Change in business name

Licensed businesses and contractors may change their business name during a license period and receive an updated license or certificate to reflect the change in business name. The requirements for changing a business and contractor license administered by Construction Codes and Licensing are presented below. Changes to the license business names should be mailed to the following address:

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
CCLD Licensing and Certification Services
Attn Name Change
PO Box 64220
Saint Paul, MN 55164-0220

Name change or new license

A new license is not required under the following circumstances:

Changing (amending) the legal name of the licensed business entity.
Changing (amending) or replacing an existing assumed name (dba) of the licensed business entity.
Adding an assumed name (dba) of the licensed business entity.
Business/contractor name change form (PDF)

A new license is required under the following circumstances because they are changes to the business structure of an existing license

New Legal Business Entity. The dissolution of one legal business entity being replaced by a new legal business entity. Examples include Old Corporation being dissolved and replaced by New Corporation, and Old LLC being dissolved and replaced with New LLC.
Change Legal Business Entity Type. A change from one type of legal business entity to a different type of legal business entity. Examples include individual proprietor to limited liability company (LLC), or individual proprietor to corporation, or corporation to LLC, or LLC to corporation, or individual proprietor to partnership, or partnership to limited liability partnership (LLP), or corporation to individual proprietor, or LLC to individual proprietor, or partnership to individual proprietor, etc.
Multiple Assumed Names. A licensed legal business entity, conducting business under an assumed name (dba), which intends to conduct licensed business activities under additional assumed names. Each assumed name that the legal entity will be conducting business must have its own license.

Change legal name of licensed business entity

1.) Amend its legal documents creating the business entity to reflect its new legal name

A corporation would amend its Articles of Incorporation.
A Limited Liability Company would amend its Articles of Organization.
A partnership would amend its partnership agreement.

2.) If a Minnesota-organized business entity, file the applicable business name change form and filing fee with the Secretary of State.

Corporation -- Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
Limited Liability Company (LLC) -- Amendment of Articles of Organization
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) -- State of Amendment or Cancellation

3.) If a foreign business entity, file the applicable form and filing fee with the Minnesota Secretary of State:

Foreign Corporation - Name Change Amendment Form.
Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) -- Foreign LLC Amendment Form.
Foreign Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) -- Statement of Amendment or Cancellation Form

4.) Update the insured name on your insurance coverage to the new legal business entity name, including liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. Contact your insurance agent.

5.) Update the legal business name on your bond, if applicable, to the new legal business entity name. Includes bonds covering the following business license types: electrical contractors, elevator contractors, high pressure piping businesses, manufactured home manufacturers, manufactured home dealers, manufactured home dealer subagency, manufactured home installers, plumbing contractors, residential roofers, technology system contractors, and water conditioning contractors. Contact your insurance agent or the surety company issuing your bond for assistance.

6.) Submit the following documents to CCLD Licensing and Certification Services:

Completed DLI Licensed Business Name Change form.
Copy of the amendment changing the legal name with Minnesota Secretary of State.
Updated Certificate of Insurance showing the new legal entity as the insured.
A bond rider (if appropriate) showing the new legal entity covered by the bond

Change/replace assumed name (doing business as) of licensed business entity

1.) Complete and submit Amendment to Certificate of Assumed Name with filing fee to the Minnesota Secretary of State when changing an existing assumed name.

2.) Update the insured name on your insurance coverage to include the legal business entity name and the changed (amended) assumed name, including liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. The insured name should be LEGAL NAME dba NEW ASSUMED NAME. Contact your insurance agent for assistance.

3.) Update the business name on your bond, if applicable, and get a rider from the surety company that changes the business name to be the LEGAL NAME dba NEW ASSUMED NAME. This requirement applies to bonds covering the following business license types: electrical contractors, elevator contractors, high pressure piping businesses, manufactured home manufacturers, manufactured home dealers, manufactured home dealer subagency, manufactured home installers, plumbing contractors, residential roofers, technology system contractors, and water conditioning contractors. Contact your insurance agent or the surety company issuing your bond for assistance.

4.) Submit the following documents to CCLD Licensing and Certification Services:

Completed DLI Licensed Business Name Change form.
Copy of the Amendment to Certificate of Assumed Name filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Updated Certificate of Insurance showing the LEGAL NAME dba NEW ASSUMED NAME as the insured.
A bond rider (if appropriate) showing the business name covered by the bond as the LEGAL NAME dba NEW ASSUMED NAME.

Add an assumed name (doing business as) to licensed business entity

1.) File Certificate of Assumed Name with filing fee to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

2.) Update the insured name on your insurance coverage to include the legal business entity name and the assumed name to be added to the license. This includes liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. The insured name should be LEGAL NAME dba NEW ASSUMED NAME. Contact your insurance agent for assistance.

4.) Submit the following documents to CCLD Licensing and Certification Services:

Completed DLI Licensed Business Name Change form.
Copy of the Certificate of Assumed Name filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Updated Certificate of Insurance showing the LEGAL NAME dba NEW ASSUMED NAME as the insured.
A bond rider (if appropriate) showing the business name covered by the bond as the LEGAL NAME dba NEW ASSUMED NAME.

Please Note: As of Oct. 1, 2009, the Department of Labor and Industry does not accept cash as payment for licenses, inspections, copy requests and other DLI services. Accepted methods of payment include checks, money orders and electronic payments that can be made through the DLI Web site.