St. Cloud Concrete Repair Guide: Permits & Soils (2026)

Updated October 19, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Winter	About 48 inches of snow a year; January mean about 12°F (1991–2020)	NOAA normals (via Wikipedia)
Ground	Sandy lake plain and Mississippi River terraces; mostly well-drained sands; granite bedrock locally exposed	Minnesota DNR
Frost footing depth	3½ ft minimum in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties	Minn. R. 1303.1600
State license	Needed for two or more special skills; concrete-only contractors generally exempt	MN Dept. of Labor and Industry
Right-of-way permit	Driveway approach, sidewalk, curb and gutter; contractor only; no fee	City of St. Cloud
Snow on sidewalks	Clear full width within 24 hours after snowfall	City of St. Cloud
City contact	City Engineer, 320-255-7249	City of St. Cloud

Why does concrete move around St. Cloud?

Winter does most of the damage. Under 1991–2020 climate normals, St. Cloud gets about 47.9 inches of snow in an average year, and the January mean temperature is close to 12°F. When water reaches the soil beneath a slab, it freezes, expands and lifts the concrete; when it thaws it leaves gaps and softened soil. Repeat that for decades and slabs tip, heave and sink.

The ground matters too. The Minnesota DNR's description of the Anoka Sand Plain, which takes in the sandy terraces along the Mississippi, says 70 to 80 percent of its soils are excessively well-drained sands, and it notes that bedrock is locally exposed in the St. Cloud area. Sandy soil sheds water well, but it is easily eroded when a downspout or sump line pours onto it, and concrete over a washed-out pocket will eventually drop. Backfill around basements, garages and trenches adds a second source of settling, especially in newer neighborhoods.

What permits apply in St. Cloud?

The City of St. Cloud requires a permit to install a driveway approach, sidewalk, or curb and gutter in the public right-of-way. According to the city:

Homeowners cannot take out this permit.
It is issued only to a contractor licensed by the State of Minnesota as a residential building contractor, or holding a City of St. Cloud commercial contractor license.
There is no permit fee.
Residential driveways must comply with the city's Standard Detail Plate STRT-10.
The licensed contractor emails the application, with a detailed sketch, to the City Engineer (320-255-7249).

If you're lifting existing panels rather than installing new concrete, ask the City Engineer whether the permit applies. Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park handle their own permits.

Does a concrete contractor need a Minnesota license?

It depends on what they do for you. Minnesota requires a residential building contractor or remodeler license for anyone contracting directly with a homeowner to do work in more than one "special skill." The statute lists eight special skills, and masonry and concrete is one of them. A specialty contractor doing only one skill generally doesn't need a state license. So a company that only levels or pours concrete may legitimately be unlicensed, but it can't pull St. Cloud's right-of-way permit unless it holds the state residential building contractor license or a city commercial license. You can check any license on the Department of Labor and Industry website.

How deep do footings for new steps need to go?

If steps or a stoop attached to the house are being rebuilt rather than lifted, frost depth matters. Minnesota Rule 1303.1600 sets the minimum footing depth for frost at 3½ feet in Zone II, which includes Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties, unless an engineer competent in soil mechanics determines otherwise. Ask your contractor how new steps will be supported and whether your city wants a building permit.

Should I lift or replace?

Lift when the slab is in one or two solid pieces and has settled or tipped. Replace when it's in many pieces, the surface is badly flaked or crumbling, or the slab is failing because of something leveling won't fix. Either way, deal with the water: extend downspouts, move sump discharge away from slabs, rebuild soil that slopes toward the house, and seal joints, especially the one against the foundation.

Questions to ask a contractor

Mudjacking or foam for this slab, and why?
How many holes, and how will they be patched?
What caused the settling, and what will keep it from happening again?
Do you hold a Minnesota residential building contractor license, and can you pull the city permit if the job is in the right-of-way?
What does your warranty cover, and for how long?

Common questions

Can I get the St. Cloud right-of-way permit myself?

No. The city says homeowners cannot take out the driveway, sidewalk and curb permit; it goes only to a contractor with a Minnesota residential building contractor license or a St. Cloud commercial contractor license.

Is it a red flag if a concrete contractor has no state license?

Not by itself. Masonry and concrete is one special skill under Minnesota law, and contractors doing only one skill generally don't need a state license. They do need one, or a city commercial license, to get St. Cloud's right-of-way permit.

How deep should new step footings be in St. Cloud?

Minnesota's code sets a 3½-foot minimum frost footing depth in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties, unless an engineer competent in soil mechanics determines otherwise.

St. Cloud concrete repair guide (2026)