Auctioneer License Requirements in Minnesota
County-level license. Minnesota licenses auctioneers at the county level — a simple annual license from your county auditor plus a small surety bond.
What Online Auctioneers Need to Know
Chapter 330 is silent on internet auctions — it predates them. Whether an online-only operation needs the county license is an open question, so most operators simply get it: it costs $20 and removes the doubt.
The Rules in Minnesota
Minnesota has no state auctioneer board. Instead, Minnesota Statutes chapter 330 has counties issue auctioneer licenses: you apply with your county auditor, pay a $20 fee, and the license is good for one year and valid statewide. You must be 18 or older and a resident of the county for six months; licenses are issued to individuals, not companies.
Two obligations come with the license. First, a corporate surety bond of $1,000 to $3,000 filed before sales begin. Second — and this applies to every auction — Minnesota Statutes section 330.10 requires a written contract with the property owner before any public auction, stating the terms and conditions of the sale.
Requirements at a Glance
- County auctioneer license from your county auditor — $20, renewed annually, valid statewide
- Corporate surety bond of $1,000–$3,000 filed before conducting sales
- Written contract with the consignor required before every auction (Minn. Stat. § 330.10)
- No statutory deadline for paying consignors — settlement terms live in your contract
- Issued to individuals only; 18+, six months county residency
Authority: County auditor (no state board). Statute: Minn. Stat. ch. 330.
Not legal advice. Auction law changes — several states have amended their online-auction rules since 2019. Verify current requirements with the licensing authority above (or your city/county clerk) before your first sale, and have a local attorney review your consignment contract.
Licensed (or Exempt)? Here's the Rest of the Path
The license is usually the easy part. The business itself — platform affiliation, sourcing consignments, cataloging, settlement — is laid out in how to start an online auction business, and the earning math is in how much auctioneers make.