Explosive Licenses and permits
An explosives license is needed if you or your company manufactures, assembles, sells, warehouses, or stores explosives or blasting agents. An explosives license is not needed if you store explosives or blasting agents for your personal consumption, but an explosives permit is required in this situation.
Explosives licenses are issued by the State Fire Marshal. In most cases a federal explosives license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) is also needed.
Explosive permits are required for a person to possess or use explosives or blasting agents. Explosive permits are usually issued by the county sheriff. In some larger communities (over 10,000 population) they may be issued by the chief of police. Licenses and permits require a criminal background check. Contact your county sheriff or police department (in larger communities) for a permit application.
Minnesota Explosive Statutes
Minnesota Explosive Rules
All reference to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension should be read as State Fire Marshal Division, and all references to "superintendent" should be read as State Fire Marshal. An Administrative Rulemaking process is under way to make this change permanent.
Questions about explosives licenses and user permits may be directed to:
Travis Ahrens, Deputy State Fire Marshal
Minn State Fire Marshal Division
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 145
St Paul, MN 55101-5145
Phone: 507-308-4189