Excavation permits and rules in Minnesota

Anyone digging in Minnesota has to notify Gopher State One Call before work starts. Dial 811 to reach it. 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. Who needs a license: 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). 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, 4, 5, 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