Hennepin County, Minnesota Building Permit Guide

Hennepin County is made up of 45 cities, and building permits come from the city. The county itself regulates most septic systems, and it issues permits for work on county roads. By the Census Bureau’s latest estimates the largest cities are Minneapolis (430324), Bloomington (89034), Brooklyn Park (83543) and Plymouth (78942).

This guide covers Minneapolis, Bloomington and Brooklyn Park and the county’s septic and road permits. Plymouth’s building inspections website could not be checked when this guide was written, so contact the city directly.

What requires a building permit in Hennepin County?

The Minnesota State Building Code applies statewide and supersedes local building codes, but Hennepin County does not enforce it: each city does. What changes from place to place is the office, how it takes applications and what it adds locally.

In Minneapolis, for example, new construction and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) need a land use application as well as the building permit.

Residential building contractors, remodelers and roofers, electricians and plumbers are licensed by the state Department of Labor and Industry, so the same credential is valid in Hennepin County as anywhere in Minnesota. Building without a required permit exposes a job to stop-work orders, penalties and delayed occupancy, and unlicensed residential contracting is a separate violation enforced by the state. How Minnesota’s statewide code works

Who handles permitting in Hennepin County?

Each city issues its own building permits. The county handles two things:

• Septic: Hennepin County regulates most septic systems, including inspections and enforcement. Dayton, Independence, Medina, Orono and Woodland run their own septic programs; residents of the other listed cities, including Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis and Plymouth, contact the county (epi-envhlth@hennepin.us, 612-543-5249).
• County roads: utility/right-of-way permits for work in county rights-of-way and transportation permits for oversize/overweight loads, through the county’s e-permitting system (roadpermits@hennepin.us, 612-596-0339). Access permits are issued only for county state-aid highways and county roads, not local roads.

Local rules in the largest Hennepin County cities

Minneapolis

For one- and two-family homes, a development coordinator starts the permit and sends a ProjectDox invitation for plan upload. The city estimates 15 business days for the initial plan review and five business days for each resubmittal.

Bloomington

Apply through the permit portal (blm.mn/portal); paper applications are no longer accepted. Mechanical, HVAC and gas trade contractors need a Bloomington contractor license, and building permit applications without a named contractor must pay the plan review portion of the fees before acceptance.

Brooklyn Park

Septic systems here are regulated by Hennepin County, not the city. Fire inspections are by the Brooklyn Park Fire Department, 763-493-8020.

Plymouth

Plymouth’s septic systems are regulated by Hennepin County. Its building department could not be checked for this guide.

Electrical permits in Hennepin County

Minneapolis sends electrical inspections to the State. Brooklyn Park does not do electrical inspections; the inspector working for the Department of Labor and Industry does (612-528-5265). Bloomington issues its own electrical permits.

Whether an electrical permit goes to the state Department of Labor and Industry or to the city depends on the area: if the state’s Authority Having Jurisdiction directory lists “State”, file with the state; if it lists “Local”, contact the city or township.

Electrical and plumbing work must be done by state-licensed trades, though an individual may do electrical work on a home they own and occupy if it has its own electrical service. Whether the electrical permit comes from the state or the local office depends on whether that city or township has taken on electrical inspection. Electrical and plumbing rules in Minnesota

Hennepin County permit costs and fees

Building permit fees are set by each city. Bloomington’s residential electrical fees:

• Complete wiring of a new dwelling: $150 per dwelling
• New or upgraded service: $65
• Rewiring, remodeling or additions: $65 for the first room, $10 each additional room, $150 maximum
• Minor work: $65, plus a $1 state surcharge

How to get a building permit in Hennepin County

A Minnesota municipality may require exterior work under a building permit to be finished within a set period, but not sooner than 180 days after the permit is issued, so confirm whether Hennepin County has adopted such a rule. Minnesota’s statewide code rules

Inspections in Hennepin County

In Minneapolis the permit holder sets up inspections with the inspector named on the permit (Construction Code Services, 505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320). Brooklyn Park takes building, mechanical, plumbing and sewer/water inspection requests by online form or at 763-488-6379 at least two business days ahead, with a three to four-day wait in busy times; approved plans and the permit card must be on site.

For septic, the county inspects new systems, new septic or holding tanks and systems under complaint investigation. It does not do compliance inspections (hire a private septic professional), and selling a home in Hennepin County does not require a septic inspection.

On public buildings, state-licensed facilities and school district and charter school projects, plumbing permits and inspections generally run through the state Department of Labor and Industry rather than the local office. State plumbing review in Minnesota

Official Hennepin County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Hennepin County septic systems
• Hennepin County road permits
• Minneapolis permit application process
• Bloomington Building and Inspections
• Brooklyn Park building permits and inspections
• Minnesota DLI electrical permits for homeowners

Frequently asked questions

Does Hennepin County issue building permits?

No. The county is made up of 45 cities, and building permits come from the city.

Who regulates septic systems in Minneapolis or Bloomington?

Hennepin County. Only Dayton, Independence, Medina, Orono and Woodland run their own septic programs.

Does selling a home in Hennepin County need a septic inspection?

No. Selling a home in Hennepin County does not require a septic inspection.

Simplify Hennepin County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which city or township issues the permit and whether electrical goes to the State or the city
• Line up the county highway, right-of-way, septic or well permits the site needs alongside the city permit
• File in each city’s own portal and book inspections the way that office takes them

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Minnesota. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hennepin County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.