Construction Permits
Lane Use/Obstruction Permits
Obstruction permits are required when any portion of a city street, parking lane or sidewalk is obstructed for the purpose of construction, demolition, utility repair, etc.
Registration and approval is done online at Lane Use Application. The City requires 24 hour notice if parking meters need to be hooded, or 48 hours if streets must be posted for "No Parking."
Fees: There is no charge for the actual permit, but the permit is required to park vehicles in the obstructed area. Lane use fees may apply if a travel or parking lane is closed. Meter hooding fees apply if parking meters need to be hooded for the project.
Right-of-Way Excavation Permit
A Right-of-Way Excavation Permit is required by anyone seeking to excavate in the right-of-way. Application for a permit is made to the Utility Connections Office.
The posting of a construction performance bond is also required. If the permit application is approved, the Utility Connections Office will issue your permit. If your application is rejected, you may either submit a new application with revisions or appeal the denial to the City Council through its Transportation and Public Works Committee.
Sanitary Sewer Connection Permit (New Sewer Tap permit)
A Sewer permit or Sewer Tap Permit, or Sewer Extension Permit is required if connecting to the sewer system. If the connection is from the, if from main sewer line a Sewer Tap Permit is required. If the connection to the sewer line uses an existing sewer connection to the sewer main, then a Sewer Extension Permit is required.
Storm Sewer Connection Permit
If connecting to the storm sewer system written permission must be received from the Surface Water & Sewers division of Public Works, then the permit will be issued by the Utility Connections
Erosion & Sediment Control Permit/Plan Approval
All Minneapolis construction sites disturbing topsoil are subject to erosion control compliance. Sites disturbing more than five cubic yards or 500 square feet of topsoil, including utility excavations and any residential or commercial demolition projects, need an erosion control permit prior to the start of work. Demolition and construction sites great than 5000 square feet require an approved erosion control plan prior to a permit being issues for the site.
Chapter 52: Erosion and Sediment Control for Land-Disturbing Activities
Soil Erosion Application (pdf)
Stormwater Management Plan Approval
Stormwater Management Plans approved by the Public Works Department are required for all construction projects on sites greater than 1 acre in size, including phased or connected actions. These plans are reviewed through the Minneapolis Development Review process. Responsibility for ongoing operation and maintenance is one component of the Stormwater Management Plan. Stormwater devices shall be registered with the City, with an annual permit being required for each registered stormwater device.
Chapter 54: Stormwater Management for Development and Re-development
Street Restoration Charge (part of Utility Permit)
Street removal and restoration is to be done to the specifications of the Public Works Department. Use of a fee schedule for Restoration Cost will be paid at the time a permit is approved. In the event that Public Works Department must excavate a larger area then originally permitted, permittee will be billed for change in size. Repair of the excavated street will be done in a manner which restores the maximum future utilization of the street. Please contact the Utility Connections Office at (612) 673-2451
Object in Right of Way/Encroachment Permits
In order to occupy public right of way, an Encroachment Permit is required for any existing or proposed structure or portion thereof that projects onto, under or over any municipal right of way, under the authority outlined in Title 5, Chapter 95, of the City of Minneapolis Code of Ordinances. The Encroachment Permit gives the permit-holder permission to use a specific portion of the right of way until such time as that portion of the right of way is needed by the City of Minneapolis for public purposes. Encroachment Permits are revocable at any time in the interest of public safety.
Application for an Encroachment Permit (pdf)
Water Tap Permits/Water Connection Permit/Water Permit
The Water Works Permit Office writes tap permits for licensed plumbers by request. The tap permit gives permission to the plumbers to tap the City water main. This tap is recorded and registered with the tap permit office, maintenance yard and the utility inspector’S office.
This record contains the legal, which includes the lot, block, addition name, tap number and address along with plumbers name and signature. Inspectors from the office of connections inspect and record the work done by the plumber.
Applications for tap permits of any size are not available on line.
For more detailed information contact the permit office at (612) 673-2865 or go to the Public Service Center located at 250 S 4 th St., Room 224, Minneapolis.
Water Meter Permit
The Water Works Permit Office writes a meter application for record purposes, this information is given to the Minneapolis Meter Services Department.
This information is also given to the Minneapolis Water Billing department, this allows the Billing department the information needed to create or update a water account for billing purposes.
This meter application registers the application number, meter size, plumber, and address of customer.
We also sell various size couplings for meter installations to City of Minneapolis customers.
For more detailed information contact the permit office at (612) 673-2865 or go to the Public Service Center located at 250 S 4 th St., Room 224, Minneapolis.
Water Cut Off Permit
The Water Works Permit Office issues water cut off permits to licensed plumbers to cut and eliminate water taps from city water mains; this may be for a demolition or new service line. This information is recorded and filed.
For more detailed information contact the permit office at (612) 673-2865 or go to the Public Service Center located at 250 S 4 th St., Room 224, Minneapolis.
Hydrant Commercial Permit
The Water Works Permit Office issues hydrant permits for the use of water for contractors and plumbers when there is no availability of water.
The contractors must leave a deposit for hydrant adapter and wrench which is refunded when the adapter and wrench is returned. Both items must be returned in order to receive deposit.
For more detailed information contact the permit office at (612) 673-2865 or go to the Public Service Center located at 250 S 4 th St., Room 224, Minneapolis.
After permit is issued equipment must be picked up at 935 5 th Ave. SE, Minneapolis. For questions call (612) 673-5600.
Compliance Certificates/Demolition Permits
The properties to be demolished for non-code compliance are enforced by the City of Minneapolis department of Inspection.
The Water Permit office is required to see that the water service line has been cut off, water meter returned and the bill is paid.
Demolition permits are signed off by the Water Permit office if the contractor has met all criteria. For questions call (612) 673-5600.
Sidewalk Owner's Request Work
Sidewalk Inspections will administer Owner’S Request Work using the City hired sidewalk contractor when the City hired sidewalk contractor is working in a designated area doing Sidewalk Repair Program work. The Sidewalk Inspector will provide a slip (the Owner’S Request Slip), with estimate, to the property owner requesting the work. The Owner’S request Slip must be signed before the Owner’S Request Work will be done. Property Owners can either pay for the work upon billing, or, allow the cost of the requested work to be assessed as a special assessment to their property taxes. This work is limited to work in the Public Right Of Way, and is not for work on private property. This work would only be additional sidewalk or other concrete flatwork that was not required via the Sidewalk Repair Notice. Contact Sidewalk Inspections at 673-2420.
Special Boulevard Permit (Sidewalk)
This is a permit for private treatments by property owners in the City Right Of Way as described in the Boulevard Ordinance. The Special Boulevard Permit requires City Council approval. Some commonly requested property owner treatments include special sidewalk or boulevard paving and certain plantings not allowed by the ordinance without this permit. Contact Sidewalk Inspections at 673-2420.
Sidewalk Construction Permit
A Sidewalk Construction Permit must be obtained by all private concrete contractors working in the City of Minneapolis Right Of Way. This permit can be obtained by logging on to the website: 
http://sidewalk.mpls.mn.roway.net/ and following the directions on the website.
Contractors working in the Public Right of Way in the City of Minneapolis must also obtain a $15,000 Sidewalk Contractors Bond prior to applying for a Sidewalk Construction Permit.
Utility Repair Permit
Utility Repair Permits are issued to licensed contractors for making repairs or alterations to city water and sewer lines. Repair permits may also be issued for new water connections, if the new installation includes adding a future use line. Other examples of Utility Repair Permits are for extending water, sewer, or storm sewer lines, manhole repairs, or extensions of lines from the Water or Sewer mains.
Last updated Jan. 29, 2013