Minnesota roofing: permits, codes and approvals

Minnesota's statewide ice barrier rule, city re-roof permits, the DLI residential roofer license and $15,000 bond, FORTIFIED roof grants and insurance discounts, the 72-hour insurance-claim cancel right, and the pre-lien notice.

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1 · Product approvals

Product approvals

Minnesota has no state roofing product approval or listing system. Building officials check products against the Minnesota Residential Code's labeling and installation rules, manufacturer instructions and recognized evaluation reports.

Code evaluation reports (ICC-ES, UL, IAPMO): 48 roofing reports

2 · Permit forms

City re-roof permits

There is no statewide re-roof permit rule; each city that enforces the State Building Code sets its own permit policy, and most metro cities require a permit for a residential re-roof.

MinneapolisA building permit is required for all re-roofing, except repairs using less than one bundle of shingles; a final inspection is required.Saint PaulThe city applies the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code to one- and two-family re-roofs under a building permit, and you must call the inspector before starting so flashing and underlayment can be checked.RochesterSince May 1, 2025, every residential re-roof needs a building permit (fixed fee, simple roof plan) with sheathing, underlayment and final inspections; contractors must hold a state roofing license.BloomingtonA permit is required to re-roof a home, and roof repairs larger than 10 ft x 10 ft (one square) also need a permit; the homeowner or a DLI-licensed contractor may pull it.DuluthDuluth's Construction Services & Inspections division issues roofing permits; call 218-730-5240 to confirm when a residential re-roof needs one.

3 · Code rules

Code rules

The 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minn. Rules ch. 1309, the 2018 IRC with Minnesota amendments) has been in effect statewide since March 31, 2020. Official adoption page ↗

Ice barrier required statewideMinnesota's climate is treated as severe for underlayment, so an ice barrier (two cemented felt layers or self-adhered membrane) must run from the eave to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. Unheated detached accessory buildings are exempt.One overlay allowedNew shingles may go over one existing layer only if the old roof isn't water-soaked or deteriorated; two existing layers mean a tear-off. Some cities, such as Saint Paul, want inspector approval before an overlay.Shingle wind ratingSaint Paul's roofing policy calls for asphalt shingles rated for 115-mph ultimate design wind speed, tested to ASTM D7158, fastened to solid sheathing or 1-inch boards.Underlayment by slopeAsphalt shingles need a slope of at least 2:12. From 2:12 up to under 4:12 you need two layers of felt with 19-inch laps; at 4:12 or steeper, one layer with 2-inch laps.

4 · Wind, fire and storm programs

Wind, fire and storm programs

Minnesota's hail and wind programs are built on the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof standard: state grants for FORTIFIED retrofits and a statute that requires insurers to offer discounts for FORTIFIED homes.

Strengthen Minnesota Homes grantsCommerce Department grants (about $10,000 per home) to bring one- and two-family homes up to FORTIFIED Roof. It is in a pilot, with full rollout expected in 2026. Contractors need FORTIFIED training, a roofing license, $1M liability and workers' comp.Grant program statute (Minn. Stat. 65A.299)Creates the Strengthen Minnesota Homes program. Grant money is paid only after a FORTIFIED designation certificate is issued for the home.Required FORTIFIED insurance discounts (Minn. Stat. 65A.298)Insurers must offer a premium discount for new or retrofitted homes holding an IBHS FORTIFIED certificate that includes the hail supplement. The discount applies to the wind portion of the premium.Commerce discount benchmarks (Bulletin 2026-1)For filings made on or after March 23, 2026, Commerce treats wind/hail discounts of 35% (Roof + Hail), 38% (Silver) and 40% (Gold) as the threshold for routine approval.Insurance-claim roofing rules (Minn. Stat. 325E.66)Residential roofers can't advertise or promise to pay a deductible or offer rebates for claims, and can't act as a public adjuster. Any repair authorization must come with an itemized estimate, and the contractor must give written notice of these rules with its first estimate.

5 · License and insurance

License and insurance

Yes. A company doing residential roofing must hold a DLI Residential Roofer license, or a residential building contractor or remodeler license. Roofing subcontractors register instead of getting licensed.

Residential roofer license (DLI)The license is issued to the company, which names a qualifying person who passes the roofer exam (no experience requirement) and keeps up continuing education. The fee is $180.Bond and insuranceYou need a $15,000 surety bond and general liability of at least $300,000 per occurrence (including $10,000 property damage), plus proof of workers' comp and unemployment insurance or a written exemption.Who needs it, and the $15,000 exemptionContractors with under $15,000 a year in residential gross receipts are exempt but must get a Certificate of Exemption every year. Roofing subcontractors register through the Contractor Registration Program.Scope: roofing onlyA roofer license doesn't cover gutters, downspouts, soffit or fascia. That work needs a residential building contractor or remodeler license.Contractor Recovery FundThe fund repays homeowners for losses caused by licensed building contractors and remodelers (BC or CR license prefix). DLI's page doesn't list roofer licenses.

6 · Lien and contract forms

Lien and contract rules

Minnesota requires a pre-lien notice in the homeowner contract and a lien statement within 120 days. Insurance-claim roofing contracts carry a 72-hour cancel right after the insurer denies the claim.

Contractor pre-lien notice (Minn. Stat. 514.011, subd. 1)A prime contractor using subs or suppliers must put the statutory notice in the written contract (10-point bold), or deliver it within 10 days after the work is agreed on. Without it, you lose your lien.Sub and supplier notice (514.011, subd. 2)Subcontractors and suppliers must give the owner notice within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials, by personal delivery or certified mail.Lien statement: 120 days (Minn. Stat. 514.08)File the lien statement with the county recorder or registrar of titles, and serve the owner personally or by certified mail, within 120 days after your last work.Enforce within 1 year (Minn. Stat. 514.12)Start the court action within one year after the last item of the claim shown in the recorded lien statement.Insurance-claim cancel right (Minn. Stat. 326B.811)When a roof will be paid from insurance, the homeowner can cancel within 72 hours after the insurer denies the claim. The contract needs a bold notice and an attached Notice of Cancellation form, and payments must be refunded within 10 days.Door-to-door sales: 3-day cancel (Minn. Stat. 325G.07)A buyer can cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the sale, by written notice.

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Public records, last checked Oct 23, 2026. Always verify on the official source before you permit.