Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15 § 15.195
HEATING, VENTILATING, AIR CONDITIONING, REFRIGERATION AND PROPANE STORAGE PERMITS (Bloomington Buildings and Structures Code)
Operative Text
(a) Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this section shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. CENTRAL SYSTEM. All of that equipment installed for providing heating, air conditioning or ventilating by means of ducts or pipes to any room or area. A CENTRAL SYSTEM may include heating, refrigeration, ventilating or air conditioning thereof. JOB COST. Includes all equipment, materials and labor costs and all other components necessary for a complete installation whether furnished by the contractor, owner or others and shall be based on billing costs to the customer. MULTIPLE CENTRAL SYSTEMS. Any residence, building, occupancy and the like with more than one central furnace or boiler, each such furnace or boiler not interconnected with another, shall be considered a separate system. Multiple furnaces and/or boilers connected to a common system of piping and/or duct work shall be considered one system. REFRIGERATION SYSTEM. A combination of interconnected parts and equipment constituting at least one closed circuit in which a refrigerant is circulated for the purpose of extracting heat. (b) General fee information. (1) If at the time of application for permit the value of the job as billed to the customer is unknown, the applicant may estimate that value. (2) The estimated cost shall be subject to review by the issuing authority. Upon completion of the job, the mechanical contractor will furnish the city with a statement of the full cost of the job. If the actual cost exceeds the estimate by $500 or more, the fee shall be revised and the applicant shall pay a fee computed on the basis of the actual cost. (3) Permits and fees shall in all cases be subject to the approval of the issuing authority. (c) Fee schedule. (1) Minimum fees as set forth in City Code Appendix A . (2) Fees for the following shall be computed at 1.5% of the job cost , and shall include gas piping and oil tank fees: (A) Central systems : for installation of any system containing heating and/or air conditioning equipment; (B) Additions, alterations and repairs to any central system . Fees for minor repairs may be waived with approval of the issuing authority; (C) Replacements: for replacement of any furnace or boiler in connection with an existing central system ; (D) Addition of air conditioning to any existing central system ; (E) Ventilation and exhaust systems: for installation of any central system containing ventilation or exhaust equipment; (F) Installation or replacement of any conversion burner, unit heater, floor furnace, wall heater, space heater and the like; (G) Process equipment: for the installation of any steam, hot water or warm air system fired with gas or oil and used in connection with a process application or any additions, alterations, repairs or replacements thereto. In figuring job cost , the issuing authority may waive the cost of the equipment used in the particular process involved (e.g., vats, pressers, ovens and the like), but the cost shall always include furnaces, boilers, burners, piping, ductwork and the like; (H) Stokers and powdered fuel burners; (I) Electric heating: for installation of any electric heating system of the central type (i.e., boilers, fan systems and the like); (J) Refrigeration equipment: for installation of any refrigeration system (portable equipment excluded); (K) Temporary construction heaters; (L) Gas and oil piping; (M) Conversion of any system from liquefied petroleum (bottle gas) to natural gas; and (N) Tanks: above ground, buried, temporary and vaporizers. (3) Plan-check fees: there will be a plan-check fee of 10% of the permit fee when the job cost exceeds $50,000. (1958 Code, § 60.15) (Added by Ord. 133, passed 4-17-1958; Ord. 190, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 195, passed 11-25-1952; Ord. 97, passed 12-17-1956; Ord. 107, passed 5-20-1957; Ord. 109, passed 5-20-1957; Ord. 196, passed 8-3-1959; Ord. 245, passed 9-19-1960; Ord. 72-59, passed 11-20-1972; Ord. 73-52, passed 8-13-1973; Ord. 73-66, passed 10-1-1973; Ord. 79-2, passed 1-22-1979; Ord. 87-21, passed 3-16-1987; Ord. 88-3, passed 1-11-1988; Ord. 90-53, passed 12-10-1990; Ord. 91-39, passed 6-10-1991; Ord. 2016-25 , passed 11-7-2016; Ord. 2022-40 , passed 8-29-2022)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 15.195 establishes a permit and fee structure for the installation, replacement, alteration, or repair of heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and related mechanical systems within the city. Permit fees are generally calculated at 1.5% of the total job cost — covering equipment, materials, and labor — with a minimum fee set by City Code Appendix A and an additional 10% plan-check fee applied when job costs exceed $50,000. If the final cost of a job turns out to be $500 or more above the original estimate, the permit fee must be revised and any difference paid to the city.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Bloomington should be aware that § 15.195 requires permits for a broad range of HVAC and mechanical work, including new installations, replacements, additions, and repairs to central systems. Compliant operators typically obtain permits before work begins, provide accurate job-cost estimates at application, and ensure their mechanical contractors submit a final cost statement upon project completion so that any fee adjustments can be made promptly. For larger projects where job costs exceed $50,000, operators generally account for the additional 10% plan-check fee when budgeting for permit expenses.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Bloomington may find § 15.195 relevant when heating, cooling, or ventilation work is performed in their rental unit, as this provision requires landlords to obtain proper permits for such mechanical work. If a tenant has reason to believe that HVAC or refrigeration work was done without the required permit, they can raise this concern with the city's issuing authority or a local tenant-rights organization to understand what options may be available. Knowing that § 15.195 governs these permits can help tenants ask informed questions about whether work affecting their unit's habitability was properly authorized.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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