- Gross annual receipts under $15,000 qualify for a certificate of exemption. Doing only one special skill also does not need the license.
- None. DLI says there are no prerequisite experience or education requirements to take the exam.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Every two years with 14 hours of continuing education for the qualifying person.
Do you need a state license in Minnesota?
Minnesota licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
Gross annual receipts under $15,000 qualify for a certificate of exemption. Doing only one special skill also does not need the license.
Cities and counties cannot require a local license from a state licensed residential contractor for covered work, but they can require one from certificate of exemption holders and single skill specialty contractors. Ask each city.
Minnesota license types for handyman work
Minnesota splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential Remodeler | Work on existing homes in more than one skill |
| Certificate of exemption | For contractors with gross annual receipts under $15,000 |
Steps to get licensed in Minnesota
- Estimate your yearly gross receipts from residential jobs.
- If under $15,000, apply to DLI for a certificate of exemption.
- If over, set up your Secretary of State business filing if needed and pick a qualifying person.
- Have the qualifying person pass the DLI exam, and get the required liability and workers comp insurance.
- Apply for the remodeler license and pay the license and recovery fund fees.
- Renew every two years after 14 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. None. DLI says there are no prerequisite experience or education requirements to take the exam.
The license to apply for. Residential Remodeler license (or certificate of exemption).
Minnesota handyman exams
Trade exam. For the license, a qualifying person must pass the DLI exam, 110 questions with 70 percent to pass.
Business and law exam. The DLI exam also covers the statutes and rules for the residential construction industry.
What it costs in Minnesota
The board lists 2 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| License fee | $180 |
| Contractor Recovery Fund fee, receipts under $1 million | $320 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate, plus $25,000 property damage.
Bond. No bond for a new license.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years with 14 hours of continuing education for the qualifying person.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Minnesota
- Businesses that contract for plumbing need a separate state plumbing contractor license, and solar panel installs must be done by a licensed electrical contractor.
- Gas, heating and cooling work needs a $25,000 mechanical contractor bond on file with DLI.
- Landlords working on their own rental units do not need the license, except for plumbing or electrical work.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.