1.2 The Minnesota Electrical Act, Board of Electricity & Code Adoption

Why the statute shows up on a code exam

The exam booklet includes the Minnesota Electrical Act, Minnesota Statutes sections 326B.31 through 326B.399, and DLI's rules in Minnesota Rules chapters 3800 and 3801. These laws decide who may do electrical work, what each license allows, how equipment is approved, and how installations are permitted and inspected. Questions about them are usually short, rule-based items, which makes them some of the easiest points on the exam if you know the vocabulary.

Key definitions in 326B.31

The Act starts with definitions. Learn these by subdivision because the booklet is organized that way.

Two points generate many wrong answers. First, the journeyworker definition excludes planning and laying out; section 326B.33, subdivision 12(b) reserves those tasks for master electricians and power limited technicians. Second, the Act's term for a permit is a request for inspection. Filing one is the same as applying for an electrical permit.

The Board of Electricity (326B.32)

Section 326B.32 creates the Board of Electricity with 12 members. Eleven are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The twelfth is the commissioner of labor and industry or the commissioner's designee, who is a voting member. The 11 appointed seats are:

Appointed members serve three-year terms ending December 31 and are limited to three consecutive terms. Except for the public member and the rural supplier representatives, appointed members must hold a current DLI electrical license (the engineer must hold a Minnesota professional engineering license) and must be Minnesota residents.

The board's powers include:

• adopting the Minnesota Electrical Code, which must be the most current edition of the NEC and any amendments, through Chapter 14 rulemaking;
• adopting rules for licensing and continuing education of electricians, contractors, installers, and power limited technicians;
• approving license reciprocity agreements and recommending license fees; and
• issuing final interpretations of the electrical code.

An electrical code amendment moves forward only if it receives an affirmative two-thirds vote of all voting members. Licensing and continuing-education rule proposals need a majority of all voting members. Outside the board's powers, the commissioner administers and enforces the law, including licensing, inspections, and penalties.

The safety standard and the adopted code

Section 326B.35 says all electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment for light, heat, power, and technology circuits must comply with the rules of the department and the board and be installed in conformity with accepted standards of construction for safety to life and property. The current NEC, and the National Electrical Safety Code for utility-type work, are prima facie evidence of those accepted standards. The section also states that nothing prohibits a political subdivision from making and enforcing more stringent requirements, and licensed electricians working there must comply with them.

Minnesota Rules part 1315.0200 is titled the "Minnesota Electrical Code." Subpart 1a requires all new electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment for light, heat, power, technology circuits and systems, and alarm and communication systems to comply with the 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (ANSI/NFPA 70-2026), incorporated by reference into the State Building Code. DLI's exam guide states that the 2026 NEC became effective August 17, 2026, and is the edition used for exam questions.

Approval of electrical equipment (Minn. R. 3801.3620)

NEC 110.2 says equipment must be acceptable only if approved. Minnesota defines how. Under Minnesota Rules part 3801.3620, subpart 1, all electrical equipment (materials, fittings, devices, apparatus, fixtures, appliances, and utilization equipment) used in an installation must be listed and labeled by a testing laboratory. A testing laboratory is one that has given DLI a written report showing it has the facilities described in NEC 90.7, or one accredited under OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory program (part 3801.3619).

Subpart 2 offers alternatives for equipment the NEC does not specifically require to be listed:

1. Evaluation by a testing laboratory or by a registered or licensed electrical engineer with no financial interest in the equipment, with a written report filed with DLI. Identical units are covered for one year or until listed, and must carry a label referencing the evaluation.
2. Submission of unlisted equipment to another manufacturer of similar listed equipment for evaluation, correction, and labeling under procedures the testing laboratory accepts.

Subpart 3 exempts four categories, including industrial machinery whose components comply and whose wiring meets the NEC; equipment in a listed enclosure connected only to Class 2, communications, or other circuits of 30 volts or less with overcurrent protection of 8 amperes or less; and control equipment or utilization equipment containing eight or fewer listed components.

Inspection authority at a glance

Section 326B.36 requires every new installation, other than minor repair work, to be inspected by the commissioner unless a political subdivision provides similar inspection by ordinance. Inspectors must be licensed master or journeyworker electricians. Section 1.6 of this guide covers permits, rough-in and final inspections, condemnation orders, and penalties in detail.

Exam traps

• "A journeyworker may lay out a job." False. Planning and laying out belong to master electricians and power limited technicians.
• "Cities cannot exceed the state code." False. Section 326B.35 allows more stringent local requirements.
• "Any equipment the inspector likes is approved." Minnesota requires listing and labeling by a testing laboratory, or one of the evaluation methods or exemptions in part 3801.3620.
• "The Board has 12 governor appointees." The governor appoints 11; the commissioner or designee is the twelfth, voting member.