Saint Paul, MN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

231 of the Saint Paul Zoning Code fixes minimum yard setbacks in feet for each residential district. RL large lot requires a 30-foot front yard, 10-foot side yard, and 10-foot rear yard. H1 and H2 residential each require a 10-foot front yard, 5-foot side yard, and 10-foot rear yard. The multiple-family districts require a 10-foot front yard in RM1, RM2 and RM3, with side and rear yards of 9 feet in each. Footnote (d) modifies the front setback where at least half the block face is already built up: if the block's existing front yards run shallower than the district standard in H1 through RM3 (or deeper than 30 feet in RL), the required setback shifts to the midpoint between the district standard and the adjoining lots' actual setbacks, and the property owner must report those adjoining setbacks to the zoning administrator on a certificate of survey.

Footnote (e) limits side yards to dwelling units on the ends of townhouse structures; the interior side setback can be reduced or waived where an easement or common wall agreement certified by the city building official is recorded on both parcels' deeds, and in RM1/RM2 a one-family, two-family, or multiple-family building of 35 feet or less on a lot 60 feet wide or narrower gets a reduced 5-foot side setback. Footnote (j) requires an extra setback, 25 feet, or 9 feet plus half the height over 50 feet, whichever is less, for the portion of an RM2/RM3 building above 50 feet.