Saint Paul permits home occupations as accessory residential uses if the business remains incidental to the dwelling. A Home Occupation Affidavit must be filed with DSI.
Under the Saint Paul Zoning Code, a home occupation is defined as an occupation carried on in a dwelling unit by a resident thereof, provided the use is limited in extent, incidental, and secondary to the use of the dwelling unit for residential purposes and does not change the residential character of the property. Permitted home occupations include small offices, service establishments, and homecrafts that are typically considered accessory to a dwelling unit. Home occupations may involve only limited retailing, by appointment only, associated with fine arts, crafts, or personal services as allowed in the B1 Local Business District. Prohibited home occupations include general retail or wholesale businesses, manufacturing, commercial food service requiring a license, limousine businesses, and auto service or repair for vehicles other than those registered to residents of the property. The occupation must not generate noise, vibration, odor, dust, electrical interference, or other nuisance conditions perceptible beyond the property line. There shall be no exterior storage of equipment, supplies, or commercial vehicles associated with the home occupation, and parking of no more than one business car, pick-up truck, or small van is allowed. To certify a home occupation, a Home Occupation Affidavit must be filed with the Department of Safety and Inspections. The affidavit requires confirmation that all conditions of the zoning code are met. If a home occupation does not meet the standard conditions, the property owner may seek a conditional use permit or a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Most zoning decisions are processed within 60 days through the city PAULIE online permitting platform.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Saint Paul's zoning restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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