Duluth, MN Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Duluth adopts the Minnesota State Building Code by reference under § 10-1, so building permit requirements generally flow from that state code, administered by a Minnesota-certified building official within the city's construction services division. Section 10-2 lays out the city's own fee and special-permit rules on top of that framework. Building permit fees are collected under the current fee schedule adopted per §§ 2-5, 31-6 and 31-8, and special permits with their own fees are required for a defined list of items whether they involve new or existing buildings: moving over public property a building of 1,000 square feet or less on the first floor, moving a larger building over public property, moving any building not on public property at all, razing or demolishing a building or structure, and installing a mobile home.

Special permits are also required for electrical wiring, plumbing, heating plants and fireplaces regulated by the State Building Code when not covered by the general construction permit. If work requiring a permit starts before the permit is obtained, § 10-2(e) doubles the fee, though paying double doesn't excuse full compliance with the State Building Code or any other standard or penalty the law allows. Finally, § 10-2(f) makes clear a building permit's scope is limited: no permit to erect, repair or alter a building authorizes using any part of a public thoroughfare, public ground or easement, so work that spills into the right-of-way needs its own separate permit.