Minnesota Contractor License Lookup: Verify Credentials Before You Hire
Use Minnesota’s official Department of Labor and Industry licensing system to verify a contractor before signing a contract, paying a deposit or allowing regulated work to begin. Check the exact business, credential type and current status rather than relying on a website badge, advertisement or old license card.
Minnesota uses several different contractor credentials. Residential building contractors, remodelers, roofers, electrical contractors and plumbing contractors can require licenses, while some construction contractors use an IR registration and mechanical contractors use a state bond filing.
Quick Answer: How to Use the MN Contractor License Lookup
Start with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s License and Registration Lookup. Open iMS, choose Continue as Guest, and search the complete license or registration number when available. DLI also provides a search for license and registration holders when you only know a business or individual’s details.
DLI’s downloadable licensing data is updated nightly. The agency says current active licenses and registrations in that export carry the status Issued. A matching name is only the first step: confirm the business, credential category and whether that category actually covers the work being offered.
Search the full number first
DLI’s iMS guidance says license and registration numbers use two characters followed by six digits. The complete number is usually the cleanest way to avoid matching the wrong business.
No iMS account is required
Select Continue as Guest. You do not need to create an account just to search a Minnesota DLI license or registration.
An IR number is a registration
Minnesota DLI specifically distinguishes an IR construction contractor registration from a contractor license. Do not treat the two credentials as interchangeable.
Which Minnesota Contractor Credential Should You Verify?
The phrase “contractor license” can refer to several different Minnesota records. Identify the work first, then verify the credential that regulates that work.
| Work or credential | What to verify | Typical record | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential building contractor | The business’s residential building contractor license. | BC + six digits. | A BC license can cover existing residential work and new residential construction within its licensed scope. |
| Residential remodeler | The business’s residential remodeler license. | CR + six digits. | A CR license is for work on existing residential structures rather than new-home construction. |
| Residential roofer | RR, BC or CR license as applicable to the roofing work. | RR + six digits. | An RR license is limited to roofing; gutters, soffit, fascia and broader remodeling require the appropriate broader license. |
| Construction contractor registration | IR registration when the contractor belongs in the registration program. | IR + six digits. | Registration is not a residential contractor license. |
| Electrical contractor | The electrical contractor business license and applicable responsible licensed individual. | DLI electrical license. | A residential builder license does not replace the electrical contractor license. |
| Plumbing contractor | The applicable plumbing or restricted plumbing contractor license. | DLI plumbing credential. | The business must satisfy plumbing-specific licensing requirements. |
| Mechanical / HVAC contractor | Minnesota mechanical contractor bond filing plus any applicable local requirement. | Mechanical contractor bond. | Minnesota does not use one statewide mechanical contractor license equivalent to the BC/CR license. |
A residential contractor’s qualifying person receives a QB, QC or QR registration. DLI uses that Q registration to track the qualifying person’s examination and continuing education. It does not replace the company’s BC, CR or RR business license.
MN Contractor License Lookup: Step-by-Step Verification
Use this workflow before hiring a contractor, approving a construction vendor, signing a remodeling agreement, paying a deposit or documenting credentials for a compliance file.
Collect the contractor’s exact business name and credential number
Ask for the number shown on the proposal, contract or advertisement. Do not rely on the number until you confirm it in the DLI system.
Open the Minnesota DLI lookup
Start with DLI’s official License and Registration Lookup rather than a private contractor directory.
Continue as Guest in iMS
An account is not required for a public search. Select Continue as Guest to reach the search functions.
Use Quick Search when you know the full number
Enter the complete record number in the iMS Quick Search or “Goto Record #” field.
Use the holder search when the number is unavailable
Choose the license and registration search and use the available business or individual search criteria. Compare the full record when similar names appear.
Confirm the exact credential type
Determine whether you found a BC, CR, RR, IR, Q registration, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical bond or another credential.
Check current status and enforcement information
DLI’s lookup can provide status and enforcement-related information. Current active records in DLI’s downloadable data use the status Issued.
Save a dated verification record
Record the business name, credential number, credential type, status, date checked and any enforcement information you reviewed.
How to Read the Minnesota Contractor Search Result
Finding a matching company name is not enough. Use the result to answer four separate questions: Is this the right business, is it the right credential, is it current, and is there public enforcement information you should review?
Match the legal business
Compare the name on the DLI record with the name on the proposal or contract. A similar trade name should not automatically be treated as the same licensed entity.
Read the exact category
BC, CR, RR, IR, electrical, plumbing and mechanical bond records do not grant the same authority.
Check whether it is current
DLI says current active licenses and registrations in its downloadable licensing data carry the status Issued.
Look beyond active status
DLI’s lookup resources can include enforcement information. A current license and a clean regulatory history are separate questions.
Do not mistake the qualifying person for the business
QB, QC and QR are qualifying-person registrations. They are not the company’s residential contractor license.
DLI export data updates nightly
If a contractor says a very recent change has just been processed, recheck the live record rather than relying on the contractor’s screenshot.
Minnesota Contractor License vs IR Registration
This is one of the most important distinctions in a Minnesota contractor lookup. DLI states that an IR contractor registration is not a contractor license and does not provide the same consumer protections as residential contractor licensing.
| Record | What it is | What it does not prove | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC / CR / RR license | A residential contractor business license for the applicable licensed scope. | That every specialty trade is separately licensed. | Verify the company and then verify electrical, plumbing or other separately regulated work when applicable. |
| IR registration | Construction contractor registration for contractors who belong in the registration program. | That the business holds a BC, CR, RR or other license required for licensed work. | Determine whether the specific project requires a separate state license. |
| QB / QC / QR | A qualifying-person registration used for examination and continuing-education tracking. | That the company itself currently holds the required business license. | Search the company’s BC, CR or RR license separately. |
Verify the work category before proceeding. DLI’s homeowner guidance expressly says IR registration numbers are not residential contractor license numbers.
Who Needs a Minnesota Residential Contractor License?
Minnesota DLI generally requires a residential building contractor or residential remodeler license when a person or company contracts directly with an owner of one-to-four-unit residential real estate and offers work involving more than one special skill.
Common licensed situations
- Contracting directly with a residential property owner.
- Providing work involving more than one special skill area.
- Building or improving residential property for resale or speculation.
- Contracting directly for residential roofing work under the applicable BC, CR or RR route.
Not every contractor uses BC or CR
- Some specialty contractors providing only one special skill.
- Owners working on their own property when not building or improving for resale or speculation.
- Architects and professional engineers working within their professional practice.
- Contractors who qualify for the statutory gross-receipts exemption and obtain the required Certificate of Exemption.
DLI states that contractors with less than $15,000 in gross annual receipts from residential contracting activity may qualify for a Certificate of Exemption. The certificate is not a license, must be applied for as required by DLI and does not convert otherwise license-required work into licensed work.
DLI says an RR license covers roofing work. Contractors who also want to contract for gutters, downspouts, soffit, fascia or broader residential work need the applicable residential building contractor or remodeler license.
Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC Contractor Checks
A general residential contractor credential does not automatically replace separate credentials required for regulated specialty work.
Check the electrical contractor license
Minnesota DLI licenses electrical contractors and electricians. When a project includes regulated electrical work, verify the electrical contractor business rather than relying only on a BC or CR license.
Check the plumbing contractor license
Plumbing contractor businesses use plumbing-specific licensing. DLI also distinguishes restricted plumbing credentials and responsible licensed individuals.
Check the mechanical contractor bond
Minnesota does not require a state mechanical contractor license, but covered mechanical contractors must file a $25,000 mechanical contractor bond with DLI. The bond filing fee is $100 and the filing is valid for two years. Local licensing requirements can also apply.
If a general contractor will subcontract electrical, plumbing or another regulated specialty, verify the subcontractor’s applicable credential rather than assuming the prime contractor’s residential license covers everyone on the project.
Minnesota Residential Contractor Renewal and Fees
Residential building contractor and remodeler business licenses use a two-year cycle ending March 31. Some licenses expire in odd-numbered years and others in even-numbered years.
| Credential | Revenue or fee category | Renewal amount | Important detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC / CR Tier 1 | Gross annual receipts below $1 million. | $505 | Current DLI residential renewal fee. |
| BC / CR Tier 2 | Gross annual receipts from $1 million to $5 million. | $605 | Current DLI residential renewal fee. |
| BC / CR Tier 3 | Gross annual receipts above $5 million. | $705 | Current DLI residential renewal fee. |
| Late BC / CR renewal | Completed renewal received after expiration. | $90 additional | DLI advises submitting early to avoid a licensing lapse. |
| Residential roofer | RR renewal. | $185 | DLI’s fee schedule lists $275 when the late fee applies. |
| Qualifying-person exam | QB, QC, QR or QI exam. | $50 exam fee | The qualifying-person record is separate from the business license. |
A residential building contractor or remodeler cannot renew its business license unless its qualifying person has an active Q registration. DLI says the qualifying person must complete 14 hours of approved continuing education, including at least one hour related to the Energy Code and one hour related to business-management strategies.
DLI states that municipalities cannot issue building permits to contractors whose license has expired while the renewal has not yet been processed and approved.
Construction Contractor Registration: When the IR Route Applies
Minnesota’s Contractor Registration Program is used for contractors providing one specialty skill on residential projects and for commercial projects when they do not hold a residential contractor license, subject to the program’s rules and separate licensing requirements.
IR registrations are searchable in iMS
You can search without an account. Use Continue as Guest and enter the complete registration number or use the holder search.
Complete registrations are not always instant
DLI says complete applications can take about two to three business days to issue and up to 30 days during peak renewal periods from October through December in odd-numbered years.
Registration cannot replace a required license
If the construction work requires a separate license, certification or registration, such as electrical, plumbing or residential building contracting, the contractor must use that applicable credential route.
What to Check Before Hiring a Minnesota Contractor
License verification is an important screening step, but it should be combined with a written contract, clear project scope and basic contractor-history review.
Build a simple verification file
- Exact legal business name.
- License, registration or bond number.
- Credential category.
- Current DLI status.
- Date the record was checked.
- Any public enforcement information reviewed.
- Specialty subcontractor credentials when applicable.
- Written scope, price, payment schedule and change-order terms.
Weak proof of contractor authority
- “Licensed and insured” advertising.
- A license number printed on a vehicle.
- An old screenshot or paper card.
- An IR registration presented as a BC, CR or RR license.
- A Q registration presented as the company’s license.
- A Secretary of State business filing by itself.
- Online reviews instead of a current DLI record.
Minnesota’s homeowner guidance also recommends comparing bids, speaking with prior customers, researching the contractor’s history and using a detailed written contract.
Contractor Complaints, Enforcement and Recovery Fund Basics
If the lookup reveals a licensing concern or you already have a dispute with a residential contractor, Minnesota DLI provides complaint and enforcement resources. These processes are separate from private legal remedies.
A written complaint is required for investigation
DLI says residential building contractor complaints must be submitted in writing before an investigation can begin. Supporting records can include contracts, canceled checks, correspondence, correction notices and lien documents.
The online complaint route requires an account
DLI also accepts complaint information through its published form, email and telephone routes.
DLI investigators do not act as private attorneys
DLI can investigate matters within its licensing authority and take administrative action, but it cannot compel a contractor to pay private damages or settle a civil contract dispute.
The Recovery Fund is not an automatic refund program. DLI lists a final docketed judgment against the licensed contractor among the requirements, and the fund application generally must be submitted within two years after the final judgment is entered.
No Minnesota Contractor Record Found? Try These Checks
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No result by business name | The company may advertise under a DBA or assumed name. | Try the credential number or the exact legal business name shown on the contract. |
| Credential number fails | The prefix or digits may be wrong or incomplete. | Recheck the full two-character plus six-digit DLI number. |
| Only an IR record appears | The contractor is registered instead of holding the residential license you expected. | Check whether the project requires BC, CR, RR or another state license. |
| You found QB, QC or QR | You found the qualifying person’s Q registration. | Search for the business’s separate BC, CR or RR license. |
| Contractor says renewal is pending | DLI may not have completed processing. | Recheck the official record and do not treat a pending claim as proof of current status. |
| HVAC contractor has no normal state license | Mechanical contractors use a state bond filing and may also face local licensing. | Check the DLI mechanical contractor bond and the applicable local jurisdiction. |
| You still cannot identify the credential | The work may fall under another DLI category or a local requirement. | Contact DLI licensing at 651-284-5034 or dli.license@state.mn.us with the business name and type of work. |
Minnesota DLI Contractor Licensing Contacts
Use the licensing contact for license, bond and credential questions. Use the contractor investigation contact when the issue involves a complaint or suspected licensing violation.
| Need | Contact | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Codes and Licensing | 651-284-5034 dli.license@state.mn.us |
Licenses, bonds, registrations, renewals and credential questions. |
| Residential contractor investigations | 651-284-5069 dli.contractor@state.mn.us |
Residential building contractor complaint and investigation questions. |
| Construction contractor registration | 651-284-5074 dli.register@state.mn.us |
IR registration application, renewal and registration questions. |
| DLI main office | 443 Lafayette Road N. St. Paul, MN 55155 651-284-5005 |
Main department location and in-person routing. |
Minnesota DLI lists its offices as open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The St. Paul main office is at 443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Official Minnesota Contractor Verification Resources
Use the official link that matches your next task instead of searching multiple private directories.
Minnesota Contractor License Lookup FAQs
How do I look up a Minnesota contractor license?
Use the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry License and Registration Lookup, open iMS, select Continue as Guest and search the complete license or registration number. If you do not know the number, use the license and registration holder search.
Do I need an iMS account to check a Minnesota contractor license?
No. Minnesota DLI says an account is not required for public license and registration searches. Select Continue as Guest to use the lookup tools.
What does Issued mean in Minnesota DLI licensing data?
Minnesota DLI says current active licenses and registrations in its downloadable license, bond, certification and registration data show the status Issued. You should still confirm the credential type and business identity.
What do BC, CR and RR mean on Minnesota contractor records?
BC is a residential building contractor license, CR is a residential remodeler license and RR is a residential roofer license. These are business-license categories administered by Minnesota DLI.
Is an IR registration number a Minnesota contractor license?
No. An IR number is a construction contractor registration. Minnesota DLI expressly distinguishes registration from residential contractor licensing, and an IR registration does not prove that a business holds a BC, CR or RR license.
What is a QB, QC or QR registration?
QB, QC and QR are qualifying-person registrations used to track a residential contractor company’s qualifying person’s exam and continuing-education status. A Q registration is not the company’s contractor license.
Who needs a residential contractor license in Minnesota?
Minnesota DLI generally requires a residential building contractor or remodeler license when a person or company contracts directly with an owner of one-to-four-unit residential real estate and provides work involving more than one special skill. Roofing has additional specific licensing rules, and statutory exemptions can apply.
How often do Minnesota residential contractor licenses renew?
Residential building contractor and remodeler business licenses use a two-year cycle ending March 31, with licenses divided between odd-numbered and even-numbered expiration years. The qualifying person’s Q registration must also remain active.
How can I check a Minnesota contractor complaint or enforcement issue?
Start with DLI’s license and registration lookup for available enforcement information. Residential building contractor complaints must be submitted in writing before an investigation can begin, and DLI lists 651-284-5069 and dli.contractor@state.mn.us for contractor investigation questions.
What should I do if the Minnesota contractor lookup shows no result?
Recheck the full credential number, try the exact legal business name and determine whether you should be searching for a BC, CR, RR, IR registration, Q registration, electrical license, plumbing license or mechanical contractor bond. If the record remains unclear, contact DLI licensing at 651-284-5034 or dli.license@state.mn.us.
Verify the Minnesota Credential Before Work Begins
Start with Minnesota DLI’s official lookup, match the exact business, confirm whether the record is a license, registration or bond, check current status and review the credential’s scope. If electrical, plumbing or another separately regulated trade is involved, verify that specialty credential too.