Once you have obtained the names of several contractors, check with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, which is the State agency with the authority to license and regulate a substantial portion of the construction industry in Minnesota.
Who does not need a contractor license? Residential building contractors whose gross annual receipts from their residential activities are less than $15,000 and have a Certificate of Exemption.
Licenses are required for all residential building contractors and remodelers in Minnesota who contract with a homeowner to construct or improve dwellings by offering more than one special skill.
A contractor who provides services in more than one special skill area must be licensed. Specialty contractors who provide only one special skill are not required to have a state license (except residential roofers).
If you only provide handyman services in one specialty area, such as exclusively focusing on drywall and interior painting, you wouldn't need a license even if you make more than $15,000 a year.
Minnesota's statute of repose prohibits suing a contractor for most construction defects after between 10-12 years after the home is substantially completed. First, the statute provides that a claim can be asserted only for causes of action that “accrue” during the 10 years after the home is substantially completed.
Commercial painting contractors do not require a license but must be registered. Applicants must pass an exam and hold a business insurance certificate in Minnesota. If you want to work on lead-based activities (abatement, renovation), you must get licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Minnesota. If you're a handyman in Minnesota and you make more than $15,000 per year by working on existing structures, you'll need a Residential Remodeler License. (Contractors who build new structures require a Residential Building License.)
Who does not need a contractor license? Residential building contractors whose gross annual receipts from their residential activities are less than $15,000 and have a Certificate of Exemption.