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Permitting Authorities / City of Minnetonka, Minnesota - Building Inspections Division

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Minnetonka, MN?

Adopted code

City of Minnetonka, Minnesota - Building Inspections Division

Yes — a permit is required to replace a roof in Minnetonka, MN, issued by City of Minnetonka, Minnesota - Building Inspections Division.

Jurisdiction
City of Minnetonka, Minnesota
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345
Contact
  • url: https://www.minnetonkamn.gov/government/departments/community-development/permits/building-permits/roofing-project-instructions
  • phone: 952-939-8200
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • license: STATE licensing, administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Minn. Stat. 326B.805, subd. 1 provides: "A person who meets the definition of a residential roofer as defined in section 326B.802, subdivision 14, must be licensed by the commissioner as a residential roofer, residential building contractor, or residential remodeler." Subdivision 3 makes it an offence to act or hold oneself out in that capacity for compensation without the licence, except as provided in subdivision 6. The City requires proof of it at the counter: "All contractors doing roofing work must hold a state contractor's license and submit proof of this license at the time of permit application. Please refer to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at 651-284-5012 with specific regarding licensure." Minnetonka publishes no additional city-level roofing registration of its own.
Adopted code
STATE-GOVERNED, NOT CITY-SET. Minnetonka enforces the Minnesota State Building Code; its residential chapter is the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minnesota Rules chapter 1309), which incorporates the 2018 International Residential Code by reference and amends it. Minn. Stat. 326B.121, subd. 1 makes the State Building Code the standard that applies statewide and provides that it supersedes the building code of any municipality, and subd. 2(c) bars a municipality from requiring building code provisions regulating components or systems of a structure that differ from the State Building Code, so Minnetonka has no authority to adopt a different edition or to vary the code's content. The City names the edition itself on its Roofing Project Instructions page: "This page outlines some basic regulations contained within the 2020 Minnesota State Building Code, as well as other good building practices. However, it is not intended to be all inclusive."
Drip edge
Not required — STATE-GOVERNED, NOT CITY-SET, and this is one of the places Minnesota departs from the base IRC outright. The 2020 Minnesota Residential Code prints Section R905.2.8.5, the drip-edge section, as a single word: "Deleted." Minnesota Rules part 1309.0905, subpart 2 is the instrument that does it — "Section R905.2.8.5 is deleted in its entirety." The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's guidance sheet states the consequence under its own "Drip edge" heading: "Drip edge is not required unless specifically required by the manufacturer's installation instructions." Minnetonka has no authority to require one beyond that state baseline (Minn. Stat. 326B.121, subd. 1 makes the State Building Code the standard that applies statewide and provides that it supersedes the building code of any municipality, and subd. 2(c) bars a municipality from requiring building code provisions regulating components or systems of a structure that differ from the State Building Code). The manufacturer's installation instructions remain a live route to a drip-edge requirement on a specific product. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Required — Minnetonka states it in its own words: "An ice and water barrier is required on all roofs except for detached accessory buildings. The barrier may be at least two layers of underlayment cemented together or a self-adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet." Note the City's exemption is written for detached accessory buildings with no heated or conditioned qualifier, where Apple Valley, Minnesota words the same exemption as applying to "unheated detached accessory structures." The requirement itself is state-governed: Minnesota Rules part 1309.0301, subpart 2 amends IRC Table R301.2(1) to read "ICE BARRIER UNDERLAYMENT REQUIRED[h] ... Yes" for the whole state. The barrier is also what the City's single inspection checks — see the mid-roof inspection field. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Not required — One inspection, at the end, with photographs standing in for the stage that gets covered up. Minnetonka's Roofing Project Instructions state: "Unless otherwise required, one inspection will be conducted when the roofing work is completed. At the time of inspection, the permit holder must provide pictures of the required ice barrier underlayment. The pictures must include property identification." So no separate mid-roof, deck or dry-in inspection is scheduled — but the ice barrier must still be photographed before it is covered, and the photograph must identify the property. The City's general permits page separately lists "Re-roofing inspection" among the inspections a project may require, alongside framing and footing inspections; read that as naming the single completed-work inspection above rather than as adding an in-progress stage.
Repair permit threshold
NO MINIMUM-SIZE THRESHOLD. Minnetonka's Roofing Project Instructions state the rule without a carve-out: "Building permits are required for all roofing projects and are issued at the time of application. Permits may be obtained in-person at Minnetonka City Hall or online at eminnetonka.com." No square-footage or dollar figure appears, so treat any roofing project as permitted work and confirm a borderline small repair with the Building Inspections Division.
Wind design criteria
STATE-GOVERNED, NOT CITY-SET, and uniform across Minnesota. Minnesota Rules part 1309.0301, subpart 2 amends IRC Table R301.2(1) (Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria) to a single statewide set of values: ultimate design wind speed 115 mph, topographic effects "YES," and Seismic Design Category "A." The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's guidance sheet states the shingle consequence: "The 2020 Minnesota Residential Code requires shingles to be designed for a 115 mph maximum ultimate design wind speed (R301.2.1). This wind speed equates to a maximum basic wind speed of 90 mph, the same as required in previous codes. Asphalt shingle product labeling must indicate compliance with ASTM D3161 classifications A, D, F or ASTM D7158 classifications D, G, H and identify a maximum ultimate design wind speed of at least 115 mph (R905.2.4.1)." Ground snow load is the one input that varies geographically, and it is set by county rather than by city: Minnesota Rules part 1303.1700 fixes 60 pounds per square foot in twenty-nine named counties and "50 pounds per square foot in all other counties." Hennepin County is not among the twenty-nine, so ground snow load Pg is 50 pounds per square foot Minnetonka publishes the shingle-rating consequence as a table on its Roofing Project Instructions page, keyed to the 90 mph three-second-gust equivalent: "All buildings to meet a 90 mph 3 second gust standard," with UL 997 or ASTM D3161 Class D and ASTM D7158 Class D acceptable at 90 mph, ASTM D3161 Class F at 110 mph, ASTM D7158 Class G at 120 mph and ASTM D7158 Class H at 150 mph all acceptable. The City adds: "To verify code compliance, check the wind resistance classification printed on the packaged bundle of roof covering material." These are WIND ratings under ASTM D3161 and D7158; they are not fire ratings and not impact ratings.
Roof layer limit / recover
FULL TEAR-OFF. Minnetonka is stricter than the state baseline and says so in one sentence, under the "Reroofing" heading of its own Roofing Project Instructions: "All old roof coverings must be removed before installing any new roof coverings. Existing flashing in good condition may be reinstalled. Any sheathing that is replaced must be installed and fastened according to the code." No overlay is contemplated at all. Note the tension a bidder should be aware of: the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code, Section R908.3.1.1, permits a roof recover over ONE existing layer and bars it only "where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering," and Minn. Stat. 326B.121, subd. 1 makes the State Building Code the standard that applies statewide and provides that it supersedes the building code of any municipality, and subd. 2(c) bars a municipality from requiring building code provisions regulating components or systems of a structure that differ from the State Building Code. Minnetonka publishes the stricter rule regardless, and it is the City that inspects the work, so a bid written around an overlay will meet the City's instruction rather than the state minimum. Take any disagreement to the Building Inspections Division before bidding a recover.
Deck & sheathing requirements
STATE-GOVERNED, NOT CITY-SET. The 2020 Minnesota Residential Code, Section R905.2.1 (Sheathing requirements), reads in full: "Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks or 1-inch thick nominal wood boards." Minnesota reaches that wording by amendment — Minnesota Rules part 1309.0905, subpart 1 amends the base IRC section to add the 1-inch nominal board alternative. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's guidance sheet, "Asphalt Shingle Roofing and the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code," expands on what qualifies: "Solidly sheathed roofs include structural panels such as plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) with 1/8" gaps between panels as required by panel manufacturers. Wood boards are also considered as solidly sheathed, provided the spacing between boards complies with the shingle manufacturer's installation requirements. If the spacing between boards is too large, a structural panel applied over the deck boards is required to be considered a solidly sheathed roof." Minnetonka restates it on its Roofing Project Instructions page with a tighter gap figure than the state guidance: "Roof decks must be solidly sheathed for asphalt shingles or mineral-surfaced roll roofing. Solid sheathing may be plywood, OSB, or 1-inch nominal boards with no greater than 1/8-inch gaps. Wood shingles and shakes may be applied over solid or spaced sheathing. Roof decks that are rotted or unsound must be repaired prior to reroofing."
Sales & use tax
8.525% combined rate for Minnetonka. Read from the Minnesota Department of Revenue's own "Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Guide" effective 7/1/2026 to 9/30/2026, Hennepin County table, "Minnetonka" row: Other Local Rate 0.15% (Hennepin County), Other Area Rate 1.00% (footnote 2, the Metro Area taxes — Metro Area Housing 0.25% plus Metro Area Transportation 0.75%), City Rate blank (Minnetonka levies no city-specific local-option sales tax), County Transit Rate 0.50% (Hennepin County Transit), State Rate 6.875% — Combined Sales Tax Rate 8.525%.

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The permitting authority for the City of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a western Twin Cities suburb in Hennepin County. Minnetonka enforces the Minnesota State Building Code, which under Minn. Stat. 326B.121 is the exclusive statewide standard and supersedes any municipal building code; the City's own role is permit administration, fees, inspections and zoning.

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Roofing questions — Minnetonka, MN

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Minnetonka, MN?

Required. NO MINIMUM-SIZE THRESHOLD. Minnetonka's Roofing Project Instructions state the rule without a carve-out: "Building permits are required for all roofing projects and are issued at the time of application. Permits may be obtained in-person at Minnetonka City Hall or online at eminnetonka.com." No square-footage or dollar figure appears, so treat any roofing project as permitted work and confirm a borderline small repair with the Building Inspections Division.

Is ice & water shield required in Minnetonka, MN?

Required — Minnetonka states it in its own words: "An ice and water barrier is required on all roofs except for detached accessory buildings. The barrier may be at least two layers of underlayment cemented together or a self-adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet." Note the City's exemption is written for detached accessory buildings with no heated or conditioned qualifier, where Apple Valley, Minnesota words the same exemption as applying to "unheated detached accessory structures." The requirement itself is state-governed: Minnesota Rules part 1309.0301, subpart 2 amends IRC Table R301.2(1) to read "ICE BARRIER UNDERLAYMENT REQUIRED[h] ... Yes" for the whole state. The barrier is also what the City's single inspection checks — see the mid-roof inspection field..

Is drip edge required?

Not required — STATE-GOVERNED, NOT CITY-SET, and this is one of the places Minnesota departs from the base IRC outright. The 2020 Minnesota Residential Code prints Section R905.2.8.5, the drip-edge section, as a single word: "Deleted." Minnesota Rules part 1309.0905, subpart 2 is the instrument that does it — "Section R905.2.8.5 is deleted in its entirety." The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's guidance sheet states the consequence under its own "Drip edge" heading: "Drip edge is not required unless specifically required by the manufacturer's installation instructions." Minnetonka has no authority to require one beyond that state baseline (Minn. Stat. 326B.121, subd. 1 makes the State Building Code the standard that applies statewide and provides that it supersedes the building code of any municipality, and subd. 2(c) bars a municipality from requiring building code provisions regulating components or systems of a structure that differ from the State Building Code). The manufacturer's installation instructions remain a live route to a drip-edge requirement on a specific product..

Is a mid-roof inspection required?

Not required — One inspection, at the end, with photographs standing in for the stage that gets covered up. Minnetonka's Roofing Project Instructions state: "Unless otherwise required, one inspection will be conducted when the roofing work is completed. At the time of inspection, the permit holder must provide pictures of the required ice barrier underlayment. The pictures must include property identification." So no separate mid-roof, deck or dry-in inspection is scheduled — but the ice barrier must still be photographed before it is covered, and the photograph must identify the property. The City's general permits page separately lists "Re-roofing inspection" among the inspections a project may require, alongside framing and footing inspections; read that as naming the single completed-work inspection above rather than as adding an in-progress stage..

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Minnetonka, MN?

Required. STATE licensing, administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Minn. Stat. 326B.805, subd. 1 provides: "A person who meets the definition of a residential roofer as defined in section 326B.802, subdivision 14, must be licensed by the commissioner as a residential roofer, residential building contractor, or residential remodeler." Subdivision 3 makes it an offence to act or hold oneself out in that capacity for compensation without the licence, except as provided in subdivision 6. The City requires proof of it at the counter: "All contractors doing roofing work must hold a state contractor's license and submit proof of this license at the time of permit application. Please refer to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at 651-284-5012 with specific regarding licensure." Minnetonka publishes no additional city-level roofing registration of its own..

What building code does Minnetonka, MN use?

STATE-GOVERNED, NOT CITY-SET. Minnetonka enforces the Minnesota State Building Code; its residential chapter is the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minnesota Rules chapter 1309), which incorporates the 2018 International Residential Code by reference and amends it. Minn. Stat. 326B.121, subd. 1 makes the State Building Code the standard that applies statewide and provides that it supersedes the building code of any municipality, and subd. 2(c) bars a municipality from requiring building code provisions regulating components or systems of a structure that differ from the State Building Code, so Minnetonka has no authority to adopt a different edition or to vary the code's content. The City names the edition itself on its Roofing Project Instructions page: "This page outlines some basic regulations contained within the 2020 Minnesota State Building Code, as well as other good building practices. However, it is not intended to be all inclusive."