Rogers, MN

Rogers takes an unusual approach to driveway permitting. The city itself does not require a permit for installing or replacing a standard residential driveway on a city street — that includes both new driveway installation on city streets and routine asphalt or concrete replacement. The city's official permit page and Building Department staff confirm that no city driveway permit is required for those projects. Where a permit does come in, however, is when the driveway is part of new home construction (rolled into the building permit), or when the driveway connects to a state highway or county road rather than a city street.

For properties on MnDOT trunk highways or Hennepin County roads inside Rogers, separate access permits are required from the relevant agency. MnDOT issues an Access/Driveway Permit whenever there is a request for a change in access to or from a state right-of-way, or a change in use of the property. Hennepin County Public Works issues access permits for county-administered roads. Both are independent of the city building permit process. If you're not sure whether your road is a city street, a county road, or a state highway, the city's Engineering Division can tell you.

The Building Department serves as the front door for new-construction questions. The address is 22350 South Diamond Lake Road, Rogers, MN. The general phone is 763-428-8580 (Engineering is reached by selecting Option 8). The email is building@rogersmn.gov, and the main permits page is rogersmn.gov/all-permits. The city no longer accepts paper applications — all permits must be applied for online. City staff are available Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Outside those hours, email the Building Department.

Inspection scheduling has its own hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon. Have your permit number or address available before calling. Building code inspections are handled by Metro West Inspection Services, the city's contracted building official, at 763-479-1720. Permits expire after 180 days if you have not started the project or scheduled the inspection.

If your driveway is part of a new-construction or major-remodel project, the driveway is rolled into the overall building permit and reviewed at that stage. If you're upgrading from gravel to asphalt or concrete, or reconfiguring access, call the Building Department first to confirm what (if anything) is required for your specific scope. For utility safety, always call Gopher State One Call at 811 before any digging — this is required statewide. Although most standard residential driveway replacements are exempt from a city permit in Rogers, that exemption does not relieve the contractor from utility-locate requirements, traffic-control rules during construction, or zoning standards on width, setback, and impervious surface coverage. Contractors should also confirm with city staff whether a right-of-way permit is needed for any work that does occur in the public right-of-way.