Ordering a sauna is the simple part. Getting it on site and set in place is where preparation matters. Here is how a BW Sauna Co. delivery works, what our crew handles, and what to have ready before we arrive.
We deliver across Minneapolis and Saint Paul, throughout Minnesota, and nationwide. When a site is hard to reach, we can set the sauna by crane. A clearing behind a cabin or a lot on a hillside is not a problem. We lift the sauna over the obstacles and place it where you want it. You can see that play out on a remote North Shore build in Grand Marais.
Scheduling your delivery
Once your order is final, we set a delivery window. The timeline depends on the build.
A finished or near finished stock model can sometimes ship within a week in the Midwest. National delivery often happens within about two weeks, depending on route and schedule. A fully custom sauna usually takes one to three months to build, based on design, season, and current production schedule.
Preparing the site
While we build, you prepare the spot. Three things matter: the foundation, the access path, and the power.
Foundation
Every BW sauna sits on a steel frame. The steel is treated and coated to resist rust, which matters under the heat and moisture of regular use. We recommend a solid concrete slab. The frame can also rest on concrete piers or a prepared gravel bed. What matters most is that the base is level and properly prepared. If you are still deciding where it goes, start with choosing the right spot for your sauna.
Access
Keep the path to the install spot as clear and wide as you can. Tell us about tight turns, low branches, soft ground, or overhead power lines. If a truck cannot reach the spot, we plan a crane set instead. That is how the tucked away sites get done.
Power
If your sauna has an electric heater, it needs a dedicated 240V circuit. Have a licensed electrician evaluate your panel and run the circuit before delivery. The distance from your panel to the sauna affects the work involved. Wood fired models do not need electrical service, but they carry their own clearance and chimney considerations. The trade offs are covered in electric and wood fired heaters.
Permits and footprint
Most BW structures are sized to stay under the square footage that commonly triggers a building permit. Local rules still vary by city, county, HOA, and property type, so confirm your requirements before installation. Use the check below to see where a given size lands against the common building permit exemption.
Footprint check
Will the structure need a building permit?
Most jurisdictions follow the IRC, which exempts a one story detached structure at or under 200 sq ft. Some still cap it at 120 sq ft. Pick a size or enter your own.
78 sq ft footprint
Under the limit in essentially every jurisdiction, including those still using the older 120 sq ft cap.
- An electric heater almost always needs its own electrical permit, no matter the structure size.
- Zoning, setbacks, shoreland rules, and HOA approvals are separate from the building permit question.
For Minneapolis specifics, see our notes on permits to install an outdoor sauna in Minneapolis. If your build is larger, fully custom, or commercial, we help you work through the requirements directly. Reach out with the details and we will map it out.
Delivery day
Our crew confirms the placement plan on arrival and moves the sauna into its final position. On tight or remote sites that can mean a crane or other specialized lifting. Once the sauna is set, we handle the finishing work, including hooking up the electric heater to its circuit where that applies.
Walkthrough and first burn
With the sauna in place, we show you how to run it, the safety points to know, and what to expect from your first sessions. Most installs take a few hours. We do not leave until the sauna is set to our standard.
Build, deliver, set
If you want a sauna built and installed by a crew that handles the whole process, we are ready. Browse the current lineup in the 2026 catalog, look through our mobile saunas built across Minnesota, or contact us with your site and we will plan the delivery.
