Mankato Concrete Lifting Guide: Causes & Rules (2026)

Updated October 23, 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	January daily low about 5.7°F; about 38.7 inches of snow a year (1991–2020 normals)	Wikipedia: Mankato
Precipitation	About 33.9 inches a year	Wikipedia: Mankato
Terrain	Minnesota River valley cut by glacial River Warren, up to 5 miles wide and 250 feet deep	Wikipedia: Glacial River Warren
Slopes	479 landslide or rockslide points mapped in greater Mankato; owners generally fix erosion on their land	Mankato Free Press, 2025
Mankato right-of-way	Owned by the city; adjacent owners shovel walks within one day of a storm	Mankato Free Press
North Mankato permits	Right-of-way permit for new or replacement private driveways and sidewalks, and curb, gutter or pavement work	City of North Mankato
State license	One-skill contractors exempt; more than one skill needs a license; under $15,000 receipts can use a certificate of exemption	Minnesota DLI

Why does concrete sink and heave around Mankato?

Water is behind most of it. Mankato averages about 33.9 inches of precipitation and 38.7 inches of snow a year, and January's average daily low is near 6°F, based on 1991–2020 normals. Water that gets under a slab freezes and expands in winter, lifting the concrete, then thaws and leaves soft or hollow spots. Year after year, runoff from downspouts and sump lines also carries fine soil out from under walks and driveways.

The landscape adds its own twist. Mankato sits where the Minnesota River bends and meets the Blue Earth River, in a valley the glacial River Warren carved up to 5 miles wide and 250 feet deep. The result is a town of river flats, terraces, bluffs and ravines. Blue Earth County itself is named partly for the blue-green clay once visible along the Blue Earth River's banks.

What about slabs near bluffs and ravines?

Slopes in the Minnesota River valley erode. A state-funded inventory, carried out locally by Minnesota State University's earth sciences program, mapped 479 landslide or rockslide points in the greater Mankato area over three years. The city told the Mankato Free Press in 2025 that property owners are generally responsible for repairing erosion on their own land, though it can offer a small reimbursement in some cases. If your concrete is sinking near the edge of a slope, the cause may be the slope itself. Lifting the slab won't stop that, so have it looked at before you pay for a lift.

How do lifting methods compare?

Both main methods drill through the slab and fill the void beneath it. Polyurethane foam goes in through small holes, adds little weight and cures quickly. Mudjacking pumps a heavier slurry through larger holes and is often less expensive on big, simple slabs. Neither repairs a crumbling surface or a slab broken into many small pieces; those usually need replacement.

What are the local right-of-way rules?

Mankato. Mankato's Public Works Director told the Free Press that everything in the street right-of-way is owned by the city, while adjacent owners maintain it by shoveling the walk and mowing the boulevard. A 2018 ordinance change gave owners one day after a snowstorm to clear sidewalks, down from two. For repairs to a public sidewalk or work near the curb, contact the city before hiring.

North Mankato. The city requires a right-of-way permit, applied for through Cloudpermit, for new or replacement private driveways, private roads and sidewalks, and for any excavation, removal or placement of curb, gutter or street pavement. It isn't required for normal maintenance on existing facilities, or for driveways and sidewalks permitted by Building Inspection unless the work includes curb, gutter or pavement. Questions go to the city at 507-625-4141.

Other towns. St. Peter, Eagle Lake and other communities set their own rules. Ask the city before any work in the right-of-way.

Does a lifting contractor need a Minnesota license?

It depends on what they do for you. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry requires a residential building contractor or remodeler license for anyone who contracts directly with a homeowner to provide more than one special skill. Masonry and concrete counts as one special skill, and specialty contractors who offer only one skill aren't required to hold a state license. Contractors with less than $15,000 in gross annual residential receipts can work under a certificate of exemption. In practice, a company that only lifts concrete may not be licensed, so ask for insurance and get the scope in writing.

Questions to ask before you hire

Foam or slurry, and why that one for this slab?
How many holes, and how will they be patched?
What made it sink, and what will stop it from happening again?
Are you insured, and is your work licensed or exempt under Minnesota rules?
Does this job need a city permit, and who gets it?
What does the written warranty cover, and for how long?

Common questions

Do I need a permit to lift a driveway in North Mankato?

Possibly. North Mankato requires a right-of-way permit for new or replacement driveways and for curb, gutter or pavement work, but not for normal maintenance of existing facilities. Ask the city whether your job counts.

Does a concrete lifting company need a state license in Minnesota?

Not if concrete is the only special skill it provides. A contractor offering more than one skill to a homeowner generally needs a residential building contractor or remodeler license from the DLI.

Who shovels the public sidewalk in Mankato?

The adjacent property owner, within one day of a snowstorm under the 2018 ordinance change, even though the city owns the right-of-way.

Mankato concrete lifting guide (2026)