Landscaping Rules in Saint Paul, MN (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Saint Paul, Minnesota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Landscaping: Tree Trimming
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Parks and Recreation - Boulevard Tree Permit (Permitting Process and Fine Print)
Boulevard Tree Permit Permit All maintenance work being performed on public boulevard trees, including planting, stumping, treating, trimming or removal, requires an approved permit issued by Saint Paul Forestry. There is no fee for a tree permit application. Tree Work Permit Application - 2026 This is a FREE permit application - there is no fee associated with obtaining a tree permit. Permitti...
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.
Saint Paul Tree Removal Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 67.203(a), § 67.204(b)
(a)When preservation plan required generally. Any application for a building permit that requires the removal of one (1) or more trees of twelve (12) inches DBH or larger, grading permit, fill permit, lot split, plat approval or any development requiring site plan review shall include a tree preservation plan, drawn to scale, for that area within the limits of disturbance. ... (b)The removal of...
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.
Landscaping: Grass Height
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul DSI - Property Code Enforcement (Tall Grass and Weeds)
Property Code Enforcement plays a critical role in maintaining our City's neighborhoods and the standards that help to keep Saint Paul a great place to live and work. Listed below are some simple rules related to many commonly reported property maintenance issues: [...] Overhanging Vegetation Any overgrown vegetation, including trees, obstructing the public right of way, sidewalk, boulevard, an...
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.
Saint Paul Lawn Watering Restrictions
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code § 91.05 (Outside watering restrictions)
The board's general manager is authorized to declare or rescind water use restrictions to meet water use/demand requirements dependent upon the applicable drought phases defined by the State of Minnesota. Drought warning, restrictive phases, and emergency phases may require any combination of the following restrictions to comply with state requirements: (a)Outside watering may be prohibited bet...
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.
Saint Paul Backyard Composting Bin Rules
Some RestrictionsSaint Paul Legislative Code Sec. 357.08
Composting by residents on their own property is permitted provided the following regulations are complied with: (1)Container. Composting shall be conducted within an enclosed container(s) not to exceed a total of one hundred (100) cubic feet in volume for city lots less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet and one hundred fifty (150) cubic feet for lots greater than ten thousand (10,000) squ...
Looking for Ramsey County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Saint Paul city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Ramsey County →