Does Minnesota have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. Minnesota maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Minnesota Department of Commerce administers it. Telemarketers calling into Minnesota must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

How do I register my phone number on the Minnesota Do Not Call list?

Register at https://mn.gov/commerce/business/telecom/consumer-help/. Registration is administered by Minnesota Department of Commerce and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Is the Minnesota Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers may pay a fee to access the list for compliance scrubbing. You never pay to add your number.

Does the Minnesota DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The Minnesota state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Telemarketing text messages are restricted under the TCPA whether or not your number is on the DNC list. Registration on the DNC list adds an additional layer of liability for any telemarketer who texts you.

What is the penalty for calling a registered Minnesota number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. Minnesota state penalty: $3,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In Minnesota you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. Minnesota state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / Minnesota

Minnesota Telecom Compliance Guide

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2019

Private Right of Action

Calling Hours

9:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$3,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

Minnesota Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

Minnesota runs its own DNC registry

Minnesota maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into Minnesota must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

Minnesota State Registry

Minnesota Do Not Call List

Administered by Minnesota Department of Commerce

https://mn.gov/commerce/business/telecom/consumer-help/ →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Restricted under TCPA

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Minnesota state list — details

Scrub frequencyMust scrub against the Minnesota DNC list AND the federal NDNC Registry at least every 31 days. Telemarketers must obtain explicit consent before calling and update their lists regularly.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Minnesota maintains its own state Do Not Call list administered by the Department of Commerce. Consumer registration is free (funded by telemarketer fees). Telemarketers must register with the MN Department of Commerce and comply with state-specific regulations. Charitable and political organizations are exempt and may continue to call. Businesses with a prior customer relationship and solicitors who do not intend to complete a sale over the phone are also exempt. Permitted calling hours: 8am-9pm local time. Consumer registration: 1-800-921-4110 or through the Commerce website. Contact the MN Department of Commerce at 651-539-1500 for telemarketer fee information.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in Minnesota. Minnesota has a private right of action — you can recover $3,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent Minnesota DNC enforcement actions

Michael D. Lansky LLC d/b/a Avid Telecom

telecommunications

May 2023

MN AG Ellison joined 49-state Avid Telecom lawsuit. At least 14,395 illegal calls transmitted to Minnesota numbers. While MN's call volume is lower than larger states, the AG office participates aggressively in multistate enforcement. Minnesota Stat. 325E.27 prohibits unsolicited calls using automatic dialing-announcing devices with penalties up to $25K per violation under consumer protection statutes.

Source →

Calling a registered Minnesota number costs telemarketers: $3,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and Minnesota residents. If you operate outbound calls into Minnesota, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

Minnesota DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK

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This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →