Building Safety in Saint Paul, MN (2026)
11 verified building safety rules for Saint Paul, Minnesota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Saint Paul bans applying paint with lead content at or above 0.06 percent by weight to any residential surface, interior or exterior, under Sec. 34.10(8)(a). Existing paint that's already deteriorating, blistered, cracked, flaked, scaled or chalked away, can't legally contain lead at or above 0.5 percent by weight or 1 milligram per square centimeter.
Saint Paul Lead Paint Hazard Limits
Heavy RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 34.10(8); Sec. 34.09(2)(c)
Sec. 34.10(8) Use of paint containing lead: a.No person shall apply paint or other surface-covering material containing lead equal to or greater than six-hundredths (0.06) percent by weight of the total solids contained in such paint or surface-covering material to the interior or exterior surface of any residential structure. b.No interior surface of any residential structure or accessory ther...
Elevator Maintenance
Saint Paul makes it unlawful to operate any elevator, escalator or similar lifting equipment without a current certificate of inspection posted at the machine. Section 38.04 puts the Division of Housing and Building Code Enforcement in charge of the annual inspection and certificate program, and lets the division tag and shut down any unit that fails inspection or whose owner hasn't paid the required fee.
Saint Paul Elevator Annual Inspection Rule
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 38.04
(a)Certificate required. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate any elevator, moving stairway or other equipment covered by this chapter without having a current and subsisting certificate of inspection posted within or near such equipment. The certificate of inspection may be withheld for nonpayment of the required fee or for equipment that does not conform or is u...
Scaffold & Sidewalk Shed
Saint Paul's demolition licensing chapter requires every wrecking job in the city to provide sufficient scaffolding to protect life, limb and property, under DSI supervision and reasonable restrictions the director may impose, backed by a $10,000 bond and a right of city takeover if the work isn't done safely.
Saint Paul Demolition Scaffolding Safety Rule
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 368.04(a)-(b)
(a)All wrecking done within said city shall be subject to the supervision of the director of the department of safety and inspections, and to such reasonable restrictions as he may impose in regard to elements of safety and health; such work shall be kept sprinkled, and sufficient scaffolding provided to ensure safety to human life, limb and property.(b)If at any time during the wrecking or dem...
Childcare Center Rules
Saint Paul requires child care centers in RL-H1 residential districts to occupy a nonresidential building formerly used by a church, school or community center, and mandates a 3.5-foot fence around any play area facing a street.
Saint Paul Child Care Center Siting Rules
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Zoning Code Sec. 65.222(a),(b) (Day Care -- Child Care Center Standards and Conditions)
(a)In RL-H1 residential districts, a child care center shall be located in a nonresidential structure currently or formerly occupied by a church, community center, school or similar facility. In industrial districts, a child care center must be accessory to a principal use permitted in the district.(b)A fence at least three and one-half (3 1/2) feet in height shall surround all play areas locat...
Door Locking Hardware
Saint Paul's property maintenance code requires that every door serving as a building exit be openable from the inside easily and without a key, so occupants can never be locked in during a fire or other emergency. Section 34.09(4)h applies to every regulated residential structure citywide, with a narrower deadbolt exception carved out only for single-family homes and grade-level duplex or townhouse units under Minnesota Rule 326B.106.
Saint Paul Exit Door Locking Hardware Rule
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 34.09(4)h
h.Every door available as an exit shall be capable of being opened from the inside, easily and without the use of a key. Exceptions to the requirements of this subsection for single-family homes and grade level duplex and townhouse units are contained in 326B.106.
Green Building Code
Saint Paul requires city- and HRA-funded construction and major renovations to meet a certified green building standard under Legislative Code Chapter 81, plus the city's own "Saint Paul Overlay" performance requirements. The rule reaches beyond city buildings to private projects that receive more than $200,000 in city funding.
Saint Paul Sustainable Building Ordinance
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 81.04 (Requirements)
New Construction or major renovations to which this chapter applies pursuant to section 81.03 are required to be certified under an eligible sustainable building standard at the listed rating level, and must meet the standards set forth in the Saint Paul Overlay. For any projects to which this chapter applies under section 81.03(c), compliance with this chapter must be a condition of receipt of...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Saint Paul requires carbon monoxide alarms in every dwelling, lodginghouse, apartment house and hotel under Chapter 39, adopting the state's CO-alarm mandate (Minn. Stat. §§ 299F.362, 299F.51) directly into city code. Owners of rented dwellings must keep alarms working and repair or replace any defective unit within 24 hours of being notified. CO alarms may be battery-powered, plug-in, or hard-wired to house current.
Saint Paul Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirement
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code §§ 39.01, 39.02(b)
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms shall be maintained in dwellings, lodginghouses, apartment houses and hotels as required by Minnesota statutes 299F.362 and 299F.51, in accordance with the rules promulgated thereunder. In new construction, smoke alarms shall be attached to a centralized AC primary electrical power source. Carbon monoxide alarms are allowed to be battery operated, plug-in...
Building Permits
Saint Paul requires a building permit from the Department of Safety and Inspections before anyone constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, demolishes or changes the occupancy of a building or structure. Only maintenance-only repairs and minor alterations costing $500 or less are exempt under Legislative Code § 33.03(a).
Saint Paul Building Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 33.03(a)
(a)Building and general construction. No person shall construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure without first obtaining a building permit from the building official. Permits for building or general construction are not required for repairs for maintenance only or for minor alterations provided they are not required under the state build...
Electrical Permits
Saint Paul requires a separate electrical permit for any new electrical installation, remodeling, replacement or repair, apart from minor repairs the state board of electricity exempts, under Legislative Code § 33.03(d), enforcing the National Electrical Code as adopted by the state and incorporated into Chapter 33 under § 34.07's definition.
Saint Paul Electrical Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code §§ 33.03(d), 34.07
(d)Electrical. No person shall perform any new electrical installation in any construction, remodeling, replacement or repair, except minor repair work as defined by the state board of electricity, without first obtaining a permit to do such work from the building official. A separate permit shall be obtained for each building or structure. [Sec. 34.07 Definitions] Electrical code. The National...
Plumbing Permits
No one may install, remove, alter, repair or replace plumbing, gas or drainage piping, a standpipe or sprinkler system, or water heating/treating equipment in Saint Paul without a permit from the building official under Legislative Code § 33.03(b), which enforces the Minnesota State Plumbing Code as adopted into Chapter 33 under § 34.07's definition.
Saint Paul Plumbing Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code §§ 33.03(b), 34.07
(b)Plumbing. No person shall install, remove, alter, repair, or replace or cause to be installed, removed, altered, repaired or replaced any plumbing, gas or drainage piping work, standpipe system, sprinkler system, or any fixture or water heating or treating equipment in a building or premises without first obtaining a permit to do such work from the building official. A separate permit shall ...
Building Inspections
Saint Paul's building official issues a certificate of compliance confirming a building meets Chapter 34's property maintenance standards, charging $540 for a single-family dwelling and $678 for a two-family dwelling inspection under § 33.06(a): separate from the fee-free final inspection new construction gets under its building permit.
Saint Paul Building Inspection Certificate Process
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 33.06(a), (c)
(a)The building official may issue a certificate of compliance for any building or structure in Group R-3 or M occupancies when it is determined that such building or structure complies with the provisions of chapter 34 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code. The fee required for inspection of the property and issuance of a certificate of compliance shall be five hundred forty dollars ($540.00) for...
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