Excavation permits and rules in Minnesota

Anyone digging in Minnesota has to notify Gopher State One Call before work starts. Call 811 at least 48 hours before digging, not counting weekends and holidays.^1-2

Text of the law

The notice period under Minn. Stat. 216D.01 to 216D.09: 48 hours, excluding the day of notification, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.^1-2

Minnesota licenses contractors through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Every contractor must register before doing building or improvement work. A residential building contractor license is needed to offer 2 or more special skills, with an exemption for yearly receipts of $15,000 or less. Excavation, trenching and grading is one special skill, so an excavation-only contractor must hold a construction contractor registration rather than a residential license.^3-6

Text of the law

Registration required before performing any commercial or residential building construction or improvement services; residential building contractor license required when providing two or more special skills (exemption certificate for gross annual receipts not over $15,000).^3-6

A stormwater permit is needed at 1 acre, or less than 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale that covers more than one acre. Coverage is under the Construction Stormwater general permit MNR100001 (issued Aug. 1, 2023).⁷

Footings in Minnesota go below the frost line, which the state building code sets at 42 to 60 inches.⁸