Minnesota Statutes section 216D.04 requires notice to Gopher State One Call at least 48 hours before digging, not counting the day of notice, weekends or holidays. Cities in the metro also require permits for wrecking, right-of-way work and larger grading. This page is general information about Minnesota, not legal advice.
Do I need a permit to dig on my own property in Minneapolis or the suburbs?
A small dig on your own property often needs no city permit, but every dig needs a Gopher State One Call ticket first. Permits are needed for wrecking, work in the street, alley or boulevard, septic systems, pools, retaining walls over the city's height limit and larger grading. HomeGuide puts excavation permits at $50 to $400 where they apply; your city sets the actual fee.
Is a grading permit required to regrade my yard in the Twin Cities?
A grading permit is usually not required to regrade a small part of your own yard when drainage still leaves the lot the same way. Many cities do review grading on teardown and rebuild lots and on larger projects, and watershed districts can have their own rules. HomeGuide shows grading permits at $50 to $400 where they are needed.
When is an MPCA stormwater permit or erosion control required?
An MPCA construction stormwater permit is required when a project disturbs one acre or more of soil, or less than an acre that is part of a larger common plan, and the MPCA can require it for smaller sites that threaten water. Cities and watershed districts often require erosion control on much smaller jobs. Silt fence and inlet protection go in on every site we grade.
Do I need a permit for tree removal, clearing or work near a wetland or lake?
Clearing brush on your own lot usually needs no permit, but work near a wetland, a lake or a creek can need city, watershed district, DNR or federal approval, and boulevard trees belong to the city. Some cities also protect trees on lots being developed. We check the rules before clearing near water.
Who pulls the permits for an excavation job, the contractor or the owner?
The contractor usually pulls the permits for the work they do, and in Minneapolis a wrecking permit goes with a licensed wrecking contractor. Owners or general contractors pull building permits. Agree in writing on who pulls each permit.
Do I need to call 811 before digging, even for a small garden project?
Yes, call 811 before any digging, even a small garden bed, a fence post or a tree. In Minnesota that reaches Gopher State One Call. Utilities mark the lines they own; private lines such as power to a garage, a gas line to a grill or irrigation are not marked by them.
How much notice does Gopher State One Call need, and how long is a ticket valid?
Under Minnesota Statutes section 216D.04, notice must be given at least 48 hours before digging, not counting the day of notice, Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and not more than 14 calendar days before. Gopher State One Call explains that a Tuesday request allows digging on Friday. The notice is valid for 14 calendar days from the start time on the ticket; to keep working past that, a new notice must be filed at least 48 business hours before the old one expires.
Who is liable when an excavator hits a utility line in Minnesota?
Liability when a utility line is hit in Minnesota depends on whether a valid locate was in place, whether the line was marked correctly and how carefully the excavator worked near the marks. Without a ticket, the digger carries nearly all of that risk. If you hit gas, leave, call 911 from a safe place and then the gas company. This is general information about Minnesota, not legal advice.
Can I dig along the property line without my neighbor's permission in Minnesota?
You can dig along the property line on your own side, but not on the neighbor's land without permission, and you must not undermine their fence, garage or foundation. On tight Minneapolis lots, a boundary survey, $300 to $900 in HomeGuide's figures, settles where the line is before a trench or wall goes in. This is general information about Minnesota, not legal advice.
Need a real price for your Twin Cities property? Call or text (612) 688-4650; we walk the site first and then send the scope and price in writing.