Saint Paul, MN Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

To legally operate a home occupation in Saint Paul, the property owner or resident must file a Home Occupation Affidavit with the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI). The affidavit is a self-certification that the proposed business activity meets all conditions of the Saint Paul Zoning Code for home occupations. There is no separate home occupation permit fee when standard conditions are met. The affidavit requires the applicant to confirm that the business is incidental and secondary to the residential use, does not change the residential character of the property, involves no prohibited activities (such as manufacturing, general retail, or auto repair), has no exterior storage of commercial equipment, and limits signage to two square feet.

If the proposed home occupation does not meet one or more standard conditions, the applicant must apply for a conditional use permit or request a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Conditional use permit applications require public notice to surrounding property owners and a hearing before the Planning Commission or Zoning Committee. Variance applications go before the Board of Zoning Appeals. Most standard zoning decisions are completed within 60 days. All applications are now submitted through PAULIE, the city secure online permitting platform, which provides mobile-friendly tracking of application status.

Additionally, depending on the nature of the business, separate state or county licenses may be required. For example, businesses providing personal services may need a Minnesota state business license, and food-related operations may require MDA registration. Saint Paul also requires a general business license for certain categories of businesses, which is obtained through the city Department of Safety and Inspections licensing division. Contact DSI at 651-266-8989 or visit 375 Jackson Street, Suite 220, for assistance.