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Code Status: Minnesota

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of Minnesota. Information for all 50 States is also available. Minnesota Code News.

Current State Codes

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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: Authority for adopting the state energy codes was previously vested in the Energy Security Office of the Department of Commerce (originally the Department of Public Services).  In 1999-2000, the state legislature transferred this authority to the Building Codes and Standards Division within the Department of Administration. Eventually, the Building Codes and Standards Division was transferred to the Department of Labor & Industry so that all regulations and activities regarding construction in the state were under one department.

The state's Administrative Procedures Act provides for a minimum update process of 18 months.  Its procedures require a formal public hearing only if requested by 25 or more individuals. The Building Codes and Standards Division delivers an executive summary of the proposed rule changes to the office of the Governor.  After the Governor and State Revisor's Office approve the rule changes, a Notice of Adoption is published in the state register.

State Code History: In 1979, individual counties outside of the seven-county Minneapolis/St. Paul area and incorporated cities with populations of less than 2,500 were given the option of enforcing a statewide building code. Many elected to have no enforcement within their area. Currently enforcement occurs for about 80% of the population base; approximately 20% of the population has no enforced energy code. For buildings not inspected by the State Department of Administration, interpretations were made at the local level. Disagreements may be forwarded to a local appeals board. The Department of Commerce was frequently asked for an opinion, but has no enforcement authority.

A commercial energy code that exceeded ASHRAE 90.1-1989 became effective July 20, 1999. A residential energy code developed from the 1995 MEC became effective April 15, 2000.  

After authority over energy codes was transferred to the Building Codes and Standards Division (within the Construction Codes and Licensing Division) in the Department of Labor & Industry, significant effort was made to transition the Minnesota building community from a purely state-developed code to one aligned more closely to the national model codes.  In 2008, after seven and a half years, the state adopted new residential and commercial energy codes based on the 2006 IRC and ASHRAE 90.1-2004, respectively. Officials hope to streamline this process in the future and update the state codes more frequently.

On June 1, 2009, the 2009 Minnesota State Building Code became effective.  The new residential energy code (Chapter 1322) has been simplified to the point that in virtually all cases a REScheck-like program is not needed to show code compliance. The code now simply requires minimum R-values and maximum U-factors for building components without regard to square footage of those elements. A REScheck for the new Minnesota code is not currently available. Other alternatives are listed in the code at Part 1322.1102.

COMcheck is not yet available for the new commercial energy code (Chapter 1323), but commercial building envelope and lighting compliance can be readily determined by available tools. The envelope requirements of the new commercial energy code are not difficult to determine from the two tables (one for northern and the other for southern Minnesota) in Part 1323.0550. The lighting requirements of the code are identical to ASHRAE 90.1-2004, with the exception of exterior building grounds and parking lot lighting (Part 1323.0944). To demonstrate lighting compliance, simply start COMcheck and select "Code: 90.1 (2004) Standard" for all but building grounds and parking lot lighting.

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Residential Sector: 391.7 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 347.1 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 738.8 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 4,919,479
  • Total Housing Units2: 2,132,632
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 40,832
    • 1 unit: 32,183
    • 2 units: 452
    • 3 and 4 units: 779
    • 5+ units: 7,418
    • structures of 5+ units: 396

    References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt

Green Building Initiatives

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Code Funding Opportunities

There are two funding opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and State Energy Program. Please reference the U.S. Department of Energy for Minnesota's allocated amount and updated information. 

  

Web Links

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State Energy Code Contacts

Don Sivigny
Department of Labor and Industry
Building Codes and Standards
443 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, MN 55155-4341
PH: (651) 284-5874
FX: (651) 297-1973
Email: don.sivigny@state.mn.us