A Minnesota city publishes a notice that shingles failing the state wind standard are on sale locally, and that very few three-tab shingles comply. Another city requires 115 mph, above the state floor. The rating is printed on the bundle, and it is worth reading before anyone opens one.
The Minnesota State Building Code requires shingles designed for a 90 MPH wind speed. West St. Paul publishes a notice that shingles not meeting that are for sale locally and that very few 3-tab shingles comply. Some cities go further — Inver Grove Heights requires 115 mph with the test standards named. The classification is printed on the bundle wrapper, so this is checkable on your own driveway.
The state standard is a shingle designed for 90 MPH wind speed. West St. Paul’s published roofing notice spells out which classifications satisfy it, and also makes a point that is unusual for a city to put in writing: shingles that do not meet the standard are on sale locally.
The acceptable classifications it names are Class D, F, G or H, or a label reading 90 MPH or higher. A Class A shingle rated at 60 MPH is not code acceptable. And it notes that very few three-tab shingles will comply, which rules out a lot of the cheapest product on the shelf.
City of West St. Paul: “It has come to the City’s attention that there are shingles for sale locally that do not meet the Minnesota State Building Code (MSBC) for wind resistance. Shingles must be designed for 90MPH wind speed. Very few 3-tab shingles will comply with this guideline. Acceptable shingles by Code: Class D, Class F, Class G, Class H, Label reads 90 MPH or higher.” Source: City of West St. Paul, Roof Material Notice
Yes, and at least one does. Inver Grove Heights requires shingles labelled for 115 miles per hour and names the test standards explicitly rather than leaving it to interpretation.
That is 25 mph above the state floor, and it excludes product that would be perfectly legal a few miles away. It is a good illustration of why “it meets code” is not a complete answer without knowing which city you are in.
City of Inver Grove Heights: “Shingles must be labeled for 115 miles per hour wind damage, ASTM D7158 (classification D, G or H) or ASTM D3161 (classification A, D or F).” Source: City of Inver Grove Heights, Roofing handout
Read the bundle wrapper. The classification is printed on it, and the material is sitting on your driveway for a day or two before it goes on the roof. Look for the ASTM classification letter or a plain wind-speed figure.
The two standards you will see are ASTM D3161, which is a fan-induced wind test, and ASTM D7158, which is an uplift-based test. Either can establish compliance — the classifications differ, which is why Inver Grove Heights lists both with their own acceptable letters.
If the wrappers are already in a dumpster, ask for the product name and look up the manufacturer’s published data sheet. Any legitimate contractor will tell you exactly what they are installing, and it should match what the estimate said.
It matters more than the sheltered feeling suggests. A 90 MPH rating is a three-second gust standard, not a sustained wind, and a gust front from a summer thunderstorm does not care that your street has mature trees.
There is also a straightforward durability argument. Shingles rated for higher wind generally have better sealant and a heavier mat, and the same properties that keep them down in wind make them hold up better under hail. In a state where the code classifies much of the metro as a moderate hail area, that is not an incidental benefit.
This page quotes Minnesota statutes and the adopted Minnesota building code and links to the official text of each so you can read it yourself. It is general information from a licensed contractor, not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for reading your own policy. Statutes and codes are amended; the linked sources are authoritative, this page is not. Last reviewed 2026-10-27.
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