Saint Paul, MN Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max front-yard driveway width
- 12 feet (≤4 units)
- Near-garage allowance
- +4 ft within 30 ft of garage door
- Long-setback exception
- Up to 20 ft if building >150 ft from street
- Minimum driveway width
- 8 feet (or 2-ft wheel tracks)
- Governing section
- Sec. 63.308(b)
Summary
Saint Paul limits front-yard driveways on lots with up to four dwelling units to 12 feet wide, with a 4-foot allowance near the garage door, a 20-foot exception for long setbacks, and an 8-foot citywide minimum.
(b)Driveways. For lots with up to four (4) total principal dwelling units, driveways that access a public street in front yards must be no more than twelve (12) feet in width, except that a driveway may be up to four (4) feet wider than the garage door within thirty (30) feet of the garage door. For dwellings in which any portion of the building is more than one-hundred fifty (150) feet from the street, a driveway up to twenty (20) feet in width is permitted to meet fire access requirements. Driveways for one-family, two-family, and multiple-family dwellings on zoning lots with up to four (4) total principal dwelling units must be a minimum of eight (8) feet in width or driveway pavement may be limited to wheel tracks at least two (2) feet wide.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' On the low end, the same subsection requires driveways on one-family, two-family, and multiple-family lots with up to four units to be at least 8 feet wide, or lets the pavement be narrowed to wheel-track strips at least 2 feet wide each. These width rules sit alongside subsection (a)'s access standard, which requires maneuvering lanes so vehicles enter and exit facilities of more than four units traveling forward rather than backing into traffic, and subsection (c)'s alley-access rules, which let up to seven parking spaces open directly onto an alley without special review but require notice to adjacent owners for eight or more spaces. The zoning administrator, under the Department of Safety and Inspections, reviews driveway width as part of building and site plan permitting.
Violations & Fines
Building or paving a front-yard driveway wider than the Sec. 63.308(b) limit, or narrower than its 8-foot minimum, without qualifying for one of the listed exceptions is a zoning code violation under Sec. 61.901, a misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation a separate offense under Sec. 61.904. The zoning administrator can require narrowing or removal of noncompliant paving as a condition of permit compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide can a driveway be in a Saint Paul front yard?
Is there a minimum driveway width in Saint Paul?
Can a Saint Paul driveway be wider near the garage than at the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saint Paul
Compare Saint Paul to another location·View the Minnesota parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.