Contractor Guide
Welcome to the Contractor Guide. This guide was created to help if you are having any trouble creating an account, signing in, or if it's your first time (welcome!).
This guide should clarify most questions and make the online application process easier! If you are here by mistake, you may like to go to the contractor application page instead.
This guide covers:
- Lost account information
- Lost password
- First-time applicant
- PIN Number questions
- ... and more
There are a few steps involved as the contractor has to create the account, the City has to create an internal account (using your state license number) and then the two accounts need to be tied or linked together using the PIN Number (which the contractor has to request and the City has to generate).
Depending on the day/time the request is sent, and the availability of staff, obtaining your unique PIN Number can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days, so please be patient.
Someone will help you in a timely manner, and since department staff oversees permitting, there is flexibility with the permitting timeframe if you are being held up due to our availability.
Once account creation is complete, the application process itself is usually quite easy. If you need help going through it the first time, please do not hesitate to email the Building Department (preferred) or call 651-638-2050. Calls and emails are answered in the order they are received, usually within a couple of hours depending on staff availability.
There are a few common scenarios people run into. Please select one of the following scenarios to find more information and instructions:
If you have completed any of these steps, please skip to the next.
- Register for an account
- Activate your account (you'll get an email to do so)
The next steps can only be completed after you are added to our internal database and assigned a PIN Number. Before this can be done, the City needs to make sure you are property licensed.
- If you do not have one, get your PIN Number (please note, this step can take 24 to 48 hours depending on when it is submitted)
- Log in to your account (you can tell you are logged in if it displays your username in the upper right-hand corner of the permit portal)
- Go to this page
- Use your assigned PIN number to link your account
- Apply for a permit (it should now say Contractor Application at the top)
In this situation, it would be best if you call or email the City to look into your account information to find out if you already have a linked username, or you can fill out this form, and select "Not sure" for the last question.
Please email the Building Department or call 651-638-2050.
You can request your PIN Number online. Please note: this process can take 24 to 48 hours depending on when it has been received.
If you have been sent your PIN Number, the City has already verified you meet minimum licensing requirements. Once you receive your PIN Number:
- Log into your account (you can tell you are logged in if it displays your username in the upper right-hand corner of the permit portal)
- Go to this page
- Use your assigned PIN number to link your account
- Apply for a permit (it should now say Contractor Application at the top)
Unfortunately, the City does not have access to your password information, only your linked email address and username. Please do a password reset online.
If it says homeowner application, it is either because you are not registered (see below for instructions) or not logged in. Log in.
If you have completed any of these steps, please skip to the next.
- Register for an account
- Activate your account (you'll get an email to do so)
The next steps can only be completed after you are added to our internal database and assigned a PIN Number. Before this can be done, the City needs to make sure you are property licensed.
- If you do not have one, get your PIN Number (please note this step can take 24 to 48 hours depending on when it is submitted)
- Log in to your account (you can tell you are logged in if it displays your username in the upper right-hand corner of the permit portal)
- Go to this page
- Use your assigned PIN number to link your account
- Apply for a permit (it should now say Contractor Application at the top)
I thought I already created an account, but it still says homeowner
Most likely your account is not yet "linked" to your internal contractor account Or you are registered and linked, but not logged in. Log in.
To link your account to your contractor account, you need your PIN Number.
These steps can only be completed after you are added to our internal database and assigned a PIN Number. Before this can be done, the City needs to make sure you are property licensed.
- If you do not have one, get your PIN Number (please note this step can take 24 to 48 hours depending on when it is submitted)
- Log in to your account (you can tell you are logged in if it displays your username in the upper right-hand corner of the permit portal)
- Go to this page
- Use your assigned PIN number to link your account
- Apply for a permit (it should now say Contractor Application at the top)
In this scenario, the City will need to unlink the old account and send a PIN Number for the new account. Please follow the below steps to set up a new account:
If you have completed any of these steps, please skip to the next.
- Register for an account
- Activate your account (you'll get an email to do so)
The next steps can only be completed after you are added to our internal database and assigned a PIN Number. Before this can be done, the City needs to make sure you are property licensed.
- If you do not have one, get your PIN Number and select "Company Turnover" for the last question (please note this step can take 24 to 48 hours depending on when it is submitted)
- Log in to your account (you can tell you are logged in if it displays your username in the upper right-hand corner of the permit portal)
- Go to this page
- Use your assigned PIN number to link your account
- Apply for a permit (it should now say Contractor Application at the top)
It is possible to have more than one user pulling permits, but be aware that there can only be one main account that grants permissions to other users. For this reason, it is recommended that the main account for larger businesses with multiple users is a generic email address that more than one person has access to.
How to grant online users security rights:
- When logged in with your linked main account, go to "Account Settings", then "Edit Your Information", then "Grant User Permissions"
- From there, select "Add User" and insert the given username of the user you wish to grant rights to. The system will automatically check if the entered user exists, and if verified, you can then choose whether they can schedule inspections, apply for permits, or both.
Once your permit has been processed and approved by the City, you will get a link for payment. Please note, we require payment up front for permits with reviews.
Once you have accessed BSA Online and your account is linked and you are signed in, it will display your username in the upper right-hand corner of the permit portal. If you are linked and signed in and you select "Apply for a permit" it should say "Contractor Application for Permit" at the top of the application. If you are signed in, but it says "Homeowner" on the application, you have not yet been linked and will need your PIN Number: get your PIN Number.
If you are not signed in it will display as "Currently not signed in":