Saint Paul, MN Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

No one may use a Saint Paul street, sidewalk, or alley for a block party or community festival without a permit under Legislative Code § 366.01(a). The police department, which administers the program, requires applications at least 60 calendar days before the event under § 366.04(a); the police chief can waive that deadline only on proof of extreme hardship. Applicants need the written consent of 60 percent of adjacent property owners or tenants (§ 366.04(b)), a certificate of liability insurance covering the city as an additional insured for at least $300,000 per person/$1,000,000 aggregate (§ 366.04(c)), and either an indemnity agreement or casualty insurance protecting city property (§ 366.04(d)).

A multi-department committee, fire, police, parks and recreation, safety and inspections, and public works, reviews every application and can recommend conditions on hours, blockade placement, or loudspeaker location (§ 366.05). The base permit fee is $50.00 for an event covering one city block, plus $25.00 for each additional block, up to a $200.00 cap, and fees are non-refundable (§ 366.03(a)). Applicants also owe a traffic-control fee set by the police chief to cover the officers assigned to the event. Small residential block parties that sell no food, stay within one block, run only between 8:00 a.m. and sunset, and are filed 30 days out are exempt from the fee, insurance, and indemnity requirements under § 366.01(b).

Block parties may not run before 8:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m. under § 366.09. A denied applicant can appeal to the city council within five days by filing written notice with the police chief and city clerk (§ 366.06).