Landscaping Rules in Saint Paul, MN

If you live in Saint Paul or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Saint Paul has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Composting

Saint Paul lets residents compost on their own property, but Legislative Code Sec. 357.08 caps the bin at 100 cubic feet on lots under 10,000 square feet (150 cubic feet on larger lots) and 5 feet tall, fixes exact setbacks from lot lines and neighboring homes, and bans meat, dairy, oils, plastics and pet waste from the pile.

Key details: Max bin size, small lots: 100 cubic feet (lots under 10,000 sq ft). Max bin size, large lots: 150 cubic feet (lots 10,000+ sq ft). Max height: 5 feet. Setback from lot line: 5 feet minimum. Setback from neighboring home: 20 feet minimum.

A compost bin that's oversized, too tall, or sited too close to a lot line or a neighbor's house is a Chapter 357 violation. The department of public works or DSI can inspect the property and issue a written correction order; noncompliance after that order is a misdemeanor under Sec. 357.06(c), since the composting section does not set its own separate penalty.

Weed Ordinances

Saint Paul requires grass and weeds below 8 inches under Chapter 45. The city may mow non-compliant properties and bill the owner. Managed natural landscapes are exempt under MN Stat. 561.19.

Key details: Maximum Height: 8 inches (Chapter 45). Noxious Weeds: Must be destroyed regardless of height. Enforcement: DSI Property Code Enforcement. Non-Compliance: City mows and bills the property owner.

Tree Trimming

Saint Paul requires a free Forestry permit for trimming or pruning public boulevard trees. Licensed contractors must perform the work. Private trees need no permit outside the Tree Preservation District.

Key details: Boulevard Tree Permit: Required and free of charge. Contractor Requirement: Must be licensed and insured. Private Trees: No permit unless in Tree Preservation District. Contact: Forestry at (651) 266-6400.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Saint Paul requires a certified tree preservation plan before any building, grading, or fill permit, lot split, plat approval, or site-plan-review application removes a tree of 12 inches DBH or larger within the TP Tree Preservation Overlay District. Outside those permit triggers, removing a tree that size is flatly prohibited unless the superintendent of parks signs off on a nuisance, hazard, disease, or dead-tree exception, or the applicant replaces it under Sec. 67.208.

Key details: Permit trigger size: 12 inches DBH or larger. Applies in: TP Tree Preservation Overlay District. Plan preparer: Registered surveyor, landscape architect, or forester. Reviewing officials: Planning administrator and superintendent of parks. Security required: 125% of replacement tree value.

Removing a protected tree without an approved preservation plan or outside the listed exceptions is a petty misdemeanor under Sec. 67.210, punishable by a fine set in Sec. 1.05 of the Legislative Code. Courts are directed to weigh the tree's appraised value from the International Society of Arboriculture's tree-evaluation guide plus replacement cost when setting the fine, and each tree removed without approval counts as a separate violation, so multiple trees multiply the penalty.

Water Restrictions

Saint Paul's Board of Water Commissioners can declare drought-phase watering restrictions under Legislative Code § 91.05, cutting outside watering to set hours, specific days, or banning it outright for irrigation or dust control. Restrictions activate only when the general manager declares a state-defined drought warning, restrictive, or emergency phase, and violators face escalating charges added straight to the water bill.

Key details: Governing section: Legislative Code § 91.05. Trigger: State-defined drought warning, restrictive, or emergency phase. Possible limits: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ban, 2-hr cap, or specific days. First violation: Written advisory only, no charge. Repeat violations: Escalating fees added to water bill.

Violations escalate on the water bill, not through separate court fines. A first offense gets a written warning. A second offense adds a second-violation charge under the § 85.08 fee schedule; a third adds a higher third-violation charge; a fourth or later violation adds a fourth-violation charge and can trigger suspension of water service until all outstanding charges and the turn-on fee are paid.

The Bottom Line

Saint Paul's landscaping rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Saint Paul is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Saint Paul can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.