state law lets you do electrical work on a home you own and occupy if it has its own electrical utility service. Anyone you hire must hold the right license, and remodelers need a state residential remodeler or building contractor license.
How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Minneapolis
Sort the scope by trade
List what is finish work, what is structural, and which plumbing, vent and electrical changes the remodel makes.
Apply for the building permit
If walls or structure change, email the building permit application with the valuation to [email protected].
File the trade permits
File plumbing and mechanical applications with the city and the electrical permit with DLI online.
Upload plans and pay
Upload drawings through ProjectDox, wait for review, and pay the fees when the permit is issued.
Pass rough-in and final inspections
Schedule rough-in inspections before covering walls, then the final inspection for each permit.