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Permits, Inspections & City Contractor Licenses
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Apply for Building Permits
Prior to starting any building or development activity at your residence or business, review the information on this page for building permits and contractor license requirements.
Prepared and ready to apply for a permit?
Access our Online Permits Portal
Commercial & Multi-Family Development - Building Permits & Site Plan Requirements by Permit Type
| Site Plans are required for ALL commercial and multi-family development permit applications, including: |
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Residential Development - Building Permits & Site Plan Requirements by Permit Type
Application Process for Building Permits
- Please review the information above to determine if your development activity requires a site plan. If you are unsure, email the Inspections Department or call 651-450-2550.
- If you are a contractor, visit the City Contractor License page (click the second tab above) to determine if a City Contractor License is required and City Contractor License requirements.
A license is required for contractors performing the following types of work: Mechanical, Excavation, Pools, Fences, Signs, Masonry, General Commercial, General Residential (over four units), Commercial Cooking Ventilation Systems / Hood Cleaning. Contractor licenses are valid for the calendar year. - Create an account on the Online Permits Portal or log into your existing portal account.
Please note: You must be a licensed contractor, homeowner, or homesteader to apply for a permit. Inspections staff will verify ownership and/or required licensing when processing a permit application. - Log on to the Online Permits Portal, select the permit you are applying for, and complete the associated application form on the portal.
- Submit the permit application, Contractor License Application and Certificate of Insurance, and downloaded applications (if applicable to Step 3) through the portal once completed.
Please note: Each permit must be applied for individually. - The Inspections Department performs all building, mechanical, plumbing and utility inspections. To schedule your inspection, email the Inspections Department or call 651-450-2550. All electrical inspections are scheduled with the State Electrical Inspector.
- Permits will be reviewed within the approximate processing times. All submittal documents must be received at the time of application to meet this timeframe. This process can take longer if corrections are required during the plan review.
- All permits not requiring plan review: 3 business days after receiving all required documents
- Residential permits requiring plan review: 15 business days after receiving all required documents
- Commercial permits requiring plan review: 20 business days after receiving all required documents
- You will receive an email notification from the Online Permits Portal once your permit review is complete. This email will include a link with how to submit payment. Payment types accepted online include e-Check/Bank Account, Visa or Mastercard Debit Card, and Visa, Mastercard or Discover Credit Card. Once approved, multiple permits and Contractor License can be paid for at one time. Please note: The maximum credit card transaction amount paid through the Online Permits Portal is $5,000 and the maximum e-Check transaction amount paid through the Portal is $25,000.
Building Permit & Development Fees
Questions?
Contact the City Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you.
- For questions related to building permits applications or the Online Permits Portal, email the City Inspection Department or call 651-450-2550.
- For questions related to fire permits, call the City Fire Marshal at 651-450-2547.
- For questions related to electrical permits, contact the State Electrical Inspector at 612-419-5764.
City Contractor License
A City Contractor License is required for contractors performing certain types of work. The City Contractor License is applied for annually and expires each year on December 31st. The following types of work requiring a City Contractor License are:
- Mechanical
- Excavation
- Pools
- Fences
- Signs
- Masonry
- General Commercial
- General Residential (over four units)
- Commercial Cooking Ventilation Systems / Hood Cleaning
Submittal Requirements
Submittal requirements for a City Contractor License are:
- Certificate of Insurance listing City of Inver Grove Heights as Certificate Insured
- Copy of State Licensure – mechanical bond, building contractor, pipelayer bond, etc.
- Completed City Contractor License Application
- Payment of License Fee
Apply
To apply for a new City Contractor License or to renew your City Contractor License, a City Contractor Application, Certificate of Insurance, and payment are required to be uploaded to the Online Permit Portal. To apply, please follow the below steps:
Steps for a New Contractor License
- Register Your Business Name on Online Permit Portal
- Sign-In to Online Permit Portal
- Fill out City Contractor License Application
- Upload City Contractor License Application
- Upload Certificate of Insurance
- Pay for the license
- Submit City Contractor License Application
Steps to Renew Contractor License
- Sign-In to Online Permit Portal
- Fill out City Contractor License Application
- Upload City Contractor License Application
- Upload Certificate of Insurance
- Pay for the license
- Submit City Contractor License Application
Questions
Please email the Inspection Department or call 651-450-2550.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Online Permit Portal
Q: What type of permits can be applied for through the Online Permit Portal
A: All Building Inspections Department permits are processed the online permit portal, including permits for building, mechanical, sewer, plumbing, manufactured house moving and miscellaneous work. Electrical permits must be applied for through the State of Minnesota. Please see the Building Permits tab for more information. Please note: All commercial and new single family requires two sets of hard copy plans in addition to the Online Permit Portal application submission.
Q: Who can register and apply for a building permit?
A: You must be a licensed contractor or homeowner and homesteader to apply for a residential permit online. Inspections staff will verify ownership and/or required licensing when processing a permit application.
Q: How do I pay for one or multiple building permits at one time?
A: Once logged in to your portal account, navigate to the My Items section. Any permit that is available for payment will have a button visible titled "Add Fees to My Cart". Select this to add one or multiple permits to your cart. Alternatively, you can select an individual permit hyperlink to view the itemized permit fees under the Fees section for the specific permit. From here, select "Add Fees to My Cart". The "My Shopping Cart" is located on the top navigation bar and can be selected at any time to make a payment. A receipt will be emailed to the email provided during payment from our payment processing company. An email will also be sent to the contractor listed on the permit which will include the permit card and the itemized invoice from the City of Inver Grove Heights.
Q: Can I have multiple users for one account?
A: You are only able to have one email address/password associated to your account. You may consider having a shared account for your business if you are interested in giving multiple users access.
Q: How to I submit documents or photos?
A: Once a permit has been applied for, navigate to the My Items section and select the permit you would like to upload photos/documentation for. Scroll to the Documents & Images section to upload. Inspections staff will be notified of the document upload. For roofing ice & water or siding house wrap photos, inspections staff will automatically schedule a final inspection within 7 business days of receiving the photos - weather permitting.
Q: How can I schedule an inspection?
A: The Inspections Department performs all building, mechanical, plumbing and utility inspections based on the Inspection Requirement Checklist. To schedule your inspection, email the Inspections Department or call 651-450-2550. All electrical inspections are scheduled with the State Electrical Inspector Gary Pederson at 952-431-3565.
Q: What is the Property Search function?
A: This search feature is for any non-registered user of the public to search a property and review the electronic permit history, giving the permit number, type, description, issue date and current status. Additional permit detail (fees, and inspections are only visible to registered users).
Q: What payment types are accepted online?
A: Payment types accepted online include e-Check/Bank Account, Visa or Mastercard Debit Card, and Visa, Mastercard or Discover Credit Card.
Questions
If you have questions, please contact us Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you.
- For questions related to building permits applications or the Online Permits Portal, email the City Inspection Department or call 651-450-2550.
- For questions related to fire permits, call the City Fire Marshal at 651-450-2547.
- For questions related to electrical permits, contact the State Electrical Inspector at 952-431-3565.
Fire Prevention Permits
Commercial Hood and Ventilation Cleaning Permit
A city license is required for contractors performing Commercial Cooking Ventilation Systems / Hood Cleaning. Contractor licenses are valid for the calendar year. Download and complete the Contractor License Application and Certificate of Insurance forms.
Commercial kitchens are required to submit a Commercial Hood and Ventilation Cleaning Permit each time the hood and ventilation system is cleaned. The applicant must be a contractor with a City Contractor License. Please submit completed applications by mail to 9200 Courthouse Blvd., Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 or by emailing the Inver Grove Heights Fire Department. See the City Contractor License tab for more information on how to receive a license.
Open Burning Permit
Find information about open burning and how to apply for an open burning permit.
Recreational Fire Permit
A permit is required for each recreational fire not in a permanent fire ring. Find more information on how to apply for a recreational fire permit.
Permit Fees
Find all city permit fees on the City's Current Adopted Fee Schedule page.
Questions
For questions, please email the Inver Grove Heights Fire Department or call 651-455-5082.