What permits do you need to open a contractor or trade in Anoka County?

Right-of-Way Permit and Annual Registration — County Roads

Anoka County's Right of Way Permits page states that "A Right of Way Permit is required when placing obstructions or performing any work within the Anoka County right of way", including grading and utility installations, modifications and repairs such as private sewer and water connections. Ordinance 2025-2, adopted February 25, 2025, requires anyone who occupies or works in the county right of way to register with the county, on an annual basis (§1.05); under §1.05 subd. 3(b) a contractor or subcontractor working for a properly registered party need not register separately but still needs a right-of-way permit. Section 1.11 leaves the fees to the County Board, and the county page lists $250 each for a utility, obstruction or excavation permit and $40 for the annual registration. Applications go through the county's online permitting website. Excavators must also notify Gopher State One Call before digging.

Access (Driveway) Permit — County Roads

Anoka County's Access Permits page states that "An Access Permit is required for any new driveway, field entrance, street, or commercial access on Anoka County road", and that if the use of property next to a county road changes, the county may review the access and require a new permit. A business building a new commercial driveway onto a county road, or a contractor needing a temporary construction entrance, applies through the Highway Department Permits Office. The Anoka County Traffic Department must complete a site review first: send a request with a detailed sketch to HighwayPermits@anokacountymn.gov. The fees on the county page are $400 for a new development or commercial driveway, $400 for a street access or connection, and $250 for a temporary construction access. A culvert pipe meeting county standards is generally required unless curb is present, according to the same page.

Residential Building Contractor or Remodeler License

Minnesota requires no surety bond of a residential contractor, which is unusual — instead the license fee itself funds a contractor recovery fund, and the contribution is banded by turnover: $320 under a million dollars of gross receipts, $420 to five million and $520 above, on top of a $180 base. The fund compensates homeowners up to $100,000 a claim and $550,000 against any one licensee. Insurance is still required, at $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate. The license is needed by anyone contracting directly with an owner of one to four residential units across more than one of eight skill areas, anyone building for resale, and anyone doing roofing at all. Under fifteen thousand dollars of residential receipts you can hold a certificate of exemption for ten dollars instead. Since July 2023 residential solar installers need this license too, expressly so homeowners can reach the recovery fund. Every license needs a qualifying person who passes an exam and does fourteen hours of continuing education per cycle, and the license cannot be renewed if that person's registration has lapsed.

Mechanical Contractor Bond Filing

This is the one people get wrong. Minnesota licenses electricians and plumbers, and the Department of Labor and Industry's own bond page states 'there is no state license required for mechanical contractors' — and yet an HVAC business still cannot lawfully contract for gas, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel burning or refrigeration work without filing a $25,000 bond with the department, at a hundred dollars for two years. The department says so plainly and adds that mechanical contractors must also comply with local licensing requirements. Individual HVAC workers likewise need no state license, but cities may require a competency card the department neither issues nor tracks. So the practical position is a state bond filing on top of a patchwork of city rules.

Electrical Contractor License

A $25,000 surety bond is required here where the residential builder license needs none, along with $100,000 of liability cover per occurrence. The company must designate a responsible licensed individual holding an active master electrician license, who has to be an owner, officer, member or salaried employee actively engaged in the company's electrical work, and who cannot serve as the responsible individual for any other contractor. A licensed electrician may supervise no more than two unlicensed employees. Plumbing contractors pay the same $188 but on a different clock, expiring on 31 December of odd-numbered years, and carry their own $25,000 bond.

Shared with other businesses in Anoka County

• Hazardous Waste / Used Oil Generator License — Anoka County Public Health and Environmental Services, Environmental Services, Set by County Board resolution (Ordinance 2018-7 §4.4.1) and based on the generator's previous year of hazardous waste and used oil generation (§4.4.3.2). The county invoices the fee after the annual report and license application are filed. Contact Anoka County Environmental Services at 763-324-4260., annual; the license period runs from April 1 through March 31 (Ordinance 2018-7 §4.4.3.1); annual report and license application due January 31. Also required for auto repair shops, salons and barbers, veterinary clinics and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.