Roofing in Blaine, Minnesota

Required

Required

City of Blaine Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18 (Buildings and Construction), Article II (Construction Codes and Regulations), Division 1, Sec. 18-19 ("State building code; adopted by reference"), read in full, codified through Ordinance No. 25-2596 (enacted January 5, 2026, Supp. No. 2) per the city's Municode banner: "The most current edition of the state building code, as adopted by the department of labor and industry pursuant to M.S.A. § 326B.101 et seq., including all of the amendments, rules and regulations established, adopted and published from time to time by the department of labor and industry, through the construction codes and licensing division, is hereby adopted by reference including chapter 1306 with options 1306.0020, subpart 2, and 1306.0030 E, option 1." The section's own ordinance history runs from Ord. No. 410 (1974) through Ord. No. 07-2137 (7-19-2007), but its self-updating "most current edition... as amended from time to time" language means Blaine automatically tracks whatever residential code edition the state currently has in force -- currently the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code (Minn. R. ch. 1309), which incorporates the 2018 IRC. Sec. 18-20 confirms application, administration, and enforcement follow the state building code, enforced by a state-certified building official designated by the city. Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 326B.121, subd. 1(a)-(b)) makes the State Building Code the standard that applies statewide and supersedes any municipal building code; subd. 2(c) bars a municipality from imposing building-code provisions that differ from the State Building Code.

All residential roofing permits in Blaine are submitted online through the city's iMS portal (BlaineMN.gov/iMS); paper applications are not accepted. A contractor working on behalf of a homeowner must first create a User Account and then a "PRO Account" (for parties holding a required city or state license or registration); a homeowner doing their own work may use a User Account only. After gathering required documents (plans/job specifications for new roofing; a job-scope description for stucco repair), the applicant submits the online application, which cannot be saved and resumed mid-way -- once started it must be completed in one pass, though a review screen before final submission allows edits. Plan review takes up to 15 business days ("delays may occur" during busy construction months). After review, the city emails permit cost and payment instructions; after payment, plans are released and inspection scheduling can begin. Inspections must be scheduled at least 3-4 business days in advance by phone (763-785-6170, option 1) with the permit number, job-site address, inspection type, and (if the caller is the homeowner) the contractor's name ready.

Per Blaine's Roofing/Siding/Stucco permit page, the Roofing permit's typical inspections are "Roofing Pictures (ice and water)" and "Final," though the page notes "depending on your project, inspections may be added or removed." Blaine's own "Residential Roofing" reference handout describes the mechanics: the applicant uploads digital photographs to the permit's Files tile in the iMS system, with one photograph required each of: roof decking, all ice and water protection, all flashing details, all vents, the finished roof detail, and the front of the house showing the address. Hard-copy photographs are not accepted and must be converted to digital format first. "A final inspection will be automatically scheduled after the required photographs have been submitted and approved by the City," and that final inspection "is conducted by site visit only," with fenced-yard access required. Roof decks found rotted or otherwise unsound must be repaired before reroofing, and "a site inspection or digital photographs of repairs will be required" for that repair work specifically.