Ramsey County, MN Ordinances (2026)

Ramsey County sets no countywide quiet hours — your city does. In St. Paul (the county seat), nighttime runs 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., when the residential limit drops to 55 dBA and audible noise becomes a violation.

There is no countywide animal-control ordinance — each Ramsey County city handles barking dogs. In St. Paul (county seat), a dog that howls, yelps or barks to the reasonable annoyance of another person is a violation; call St. Paul Animal Control.

Ramsey County sets no countywide construction hours — your city does. St. Paul (county seat) caps construction/demolition noise at 85 dBA (L10) measured 50 feet from the source, and restricts noisy work near residences at night.

Minnesota's statewide noise standards (Minn. R. 7030.0040) set the floor: residential areas cap at L50 60 / L10 65 dBA daytime and L50 50 / L10 55 dBA nighttime. St. Paul matches these limits by land-use class.

Ramsey County sets no leaf-blower ordinance — your city does. St. Paul (county seat) treats leaf blowers as domestic power tools, barred between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when audible enough to disturb nearby residents.

Neither Ramsey County nor its cities regulate in-flight aircraft noise — that is federally preempted by the FAA. The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) handles airport noise programs for the Twin Cities, including St. Paul Downtown Airport.

Ramsey County sets no amplified-sound rule — your city does. In St. Paul (county seat), radios, instruments and sound devices audible at the property line between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. are prima facie evidence of a violation.

Minnesota's statewide standards cap industrial noise: heavy-industrial areas (Class 3) at L50 75 / L10 80 dBA day and night (Minn. R. 7030.0040). St. Paul mirrors this at 80 dBA for industrial districts. The county sets no separate limit.

Minnesota state law, not Ramsey County, governs vehicle noise. Every motor vehicle must have a working muffler; cutouts and bypasses are illegal (Minn. Stat. § 169.69). St. Paul adds fines for stereos audible 50 feet away.

Ramsey County sets no outdoor-music rule for private property — your city does. In St. Paul, outdoor sound audible 50 feet away between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is prima facie a violation, and amplified public events need a city permit.

Ramsey County MN issues no short-term-rental permit. STRs are licensed by each city. In St. Paul (the county seat), Sec. 379.07 of the Legislative Code requires every host to obtain a Short-Term Rental host license before renting.

Ramsey County has no STR-specific noise rule. Guests must follow the host city's general noise ordinance and quiet hours — in St. Paul, the citywide noise code applies to short-term rentals like any other dwelling.

Ramsey County keeps no STR registry. St. Paul requires an annual host license and mandates that hosts keep a registry logging nights booked and rent paid for the life of the license.

Ramsey County sets no short-term-rental parking rule. Parking for STRs follows the host city's zoning code — in St. Paul, the zoning provision for short-term rentals (Sec. 65.645) and general residential parking standards apply.

Ramsey County sets no STR insurance rule, but St. Paul does: hosts must carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 naming the City as certificate holder, or rent only through a platform providing equal or greater coverage.

Ramsey County sets no STR occupancy limit. In St. Paul, each unit's maximum occupancy is set by the zoning and building code and must be posted inside the rental for guests to see.

Ramsey County imposes no annual night cap on STRs. St. Paul does not cap the number of rental nights per year; it instead limits how many STR units a property may have based on owner-occupancy and zoning district.

This is the real county-level layer. Minnesota lodging-tax authority runs through Minn. Stat. §469.190 (up to 3%). St. Paul imposes a 3.0% lodging tax on all lodging in the city, and its STR host-license fee is $40 per unit.

Ramsey County sets no host-presence requirement. St. Paul does not require the host to stay on-site, but every rental must post a responsible-party contact reachable to handle problems during a guest's stay.

Ramsey County imposes no primary-residence requirement. St. Paul does not limit STRs to a host's primary residence — it licenses both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied units, with the number of allowed units varying by property type and zoning.

Ramsey County sets no fire-pit ordinance; your city does. In St. Paul, a recreational fire in an approved appliance must be at least 15 feet from any building or combustible material, and open fires at least 25 feet.

Only non-aerial, non-explosive fireworks (sparklers, cones, fountains, snakes) are legal in Minnesota. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, and any aerial or exploding device are illegal statewide. Ramsey County cities like St. Paul may restrict further.

Burning brush, leaves, or vegetation in Minnesota generally requires a DNR open-burning permit from the commissioner or an agent. In the urban Twin Cities metro, open burning is largely prohibited; check your city.

Minnesota law requires every dwelling unit to have a smoke alarm meeting the State Fire Code. This applies statewide across Ramsey County; disabling an alarm that causes injury or damage is a misdemeanor.

Ramsey County, an urban Twin Cities county, has no wildfire brush-clearance mandate. Vegetation is handled through city weed/nuisance codes and the state noxious-weed control duty under Minn. Stat. 18.75-.91.

Ramsey County is a fully urbanized Twin Cities county with no designated wildfire hazard zones or Wildland-Urban Interface maps. No county wildfire-zone building or clearance rules apply.

A recreational campfire for cooking, warming, or ceremony that is no more than 3 feet in diameter by 3 feet high needs no state burning permit. Larger fires or burning yard debris require a DNR permit, and cities set their own rules.

Propane storage in Ramsey County follows the Minnesota State Fire Code (Minn. Rules Ch. 7511), which adopts the International Fire Code and NFPA 58 for LP-gas. Ramsey County sets no separate propane ordinance.

Ramsey County sets no rule on backyard smokers. Charcoal, wood, and pellet smokers follow the Minnesota State Fire Code and each city's nuisance and clearance rules. Persistent smoke can trigger a city nuisance complaint.

Propane and charcoal grill use follows the Minnesota State Fire Code (Minn. Rules Ch. 7511). On combustible balconies of apartments, LP and charcoal grills are generally prohibited. Ramsey County sets no separate grilling ordinance.

Ramsey County sets no on-street commercial-vehicle rule — your city does. St. Paul treats commercial and overweight vehicles parked in violation as unauthorized and may immediately tow and impound them.

Ramsey County does not designate on-street loading zones — cities do. St. Paul establishes and signs loading zones under its parking code, and parking a non-loading vehicle there is prohibited.

Ramsey County sets no countywide street-parking rule for RVs or boats — your city does. In St. Paul, a large RV (22 ft+) may park on a street only 30 minutes, and a boat trailer must stay hitched and moves within 48 hours.

Ramsey County sets no driveway-parking rule — driveways and yard parking are zoning matters your city controls. St. Paul restricts front-yard and boulevard parking; check St. Paul or your suburb's zoning code.

Ramsey County has no countywide overnight on-street parking ban — cities set it. St. Paul allows overnight street parking except during a Snow Emergency, but no car may stay in one spot more than 48 hours.

On-street parking is set by your city, not Ramsey County. St. Paul bars leaving a car in the same on-street spot for more than 48 hours and enforces winter Snow Emergency plow-route bans that override normal parking.

Ramsey County has no oversized-vehicle street rule — cities do. St. Paul limits large recreational vehicles (22 ft+ long, 7 ft+ wide) to 30 minutes of street parking and treats overweight vehicles in violation as unauthorized.

Minnesota state law defines abandoned vehicles statewide. A car is abandoned if left illegally more than 48 hours on public property (or 4 hours where posted) and lacks vital parts or is inoperable. Government units and police may impound it.

Ramsey County does not paint or regulate street curbs — curb markings are a city function. In St. Paul only the city marks curbs (no-parking, loading, fire zones); residents may not paint public curbs themselves.

Ramsey County has no ordinance reserving parking spaces for EV charging — it is a city zoning and property-owner matter. Misusing a posted EV-only stall may be enforced under the property owner's or city's parking rules.

Ramsey County imposes no general fence standards on city land; each city does under Minn. Stat. §462.357. St. Paul requires plan review for height, location, and corner sight-triangle compliance.

Ramsey County sets no shared-fence rule; cities do. St. Paul requires the fence and all supports to sit entirely inside your own property line, not on it or a neighbor's land.

Ramsey County sets no fence-height rule for incorporated land; your city does. In St. Paul, front-yard fences top out at 4 feet and side/rear fences at 7 feet.

Ramsey County restricts no fence materials on city land; cities may. St. Paul does not ban common materials but ties the corner sight-triangle exception to fences that are more than 80% open.

Ramsey County issues no fence permits for city land; permitting is municipal. St. Paul requires a fence plan review and permit before any fence is installed.

Ramsey County sets no materials list for city fences; your city does under Minn. Stat. §462.357. St. Paul permits wood, vinyl, chain link, and metal, favoring open materials near street corners.

Ramsey County sets no retaining-wall rule for city property; your city regulates it. St. Paul reviews wall location and height through its building code and may require a permit for taller walls.

Ramsey County sets no lot-coverage limit for city land; your city does under Minn. Stat. §462.357. In St. Paul's R1–R4 districts, principal buildings may cover no more than 35% of the lot.

Ramsey County sets no building setbacks for city land; each city does under Minn. Stat. §462.357. St. Paul sets front, side, and rear yard minimums in its residential dimensional table (§66.231).

Ramsey County sets no building-height limit for city land; your city does under Minn. Stat. §462.357. St. Paul limits R1 homes to 28 feet at the side setback, up to 35 feet.

Neither Ramsey County nor Minnesota bans any dog breed. State law regulates individual dogs by behavior under the Dangerous Dog Act, Minn. Stat. §347.50-.565. A dog becomes 'dangerous' after specific attacks, not because of its breed.

Ramsey County has no countywide animal-control ordinance. Each city sets its own leash law. In St. Paul (the county seat), dogs may not run at large and must be restrained by a chain or leash no longer than six feet, or securely fenced.

Ramsey County has almost no unincorporated land, so it sets no livestock rule for residents. Keeping horses, goats, pigs, or cattle is a city zoning matter under Minn. Stat. Ch. 462. Most Ramsey County cities, including St. Paul, restrict or prohibit farm animals in residential zones.

Ramsey County sets no rule on backyard chickens or livestock — this is municipal zoning under Minn. Stat. Ch. 462. St. Paul allows limited fowl and animals only with a Keeping of Animals permit. Check your specific city; suburbs vary widely.

Ramsey County sets no pet-number limit. Each city does. In St. Paul, keeping more than three dogs or more than three cats requires a Keeping of Animals permit from the Department of Safety and Inspections. Suburbs set their own limits.

Ramsey County has no beekeeping ordinance. Backyard beekeeping is regulated by each city under its zoning power (Minn. Stat. Ch. 462). St. Paul permits hives with registration; suburbs vary. Minnesota state law preempts local pesticide rules only, not hive keeping.

Ramsey County sets no general wildlife-feeding ordinance, but Minnesota bans deer feeding in disease-management areas under DNR rules, and several Ramsey County cities prohibit feeding deer or waterfowl. St. Paul restricts feeding that creates a nuisance or attracts rodents.

Ramsey County has no exotic-pet ordinance, but Minnesota bans private ownership of regulated dangerous animals — big cats, bears, and most primates — under Minn. Stat. §346.155. Cities like St. Paul add further prohibited-animal lists via their Keeping of Animals rules.

Ramsey County has no standalone hoarding ordinance. Hoarding is addressed through city pet-number limits (St. Paul: permit above three dogs or cats) and Minnesota's animal-cruelty and neglect statute, Minn. Stat. §343.21, enforced by animal control and police.

Ramsey County has no cat ordinance. Cat rules — licensing, at-large limits, and permit thresholds — are set by each city. St. Paul requires a Keeping of Animals permit for more than three cats and enforces its animal code through St. Paul Animal Control.

Minnesota law protects native landscaping from blanket 'tall weeds' bans, and cities like Saint Paul allow managed native plantings. Ramsey County has no rule against native gardens; the state and watershed districts encourage pollinator lawns.

Ramsey County requires no permit to remove a tree on private property. Removing a public boulevard tree requires a St. Paul Forestry permit. Ash trees are being removed citywide under Saint Paul's emerald-ash-borer 'Structured Removal' program.

Ramsey County sets no watering schedule. St. Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) enforces even/odd-address outdoor watering during drought: odd addresses water on odd days, even on even days, and only before noon or after 6 p.m. Fines can reach $150.

Ramsey County supports backyard composting and runs free yard-waste and organics drop-off sites for residents. The county advises contacting your city about specific composting rules and restrictions on bins and setbacks.

Ramsey County sets no grass-height rule for residential yards. Each city does. In St. Paul (the county seat), grass or weeds eight inches or more in height is a public nuisance that must be cut, or the city cuts it and bills you.

Ramsey County does not regulate tree trimming on private land. You may prune trees on your own property freely. In St. Paul, any work on a public boulevard (street) tree — including pruning — requires a free permit from Saint Paul Forestry.

Neither Ramsey County nor Minnesota bans residential rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and rain gardens are actively promoted for stormwater management, and Ramsey County and its watershed districts have offered cost-share grants for them.

Under the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law (Minn. Stat. §18.75–.91), every landowner and occupant must control state-listed noxious weeds. Ramsey County has no separate weed ordinance; cities enforce local tall-weed limits (St. Paul: eight inches).

Ramsey County has no ordinance on artificial turf. Whether synthetic lawns are allowed, and any coverage or permit rules, are set by your city's zoning and stormwater codes. Many Twin Cities suburbs limit impervious surface, which can affect turf.

Ramsey County Public Health licenses and inspects PUBLIC swimming pools (apartments, hotels, clubs) under Minnesota Rules ch. 4717, covering barriers, water quality, and safety equipment. Private home pools follow the Minnesota Residential Code enforced by your city.

Ramsey County Public Health enforces fencing for PUBLIC pools under Minn. Rules 4717.1550: fences must be at least five feet high with self-closing, self-latching lockable gates. A private backyard pool's barrier is set by the Minnesota Residential Code and enforced by your city.

Ramsey County itself does not permit backyard pools. A private residential pool is a structure under the Minnesota Residential Code (part of the State Building Code) and needs a building permit from your city's building official (e.g. St. Paul), not the county.

A private residential hot tub or spa is governed by the Minnesota Residential Code and permitted by your city, not Ramsey County. PUBLIC spas (at hotels, clubs, apartments) are licensed and inspected by Ramsey County Public Health under Minnesota Rules ch. 4717.

Ramsey County sets no rule for private above-ground pools. Your city permits and inspects them under the Minnesota Residential Code, which requires a compliant safety barrier — the pool wall can serve as the barrier if it is at least 48 inches high above grade.

Sign rules for a home business are set by your city, not Ramsey County. In St. Paul a home occupation may have one identification sign no larger than two square feet, and it may not be placed in a required yard.

Ramsey County does not zone residential land — cities do, under Minn. Stat. ch. 462. In St. Paul (the county seat) a home occupation must be incidental and secondary to residential use, carried on wholly within the main building, and must not change the character of the dwelling.

Cottage food is a statewide exemption, not a county rule. Under Minn. Stat. 28A.152 you must register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before selling and are capped at $78,000 in gross annual sales, with only non-potentially-hazardous foods allowed.

There is no county home-occupation permit. In St. Paul you certify a home occupation by filing a Home Occupation Affidavit; the business must be run by no more than two people (one of whom lives there), with no structural alterations for the business.

Ramsey County IS the licensing agency for family child care. It licenses in-home providers on behalf of MN DHS under Minnesota Rules ch. 9502. Family child care serves no more than ten children at one time, of whom no more than six are under school age.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) does not regulate where residents store trash carts. Collection and cart rules are municipal. In St. Paul, carts go out by 6 a.m. on collection day at the alley or curb, kept three feet apart, and cannot sit in streets, behind fences, or behind cars.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) sets no residential grass-height limit for its cities — that is municipal (St. Paul requires grass/weeds under eight inches). Statewide, Minn. Stat. §18.78 makes every landowner responsible for controlling noxious weeds as ordered by an inspector.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) does not maintain a countywide vacant-lot ordinance for incorporated cities. Cities require upkeep and, for buildings, registration. St. Paul requires vacant buildings to be registered with its Department of Safety and Inspections and kept secure and maintained.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) does not license garage sales — cities do. In St. Paul, residential garage/yard sales need no city license but are limited to three sales per year, each up to 72 consecutive hours, selling only the occupant's own property.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) does not run a countywide property-blight or nuisance code for its incorporated cities. Blight, junk accumulation, and exterior-maintenance standards are enforced by each city. St. Paul, the county seat, uses Legislative Code Chapters 34 and 45 (nuisance abatement).

Ramsey County issues no tree-removal permit for private property. In Saint Paul, no permit is required to remove a private tree, but any work on a public boulevard tree — including removal — requires a free Saint Paul Forestry permit.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) and its cities provide curbside recycling to residents. St. Paul auto-enrolls homes in single-sort recycling. Under the counties' waste-designation ordinance, all trash is delivered to the R&E Center for processing, backed by Minn. Stat. Ch. 115A.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) runs free yard-waste drop-off sites and household hazardous waste (HHW) collection; bulky-item pickup is arranged through your city. St. Paul offers free mattress and bulky-item collection. State law bars yard waste from the trash.

Dumping garbage, litter, or waste on public or private land in Ramsey County (Minnesota) is illegal statewide. Minn. Stat. §609.68 makes unlawful deposit of litter a petty misdemeanor, and §115A.99 adds a civil penalty of two-to-five times the government's cleanup cost.

In Ramsey County (Minnesota), cities arrange residential trash and recycling collection — the county does not collect. St. Paul uses organized citywide collection (all 1–4 unit homes auto-enrolled). All collected trash is then delivered to the county's R&E Center in Newport.

Ramsey County (Minnesota) does not set cart-placement rules; your city does. In St. Paul, put carts out by 6 a.m. on collection day at the edge of the alley or curb, lid arrows facing out, three feet apart, never in the street or behind fences or cars.

Ramsey County sets no rule on converting a garage to living space. This is municipal zoning and building permitting under Minn. Stat. 462.357. In St. Paul, a garage converted to a dwelling is treated as an ADU (Sec. 65.913). Get a city building permit before converting.

Ramsey County sets no tiny-home rule. Whether a tiny home is allowed — and as a primary dwelling or an ADU — is decided by city zoning under Minn. Stat. 462.357. In St. Paul a tiny home on a foundation can qualify as an ADU (Sec. 65.913). Movable tiny homes

Ramsey County sets no ADU rule. Accessory dwelling units are municipal zoning under Minn. Stat. 462.357. St. Paul (county seat) allows ADUs citywide and permits up to two ADUs per one-family lot with no owner-occupancy requirement. Check your city's zoning office.

Ramsey County has no shed ordinance. Detached accessory buildings are municipal zoning under Minn. Stat. 462.357. In St. Paul, detached sheds max at 15 ft (flat/shed roof) or 18 ft, must sit in the rear yard 3 ft from lot lines, capped at 1,200 sq ft total.

Ramsey County has no carport ordinance. A carport is a detached/attached accessory structure regulated by city zoning under Minn. Stat. 462.357. In St. Paul it falls under the accessory-building rules (Sec. 63.501): rear-yard placement, 3-ft setbacks and height caps. Check your city.

Ramsey County sets no sign rule, but Minnesota law overrides city limits during elections: Minn. Stat. 211B.045 lets you post noncommercial signs of any size, in any number, from 46 days before the state primary until 10 days after the general election. Cities may regulate size/number only outside that window.

Ramsey County has no garage-sale sign ordinance. Temporary signs are regulated by each city's sign code (St. Paul Chapter 64) under Minn. Stat. 462.357. Typically no permit is needed for small on-premise signs, but signs in the public right-of-way, boulevards, or utility poles are prohibited and get removed.

Ramsey County sets no light-trespass rule. Whether a neighbor's light spilling onto your property violates a standard is decided by city zoning codes under Minn. Stat. 462.357. Many cities cap illumination measured at the property line. There is no countywide light-trespass ordinance.

Ramsey County has no dark-sky ordinance. Exterior lighting and glare are municipal zoning matters under Minn. Stat. 462.357. St. Paul and other east-metro cities set lighting standards (shielding, height, glare) in their zoning codes. There is no countywide dark-sky rule.

This one IS a county rule. Ramsey County regional and county parks and trails are open from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Being in a county park outside those hours is a park-ordinance violation. (Youth curfews are separate and set by each city.)