The Minnesota State Building Code is the minimum construction standard throughout Minnesota. It isn’t enforceable by municipalities unless it is adopted by local ordinance.
Every six years new building codes are adopted. The 2020 Minnesota Building Code and Minnesota Residential Code both went into effect March 31, 2020. The full list of building related codes in effect in Minnesota can be found on the Department of Labor and Industry website 2020 Minnesota State Building Codes | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (mn.gov). The Minnesota Building and Residential Codes are the 2018 ICC codes incorporating Minnesota amendments.
The Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) provides for regulation and enforcement of construction-related health and safety codes and licensing laws in new and existing structures. It also certifies building officials.
The Building Plan Review unit reviews building plans to ensure they meet Minnesota State Building Code requirements for public buildings and state-licensed facilities (Minnesota Statute 326B.103). These are buildings funded by the state or a state agency and public school district, as well as buildings licensed by state agencies like hospitals and prisons.
Building Code Compliance Software for Minnesota
Plan Analyst code compliance software programs make it easy for building officials, architects and other designers to quickly perform commercial and residential building code plan reviews / code studies.
Plan Analyst for the 2018 IBC and Plan Analyst for the 2018 IRC simplifies the plan review / code study process enabling compliance to specific code years. This proven software allows modifications to accommodate local amendments, where applicable. Users have the ability to add code requirements and to add to the checklist. Changes can be made permanent by changing the data file using the setup section of Plan Analyst, or specific reports can be edited for special conditions.
Plan Analyst Calculators: Deck – Sign – Beam & Column
Plan Analyst Deck, Sign and Beam & Column Calculators are additional simple and effective design and code review software tools that will quickly become your go-to resources when working on associated tasks.
Users of Plan Analyst in Minnesota have included:
| City of Austin | 101 Development Resources Inc. |
| City of Ely | Bozonie Construction |
| City of St. Peter | Columbus Exteriors, Inc. |
| City of Thief River Falls | I & S Engineers & Architects, Inc. |
| City of Willmar | Paul Jaunich Architect |
| Kandiyohi County | Welker Custom Homes |
| Rice County | Wilkus Architects |
Building and Residential Code Resources in Minnesota
- Guide to the Minnesota Building Code
- Buy the Minnesota Building Code from ICC
- View the Minnesota Building Code free online
- Buy the Minnesota Residential Code from ICC
- View the Minnesota Residential Code free online
- Purchase Plan Analyst for the IBC and or IRC to automate and simplify your plan reviews / code studies plananalyst.com.
- The ICC General Code website provides access to some municipal codes.
Energy Code Compliance Software for Minnesota
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy website to see the latest on energy code adoption in Minnesota, including the use of COMcheck and REScheck Energy Code compliance software. COMcheck enables architects, builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new commercial or high-rise residential buildings, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1. REScheck product enables builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new homes, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC or a number of state energy codes.
The “Building Codes Assistance Project” also provides information on Minnesota’s building energy codes.
FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking
The FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking program reports on the status of hazard-resistant building code adoption in each state. Minnesota is in FEMA Region 5. Read the 2023 Region 5 fact sheet showing the annual metric of the percent of communities adopting hazard-resistant building codes in Minnesota.
AIA and ICC
American Institute of Architects – AIA Minnesota represents architects in the state. There are over 3,500 registered and reciprocal architects in Minnesota.
Minnesota has Regional ICC Chapters throughout the State. Each Chapter has a representative to the Association of Minnesota Building Officials (AMBO) Board of Directors.
Minnesota code adoption status on the ICC website