Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.206
ELIGIBILITY (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
The bona fide owner of any residential property in the city may, upon making application therefor and the payment of the proper fee, obtain a permit to do any work in and on such residential property so owned by him or her without first being licensed to do said work. It is provided, nevertheless, that the said work must be performed by such owner personally and in accordance with all the rules, specifications and regulations prescribed by the city code; and further that such work must pass the inspection otherwise provided for by the city code. (1958 Code, § 36.01) (Added by Ord. 133, passed 4-17-1958; Ord. 190, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 195, passed 11-25-1952; Ord. 97, passed 12-17-1956; Ord. 107, passed 5-20-1957; Ord. 109, passed 5-20-1957)
Under Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.206, the verified owner of a residential property in Bloomington may obtain a permit to perform work on that property without holding a contractor's license. However, the owner must personally carry out the work — it cannot be delegated to unlicensed helpers — and all work must comply with city code standards. The completed work is still subject to the city's standard inspection process before it is considered approved.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 15.206, a property owner who wishes to take advantage of the owner-permit exemption generally applies for the appropriate permit, pays the required fee, and performs all work personally rather than directing unlicensed workers. Compliant operators ensure that every phase of the work meets the city's rules, specifications, and regulations, and they schedule and pass the required city inspection before the work is considered complete. Keeping documentation of the permit application, fee payment, and inspection results is a common practice among operators who use this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 15.206 establishes that any work performed by an owner under this permit exemption must be done personally by that owner and must pass city inspection — meaning tenants can look to inspection records to verify that owner-performed work was properly reviewed. If work appears to have been done without a permit or without passing inspection, tenants may contact the City of Bloomington's relevant code enforcement or building inspection office to inquire about compliance. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Bloomington's municipal code can help residents understand what recourse may be available when work on a residential property does not appear to meet the requirements of § 15.206.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.