City of St. Paul, MN Permits

Building, zoning, and trade permit types administered by St. Paul

How permitting works in St. Paul

The Minnesota State Building Code (MN Rules chs. 1300–1370, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry) is the standard statewide; municipalities that have adopted it administer it locally, and townships may defer administration to the county. Plumbing and electrical work are permitted through DLI where no local delegation exists. Zoning and right-of-way permits are local.

Minnesota statewide code authority

Building Inspection

General Building Permit Application

Verified official form

Building permit fees are valuation-based (per the DSI Building Permit Fee Schedule) plus a 1% plan review charge and state surcharge; no flat fee is published, so none is shown here. Any structural work must be filed on the General Building Permit Application and requires plan review. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Electrical Permit Application (Circuits & Service)

Verified official form

St. Paul (DSI) issues its own electrical permits (circuits & service, fire alarm, low voltage, solar PV, swimming pool, etc.). Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Plumbing / Gas Permit Application

Verified official form

Covers plumbing and gas-fitting work; sewer, septic, and radon-mitigation systems have their own DSI permits. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Mechanical / Warm Air Permit Application

Verified official form

Covers warm-air / ventilation, sheet metal, gas or oil burner, fireplace / wood stove, refrigeration, and steamfitting work under DSI Mechanical and Warm Air / Ventilation. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Demolition Permit Application

Verified official form

A demolition permit is required to raze a building (a separate Wrecking Business Trade License applies to the demolition contractor). Demolition may require utility disconnection sign-offs and erosion control. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Detached Garage Permit Application

Verified official form

DSI issues a dedicated detached-garage building permit. Zoning setbacks and size limits apply; larger or attached structures use the General Building Permit Application. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Deck Permit Application

Verified official form

A building permit is required for decks except those not more than 30 in above grade, not attached to a structure with frost footings, and not part of an accessible route. Zoning setbacks apply to decks more than 24 in above grade; decks in Historic Districts require Heritage Preservation Commission approval. Frost footings (min. 42 in depth) are required for decks attached to a dwelling / garage with frost footings. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Swimming Pool Permit Application

Verified official form

Pool construction requires a building permit; a separate Swimming Pool Electrical Permit (issued by DSI) covers bonding / grounding. A code-compliant barrier / enclosure is required. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Solar Photovoltaic Permit Application

Verified official form

Rooftop / ground-mount solar needs a building (structural) permit plus a DSI Solar PV Systems electrical permit. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Zoning & Land Use

Fence Plan Review & Permit Application

Verified official form

DSI runs a fence plan review before issuing a fence permit; zoning rules on height, placement, and materials apply. A fence height variance is a minor variance heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Zoning Variance Application (Board of Zoning Appeals)

Verified official form

Heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). Minor variances cover single-family additions, garages, fences, and pools; all others are major variances. The published fee amounts here are ancillary charges: a late/after-the-fact filing is double the filing fee up to $1,000, and a BZA decision may be appealed to the City Council for a nonrefundable $462 fee. The base application fee is invoiced via PAULIE and is not published as a flat amount. Discretionary land-use application reviewed at a public meeting/hearing (Board of Zoning Appeals or Planning Commission) with DSI / PED staff analysis. Required exhibits (site plan, survey, narrative, fee) are attached separately. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Conditional Use Permit Application

Verified official form

Conditional use permits are reviewed by the Planning Commission Zoning Committee. Discretionary land-use application reviewed at a public meeting/hearing (Board of Zoning Appeals or Planning Commission) with DSI / PED staff analysis. Required exhibits (site plan, survey, narrative, fee) are attached separately. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Rezoning (Zoning Map Amendment) Application

Verified official form

Reviewed by the Planning Commission with a City Council public hearing. Discretionary land-use application reviewed at a public meeting/hearing (Board of Zoning Appeals or Planning Commission) with DSI / PED staff analysis. Required exhibits (site plan, survey, narrative, fee) are attached separately. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Site Plan Review Application

Verified official form

Site Plan Review (Zoning Code Section 61.400) applies to new residential development of four or more units, one/two-family dwellings on very large lots, new commercial buildings / additions, and larger parking-lot reconstructions. Final site plan approval is not issued until any required variances, CUPs, or preliminary plats are approved. Discretionary land-use application reviewed at a public meeting/hearing (Board of Zoning Appeals or Planning Commission) with DSI / PED staff analysis. Required exhibits (site plan, survey, narrative, fee) are attached separately. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Business Sign Permit Application

Verified official form

Permanent business signage requires a DSI zoning sign permit; a sign variance is heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals. A scaled drawing showing sign dimensions, copy, and placement is attached separately. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Temporary Sign Permit Application

Verified official form

Temporary signage (banners, event signs, etc.) requires a DSI temporary sign permit for a limited display period. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Public Works

Right-of-Way Excavation / Obstruction Permit Application

Verified official form

Required to excavate or obstruct the public right-of-way (street / boulevard / sidewalk), including utility-service connections and lane closures. Restoration to city standards is required. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

Sidewalk Construction / Repair Permit Application

Verified official form

Required before constructing or repairing a sidewalk / walk in the public right-of-way. Field set is a hand-curated approximation of the City of Saint Paul (DSI) application; the city now intakes most of these through its PAULIE online portal. Verify against the current municipal form and fee schedule before submitting.

Checked Jul 1, 2026Source

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