Before You Build in Saint Paul, MN: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

All fences in Saint Paul require a plan review and permit from DSI. The base fee is $45 for the first 200 lineal feet. Inspections are required for fences over 7 feet, pool fences, and barbed wire.

Saint Paul limits front-yard fences to 4 feet and side/rear-yard fences to 7 feet under Sec. 60.209. Corner lots have a 2-foot max in the sight-triangle area near intersections.

Saint Paul requires all pools to be enclosed by an obscuring fence with self-closing, self-latching gates. Minimum height is 4 feet for 1-2 family homes and 5 feet for multi-family.

Retaining walls over 4 feet tall in Saint Paul require a building permit and engineered plans. Only segmental block, CMU, or poured concrete walls are generally approved by the city.

Minnesota has no shared fence cost statute. Each property owner responsible for their own fence. MN Stat. §561.02 prohibits spite fences.

Saint Paul pools must comply with the federal VGB Act for drain safety and MN Rules Ch. 4717 for public pool standards. GFCI protection required on all pool circuits.

Above-ground pools in Saint Paul need building and electrical permits and the same fencing requirements as in-ground pools. Walls 48 inches or taller may partially satisfy barrier rules.

Saint Paul hot tubs need an electrical permit. Outdoor units require a locking safety cover or a four-foot fence with self-closing, self-latching gates.

Saint Paul requires pool enclosure fences at least four feet tall (five feet for multi-family). Gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and lockable.

Saint Paul requires building and electrical permits for pool installation. Pool fences need a Fence Plan Review (45-dollar fee). Multi-family pools also need MN DOH approval.

Saint Paul allows garage conversions to livable space or ADUs with a building permit. Off-street parking replacement may be required depending on transit proximity.

Saint Paul allows ADUs by right in all residential zoning districts. Both internal and detached ADUs are permitted with size limits. Owner occupancy is not required.

Saint Paul regulates carports as accessory structures under its zoning code. Building permits are required and carports must meet setback, height, and lot coverage standards.

Saint Paul permits tiny homes as ADUs when built on a foundation and meeting state building code standards. Tiny homes on wheels are classified as recreational vehicles.

Saint Paul regulates sheds under its zoning code. Sheds up to 120 sq ft generally do not require a building permit but must comply with setback and height requirements.

Open burning of yard waste, leaves, brush, and debris is prohibited in Saint Paul under the fire code and MPCA rules. Only recreational fires with clean wood are allowed.

Saint Paul allows recreational fire pits without a permit. Fires must be under 3 feet wide by 2 feet high, set back 25 feet from structures, and burn only clean untreated wood.

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.

Saint Paul enforces odd-even outdoor watering during droughts. Watering is limited to before noon or after 6 PM. Hand-held hoses and tree watering bags are exempt.

Saint Paul requires a Forestry permit for boulevard tree removal. In the Tree Preservation District, removing trees 12+ inches in diameter needs a $273 plan with 1:1 to 3:1 replacement ratios.