Information sheets and handouts:
Building and Inspection

The following handouts provide summaries and guides to building code requirements. For more information, contact the Building and Inspection Division at 952-563-8930.

FAQs: View the permits and inspections slideshow to get answers for the most common questions Building and Inspection receives.

Building and Inspection handout categories:

• Residential applicants please read: Permit application regulations

• Accessory buildings
• Additions
• Basement finishing and windows
• Building Codes adopted by the City of Bloomington
• Carbon monoxide alarms
• Commercial Energy Code
• Commercial Plan Review Criteria
• Construction guidelines
• Decks
• Driveways: Residential
• Ductwork installation
• Egress windows
• Electrical
• Fee schedule
• Foundations/footings
• Furnace replacement
• Garages
• Hiring a contractor
• Homeowner information: permits and inspections
• Homeowner Lead Abatement
• HVAC
• Inspections
• Moving a house/structure
• Natural gas
• Notching and hole boring chart
• Performance bonds
• Plumbing
• Pools, spas, hot tubs
• Replacement windows and doors
• Residential surveys
• Roofing
• Siding
• Smoke detectors
• Stairways
• Stucco
• Time-of-sale
• Toilet tanks
• Wood species charts

Accessibility

• Accessibility requirements
  (128KB, 2-page PDF) Sales counters, dressing rooms, urinals, toilets, water fountains and maneuvering clearances.
• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Accessory buildings
Including garages, carports, storage buildings, gazebos, screen houses, playhouses

• Accessory buildings other than garages (15KB, 2-page PDF)
  Number, location, size and appearance requirements.
• Garage/accessory building (128KB, 4-page PDF)
  Permit application information, framing, sheathing, attic ventilation, flashing, shingles, footings.
• Single family dwelling's private garages (14KB, 2-page PDF)
  Number, location, size and appearance requirements for attached and detached garages.

Additions/remodels

• Additions (104KB, 4-page PDF) (under revision)
  Permit application information, setbacks, framing, sheathing, ventilation, crawl space/basement, flashing, shingles, sleeping rooms, fire alarm system.
• Additions - drawing your own plans (278KB, 4-page PDF)
  Example of minimum specifications required to submit plans.

Basement finishing

• Basement finishing (24KB PDF)
  Answers common questions about basement finishing.
• Egress escape windows (20KB PDF)
  Basement sleeping rooms, window wells.
• Replacement windows and doors (16KB PDF)
  Answers to the most frequently asked questions when replacing windows or doors.

Building codes adopted by the City

• Codes adopted.

Carbon monoxide alarms

• Carbon monoxide alarms requirements (36KB PDF)
  Type, location.

Commercial energy code

• Commercial Energy Code Summary (34KB PDF)

Commercial plan review criteria

• Building plan review submittal list for new buildings or additions (56KB PDF)
• Codes adopted by City of Bloomington
• Commercial electrical equipment approval (40KB PDF)
• Commercial Energy Code Summary (34KB PDF)
• Electrical commercial plan review criteria(54KB, 2-page PDF)
• FAQs: Commercial plan reviews (15KB PDF)
• Building permit/plan check fee schedule (15KB, 2-page PDF)
  Permit and plan check fees, based on valuation of addition or alteration.
• HVAC commercial plan reviews criteria (56KB PDF)
• Plumbing commercial plan review criteria (55KB PDF)
• Special inspection and testing - Guidelines (16KB, 2-page PDF)
  Related "Special Structural Testing and Inspection Schedule"
  • Erosion control bond (29KB, 2-pages PDF)
  • Landscape bond (29KB, 2-pages PDF)

Construction

• Construction guidelines (432KB, 4-pages PDF).

Decks

• Residential decks (56KB, 4-page PDF)
  Setback, footings, joist spans, handrails.
• Treated wood/fastener information (31KB PDF)
  Setback, footings, joist spans, handrails.
• Tested and approved deck products (57KB, 2-page PDF)

Driveways: Residential

• Residential Driveway/Off-Street Parking (168KB 4-page PDF)
• Residential Driveway Approaches and Curb Cuts (100KB 3-page PDF)
  • Related handouts:
    Code Highlights: Keep Our City Looking Good
    Vehicle Parking
    

Ductwork installation

• Ductwork installation (102KB, 3-page PDF)

Electrical

• Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) (136KB PDF)
• Circuits and wiring (60KB 2-page PDF)
• General Circuit Requirements (117KB 2-page PDF)
• Homeowner Electrical Permits (136KB PDF)
• Meter and panel wiring (198KB, 2-page PDF)
  Overhead service, service panel with required disconnect.
• Overhead Wire Clearances (44KB PDF)
• Residential Detached Garage Wiring (220KB, 4-page PDF)
• Residential Kitchens: Required Receptacle Outlets (128KB 2-page PDF)
• Residential Tamper Resistant Receptacles (48KB PDF)

Fee schedule

• Building permit/plan check fee schedule (15KB, 2-page PDF)
  Permit and plan check fees, based on valuation of addition or alteration.

Fences, landscaping

• Clear view triangle (27KB PDF)
  Definition and height restrictions.

Foundations/footings

• Foundations/footings (32KB PDF)
  Drainage, minimum size, foundation anchorage.

Furnace replacement/heating of new additions

• Furnace replacement/heating of new additions (34KB PDF)

Hiring a contractor

• Hiring a contractor (32KB, 4-page PDF)
  Building and Inspection Division and State tips on hiring a reliable contractor.

Homeowner information: permits and inspections

• Permits and Inspections slide show
  This slide show was created to answer commonly posed homeowner questions regarding permits and inspections -- information about when permits are needed, what type of plans must be submitted and how the inspection and plan review process works.

Homeowner Lead Abatement

• Homeowner Lead Abatement (48KB, 1-page PDF)
  Where to find information on lead abatement mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Inspections

• General guidelines (224KB, 3-page PDF)
  Inspection requirements, new houses, driveway installations, noise code, hydro massage tubs, automatic garage door systems.
• Inspection requirements information sheet (92KB PDF)
  Checklists for footing requirements, framing inspections, insulation inspections, final inspections.

Moving a house/structure

• Moving a house/structure (16KB PDF)
  A check list to reference when moving a house or structure into, out of or within Bloomington.

Natural gas

• Flexible gas connectors (23KB PDF)
  Certain older gas connectors may be dangerous; replacement information.

Notching and hole boring chart

• Studs, joists, rafters (30KB PDF)

Plumbing

• Toilet tank elements (16KB PDF)
  Installation to prevent the siphoning of tank water into drinking water supply.

Pools, spas, hot tubs

• Pool/spa permit requirements (under revision)

Replacement windows and doors

• Replacement windows and doors (16KB PDF)
  Answers to the most frequently asked questions about replacing windows or doors.

Residential survey information

• Steps for new residential home survey (27KB PDF)
  Three surveys will be required for any new residential single-family or twin home.

Residential survey requirements

• Requirements for home survey certificates (32KB PDF)

Roofing

• Asphalt roofing shingles (64KB, 4-page PDF)
  Overlay vs. tear-off, fasteners, sheathing, roof pitch, underlayment, flashing, ice protection, vents, application and nesting procedures, skylights.

Siding

• Housewrap/weather barrier (54KB PDF)
  The City of Bloomington requires that you have an inspection of the weather-resistant barrier, commonly known as housewrap.
• Siding Regulations per the Minnesota State Energy Code (40KB PDF)