Well, there's licensing, then there's doing it right. I'm confident we've got enough skill & savvy to be able to do work that conforms to codes & passes inspections; that's the way I'd approach it, anyway. This would be our space, after all; darn right I'd want to get it into the best possible shape.

Paperwork is details, and details can be worked out; doing a renovation/rehab properly is the hard work.

My contractor told me some stories about Minneapolis inspectors, I guess they can be kind of tough (and not necessarily in a fair way).

My experience (with selling & buying homes) has been mixed. My wife & I have definitely had an obstructive hard-ass wiring nazi, but we've also had a goofy good-times guy who totally glossed over obvious, serious structural faults (which I rebuilt & shored up, later on).

Hey: If we don't already have somebody qualified to do something we absolutely need to do, I'm the generalist; I can get qualified.
(though honestly I might need some help with training fees and/or tuition; these days I have more time than money)

I've just left a voicemail for the NKB's building manager Debbie Woodward (White?) asking about available space, including possibly unfinished space. I'll post updates here.