Pop. 18,116 · Wright County
Under Sec. 155.030, no building permit is required for residential fences 6 feet or shorter. Fences over 6 feet, retaining walls over 4 feet, and any fence in a designated sight triangle on a corner lot require a building permit.
St. Michael Code Sec. 155.030 does not require a building permit for residential fences six feet or less in height. Fences must be located entirely upon the private property of the owner and constructed in a workmanlike manner from approved materials.
St. Michael Code Sec. 155.054 requires a 6-foot non-climbing safety fence around any in-ground pool. Above-ground pools must be surrounded by a 4-foot non-climbing fence or have a latchable cover. A 6-foot construction fence is required from the moment the pool contains water during build.
St. Michael Code Sec. 155.030 requires any retaining wall over 4 feet in height (or a series of retaining walls with a greater vertical drop than horizontal distance) to be protected at the top by a minimum 3-foot-high fence.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18 declares it a public nuisance to accumulate materials that tend to harbor rats, mice, snakes, or vermin. Feeding wildlife in a way that draws nuisance animals onto adjoining properties is treated as a nuisance under the same section.
St. Michael Code Sec. 90.09 limits households to two dogs over six months of age without a residential or commercial kennel license. Chickens, goats, and other livestock are not allowed in standard residential zones; they require A-1 Agricultural zoning or a conditional use permit.
St. Michael Code Chapter 90 prohibits dogs from running at large. On any public property, a dog must be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet held by a responsible person, or kept at heel and obedient to voice command. Dogs found at large are impounded.
St. Michael cannot ban or restrict dogs by breed. Minn. Stat. § 347.51, subd. 8 preempts local breed-specific legislation — Minnesota cities may only regulate 'potentially dangerous' or 'dangerous' dogs based on individual behavior, not breed.
Under Sec. 155.030, domestic animal enclosures (runs, coops, kennels) in residential districts are not permitted in front yards. Any enclosure must be at least 10 feet from any property line and at least 25 feet from any dwelling on a neighbor's property.
Minnesota Statute 343.21 establishes statewide animal cruelty offenses including overworking, depriving food or water, and torture. Hoarding cases are prosecuted as cruelty and apply to every owner regardless of city or county boundaries.
Minnesota Statute 346.155 prohibits private possession of regulated animals including big cats, bears, and non-human primates. The law preempts conflicting local rules and applies uniformly statewide, with grandfather provisions for animals owned before 2005.
St. Michael Code Sec. 71.04 prohibits parking on any public street for a continuous period exceeding 48 hours. A vehicle moved less than one block within a 48-hour period is deemed to have remained stationary.
St. Michael Code Sec. 155.039 permits no more than two recreational vehicles or pieces of equipment (snowmobiles, boats, ATVs, trailers) to be stored outdoors on a residential lot, and only in the driveway, the rear yard, or one open surfaced space alongside the garage with a 5-foot green-space buffer to the side property line.
St. Michael Code Sec. 155.039's exterior-storage limit exempts off-street parking of passenger vehicles and trucks up to 12,000 lbs gross vehicle weight from screening requirements. Heavier commercial vehicles, semi-tractors, and trailers cannot be regularly parked on residential property.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18(U)(4) makes it a public nuisance to accumulate or store any motor vehicles that are not currently licensed, generally not driven, or being used for parts in the open on residential property. Such vehicles must be kept inside an enclosed building.
From November 1 through April 1 there is no overnight parking on any St. Michael city street between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. During any snowfall of 2 inches or more, the parking ban is enforced 24/7 until plowing is complete.
St. Michael Code Sec. 155.031 requires residential driveways to be located at least 5 feet from a side property line and not exceed 30 feet in width within the public right-of-way (25 feet on cul-de-sac lots). All driveways from the public road to the garage must be surfaced with brick, concrete, or bituminous asphalt.
Minnesota's State Building Code and electrical statutes set baseline standards for EV charging installations. State law also limits HOA restrictions on EV charging, ensuring residents have a uniform statewide right to install charging equipment.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18(AE) prohibits construction or maintenance activities that disturb the peace from sunset to 7:00 a.m. There is no separate weekend rule — the same window applies every day of the week. Emergency public-works, utility, flood, and snow-removal work are exempt.
Amplified music is regulated under the general nuisance language of St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18 - speakers, bands, or backyard parties that disturb the peace are prohibited at any hour and absolutely prohibited from sunset to 7:00 a.m. under subsection (AE).
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18(AE) declares it a public nuisance affecting peace and safety to engage in construction or maintenance activities that disturb the peace between sunset and 7:00 a.m. The city has no objective dBA cap, instead enforcing nighttime disturbances through the general nuisance ordinance.
St. Michael Code Sec. 90.10 prohibits dogs from becoming a nuisance through habitual barking or crying. The ordinance defines habitual barking objectively as barking that continues for repeated intervals of at least five minutes with less than one minute of interruption.
Aircraft noise in Minnesota is governed primarily by federal aviation rules, with state oversight through the Metropolitan Airports Commission and MnDOT airport zoning standards. Local noise ordinances cannot regulate aircraft in flight or on FAA-controlled operations.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sets statewide numerical noise limits for stationary sources under Minn. Rules Chapter 7030. Limits vary by Noise Area Classification and time of day, applying uniformly across the state to industrial and commercial noise.
Backyard fires in St. Michael must be at least 25 feet from any structure, 5 feet inside the property line, and 15 feet from an approved burn barrel. The fire must be attended at all times and fully extinguished when unattended, with a water source nearby.
St. Michael allows recreational fires (campfires) without a DNR burning permit only when the fire is no more than 3 feet in diameter by 3 feet high, set at least 25 feet from any structure and 5 feet inside the applicant's property line, and used for cooking, warming, or ceremonial purposes.
Open burning beyond a small recreational campfire requires a Minnesota DNR burning permit per St. Michael Code Sec. 91.64. The city itself does not issue burning permits — applicants must use the DNR online portal. Burning hours are limited to 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
St. Michael relies on Minnesota Statute § 624.20-.25 to regulate consumer fireworks: non-aerial, non-explosive items (sparklers, fountains, snakes) are legal for adults 18+, while firecrackers, bottle rockets, and aerial shells are illegal anywhere in Minnesota. Use is also constrained by Sec. 91.18 if it disturbs the peace.
Minnesota adopts NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code through the State Fire Code under Minn. Stat. 299F.011. Propane container placement, separation distances, and storage rules apply uniformly statewide and cannot be relaxed by cities.
Minnesota DNR designates statewide and regional wildfire restriction zones during elevated fire danger, suspending all burning permits. Restrictions apply uniformly within designated zones regardless of city or county boundaries.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.35-91.44 enforce the state noxious-weed law and limit grass and weed height to 8 inches on any property with a structure and 12 inches on all other properties. Violators receive a 7-day notice; the city mows after that at owner expense.
Calendar sprinkling is mandatory in St. Michael from June 1 through September 30 under the Joint Powers Water Board (St. Michael, Albertville, Hanover). Even-numbered addresses water on even-numbered calendar days; odd-numbered addresses water on odd-numbered calendar days.
St. Michael enforces Minnesota's Noxious Weed Law (Minn. Stat. ch. 18.75-.91) through Sec. 91.35-91.44. Listed noxious weeds (Canada thistle, leafy spurge, knapweed, common tansy, etc.) must be eradicated regardless of height.
Sec. 155.031 requires single-family lots to maintain vegetation in the city right-of-way and along a 5-foot perimeter of the property, except where the driveway access runs. Lots wider than 65 feet must include at least two trees with 4 inches of combined diameter in the front yard.
Minnesota requires commercial tree care companies to register annually with the Department of Agriculture and authorizes statewide quarantines on movement of regulated wood, including emerald ash borer firewood, that override conflicting local rules.
Home occupations in St. Michael are limited to discrete signage under Sec. 155.084 (Signs Allowed Without a Permit) and the home-occupation conditions in Chapter 155. The business must not externally change the residential character of the property.
St. Michael requires a Home Occupation Permit through the city Planning Department before operating a business out of a residence. Applications are processed online via the Citizenserve portal; the city updated the handout and application in August 2023.
Home occupations in Saint Michael must remain clearly accessory to the residential use. Customer or client visits are tightly limited, and any nonresident employees, deliveries, or on-street parking that change the residential character can disqualify the use under Chapter 155.
Minnesota Statutes section 28A.152 establishes the statewide cottage food exemption, allowing home producers to sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods directly to consumers after registering with the Department of Agriculture, preempting inconsistent local food rules.
Minnesota Statutes sections 245A.14 and 462.357 require cities to treat licensed family child care homes as a permitted residential use, preempting restrictive zoning. DHS licenses providers statewide under Chapter 245A and Rules 9502 and 9503.
St. Michael accessory structures must be constructed of durable, finished materials compatible in color to the principal structure. Structures over 120 sq ft must also be compatible in design, roof style, roof pitch, and exterior finish. Structures over 1,200 sq ft require additional setbacks (1 ft per 100 sq ft over 1,200).
St. Michael's zoning code does not expressly permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in standard residential districts. Second residences require a conditional use permit and review against Chapter 155 zoning standards.
Above-ground pools in Saint Michael are regulated by Sec. 155.054 with the same setbacks as in-ground pools (10 ft side, 15 ft rear, 10 ft from principal structure) but may use a shorter 4-foot non-climbing fence or a latchable rigid cover for safety.
Sec. 155.054 requires a 6-foot non-climbing safety fence around any in-ground pool. Above-ground pools require a 4-foot non-climbing fence OR a latchable rigid cover. A 6-foot construction fence is required from the moment the pool contains water during build-out.
St. Michael Code Sec. 155.054 requires a building permit for any swimming pool construction, alteration, or renovation. Pools must be set back 10 feet from side property lines, 15 feet from the rear, and 10 feet from any principal structure (excluding uncovered decks).
Minnesota Rule 4717 regulates public spas and hot tubs identically to pools, requiring MDH licensure, water testing, and anti-entrapment drains. Residential spas follow ISPSC barrier and electrical rules under the State Building Code.
Minnesota Department of Health rules under Minn. R. Chapter 4717 govern public pool operation including water quality, lifeguarding, and safety equipment. The rules apply uniformly to all licensed public pools statewide.
St. Michael does not have a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance in its city code. STRs are subject to the city's general zoning rules in Chapter 155 (which contemplate single-family residential use), the nuisance authority of Sec. 91.18, and state lodging tax requirements.
Short-term rental guests in Saint Michael are subject to the same nuisance rules as residents. Sec. 91.18(AE) prohibits noise that disturbs the peace from sunset to 7:00 a.m., and the general nuisance language covers parties at any hour.
Minnesota state law imposes 6.875% sales tax plus applicable local lodging taxes on all short-term rentals under 30 days, including Airbnb and Vrbo bookings. Marketplace providers must collect and remit on hosts' behalf statewide.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18(U)(10) requires that all trash, garbage, and recycling containers be screened so they are not visible from any public street or sidewalk. Containers may be placed at curbside the evening before or during a scheduled pickup day.
Vacant lots in St. Michael must be maintained under Sec. 91.18 (nuisance) and Sec. 91.35-91.44 (vegetation). Grass and weeds may not exceed 12 inches on lots without a structure; mowing or debris removal is required after a notice of violation.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18 designates as a nuisance any snow and ice not removed from public sidewalks within 24 hours after the snowfall ends. The city contracts sidewalk plowing in 2+ inch events but property owners remain responsible for cleanup.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18 declares as a public nuisance any accumulation of manure, rubbish, garbage, bottles, papers, cans, or junk, and any materials that tend to harbor rats, mice, snakes, or vermin or pose potential fire, health, or safety hazards.
Trash, recycling, and yard waste containers in Saint Michael must be screened from public view between pickups per Sec. 91.18(U)(10) and may only be placed at the curb the evening before pickup through pickup day.
St. Michael does not operate municipal trash collection. Residents contract directly with private haulers (Republic Services, Waste Management, ACE Solid Waste, Let's Take Out The Trash). Recycling drop-off is also available at the Wright County Compost Site.
Recycling in Saint Michael is provided by the private hauler each resident chooses. The city also lists multiple recycling drop-off sites and operates a yard-waste compost program at the city compost site.
Minnesota state law bans appliances, electronics, tires, lead-acid batteries, and mercury-containing devices from solid waste disposal. These items must be recycled through approved channels regardless of local bulk pickup rules.
St. Michael Code Chapter 96 includes an Exclusion by Placard provision: a resident who posts a clear 'No Soliciting' or 'No Peddlers' sign at the entrance to their property excludes licensed solicitors from approaching. Knocking despite the placard is a violation.
St. Michael Code Chapter 96 requires every peddler and solicitor to be licensed before going door-to-door. The annual peddler/solicitor license fee is $100, valid one year, and the licensee must carry the city-issued ID at all times.
Political signs are allowed in Saint Michael under Sec. 155.084 (Signs Allowed Without a Permit) and Minn. Stat. § 211B.045, which preempts city size limits during the period from 46 days before a state primary through 10 days after a general election. Outside the protected window, the city's general sign rules apply.
Garage sale signs are treated as temporary noncommercial signs under Sec. 155.084 (Signs Allowed Without a Permit). They may be placed on private property without a permit but cannot be placed in the public right-of-way, attached to utility poles, or attached to street signs.
Residential structure height limits in Saint Michael are set in Chapter 155. Most residential districts limit principal structures to 35 feet measured to the mean roof height; accessory structures are typically limited to 15 feet for sheds and 25 feet for detached garages.
Single-family residential lots in Saint Michael are subject to maximum lot-coverage and impervious-surface standards in Chapter 155, generally capping building footprint at 30-40% of lot area and total impervious surface at 50%. Shoreland districts are stricter under Sec. 155.344.
Residential setbacks in Saint Michael are set in Chapter 155 (Zoning) and vary by district. Single-family R-1 standards typically require a 30-foot front yard, 10-foot side yard, and 30-foot rear yard, with greater setbacks on corner and double-frontage lots.
Properties in St. Michael's mapped 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplain along the Crow River and the Mississippi River system must follow the city's floodplain overlay zoning (referenced by Chapter 155) and FEMA NFIP standards, including elevation of lowest floors above the base flood elevation.
Projects disturbing less than 1 acre but more than 5,000 square feet, or that generate more than 50 cubic yards of cut or fill, are required to develop an Erosion Control Plan addressing Section VII of the city's Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control standards under Chapter 152.
Sec. 155.344 requires wetland buffer strips and setbacks: minimum buffer widths and structure setbacks vary by wetland classification, with no structure permitted within the buffer. The Crow River and lakes are also subject to shoreland overlay rules.
St. Michael Code Chapter 152 (Surface Water Management) requires a Stormwater Management Permit for projects disturbing one acre or more, and for many smaller projects within shoreland or wetland overlays. The city implements its NPDES MS4 SWPPP through this chapter.
Saint Michael does not require a permit for residential garage or yard sales. Sales are treated as a household activity, not a commercial transient merchant use under Chapter 96.
St. Michael does not impose an explicit frequency cap on residential garage sales. Sales that become continuous or recurring at a level that resembles a retail business can be reclassified under Chapter 96 (Peddlers, Solicitors, Transient Merchants).
St. Michael adopted Ordinance 2404 on December 17, 2024, enacting Chapter 119 of the City Code to regulate cannabis businesses. The chapter implements Minnesota's adult-use cannabis statute (Minn. Stat. ch. 342) at the city level, including local registration of state-licensed retailers.
Adults 21 and over may grow up to eight (8) cannabis plants per residence under Minn. Stat. § 342.09, with no more than four flowering at a time. St. Michael does not prohibit home cultivation, but plants must be in an enclosed, locked space not visible from a public place.
St. Michael adopted Ordinance 1507 establishing standards for solar energy systems. Rooftop and accessory solar arrays are permitted in residential districts with a building permit. Ground-mounted systems are subject to setback, screening, and lot-coverage standards.
Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 500.30) and the related Solar Access statute restrict HOA covenants from prohibiting solar energy systems on member properties. HOA architectural rules may impose reasonable aesthetic conditions but cannot ban solar outright.
St. Michael does not maintain a separate drone ordinance. Recreational drone operators must follow FAA Part 107 and the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) framework, and avoid creating a nuisance under Sec. 91.18 by flying over private property at low altitude.
Commercial drone operators in Minnesota must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and register their aircraft with both the FAA and the Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics under Minn. Stat. 360.55, paying state aircraft registration tax annually.
St. Michael Code Sec. 91.18 lists trees and other obstructions that adversely affect public safety as nuisances. Sec. 155.032 restricts corner-lot plantings to preserve intersection visibility, and Sec. 155.031 requires front-yard trees on lots wider than 65 feet.
Minnesota's Heritage Tree Program under DNR forestry recognizes notable trees but does not impose statewide removal restrictions on private property. State law primarily governs shade tree disease management and public-land protections through Minn. Stat. 89 and 18G.
St. Michael does not operate a comprehensive rental licensing program in its code. Long-term rentals are subject to general property-maintenance standards under Chapter 91 and Minnesota's statewide habitability requirements in Minn. Stat. ch. 504B.
Saint Michael does not impose rent control. Minnesota state law authorizes only St. Paul and Minneapolis to consider rent stabilization, and even those cities require voter approval. St. Michael does not regulate rent levels.
Since a 2023 amendment, Minn. Stat. Sec. 504B.321, subd. 1a requires a landlord to give a tenant 14 days' written notice before filing an eviction for nonpayment of rent. The notice must itemize the amount due and include legal-aid and rental-assistance information. The tenant may pay or vacate within 14 days; otherwise the landlord may file.
Minn. Stat. Sec. 504B.161 imposes non-waivable covenants that the premises are fit for the intended use, kept in reasonable repair, and in compliance with health and safety laws, plus minimum 68-degree heat from October 1 to April 30. Tenants can enforce these through a rent escrow action (Sec. 504B.385) or a tenant remedies action (Sec. 504B.395).
Under Minn. Stat. Sec. 504B.211 a landlord must give reasonable notice of not less than 24 hours before entering a tenant's unit and may enter only for a reasonable business purpose. Entry is generally limited to 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. The tenant's right to prior notice cannot be waived, and emergency entry is allowed without notice.
Minn. Stat. Sec. 504B.177 caps late fees on residential rent at 8% of the overdue rent payment and allows a late fee only if landlord and tenant agreed to it in writing. The statute says a late fee may never exceed eight percent of the overdue rent, and the agreement must specify when the fee applies.
Under Minn. Stat. Sec. 504B.135, either party may end a tenancy at will with written notice at least as long as the rent interval or three months, whichever is less. For monthly rent that means one month's notice. A 2023 rule, Sec. 504B.147, bars the landlord from using shorter notice than the lease gives the tenant.
Minnesota has no rent control statute and no dollar cap on rent increases. A rent change on a month-to-month tenancy takes effect at a new term, so notice follows the termination rule in Sec. 504B.135. A 2023 protection, Sec. 504B.147, bars a rent-increase notice shorter than the period the lease gives the tenant to quit.
Minnesota sets no statutory cap on residential security deposits under Minn. Stat. § 504B.178. The landlord must return the deposit, plus 1% simple interest, within three weeks after the tenancy ends and after receiving the tenant's forwarding address, along with a written statement itemizing any withholding. Bad-faith retention exposes the landlord to penalty damages plus up to $500 punitive damages per deposit.
Minn. Stat. Sec. 541.02 sets a 15-year limitations period to recover real estate, the basis for adverse possession. For platted, taxed land the claimant must also have paid the property taxes for at least five consecutive years during the possession. The tax requirement does not apply to boundary-line disputes or land never assessed for taxes.
Minnesota's Fair Labor Standards Act in Minn. Stat. chapter 177 sets the state minimum wage but does not preempt local wage ordinances, allowing Minneapolis and Saint Paul to enforce higher local minimums.
Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law in Minn. Stat. 181.9445 to 181.9448 provides statewide accrual rights, while a separate state Paid Leave program under chapter 268B begins benefit payments in 2026.
Minnesota does not preempt local scheduling laws, allowing cities like Minneapolis to enforce predictive scheduling and wage theft ordinances on top of state wage standards in chapter 177.
Minnesota issues permits to carry pistols under the Minnesota Citizens' Personal Protection Act, codified at Minn. Stat. 624.714, with sheriffs administering shall-issue permitting for qualified applicants.
Minnesota statute 471.633 broadly preempts local firearms regulation, reserving authority over the lawful sale, transfer, possession, carrying, transportation, storage, and use of firearms to the state legislature.
Minnesota law treats open carry of a pistol the same as concealed carry, requiring a permit under Minn. Stat. 624.714, while long-gun open carry is generally lawful absent local discharge or trespass issues.
Minnesota requires a permit to carry a pistol on or about the person or in a vehicle under Minn. Stat. 624.714, with state preemption barring stricter local rules under Minn. Stat. 471.633.
Under the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act (Minn. Stat. Ch. 515B), an association gets an automatic lien for unpaid assessments. Section 515B.3-116 gives it a six-month super-priority over a first mortgage and lets it foreclose the lien like a mortgage by advertisement or by action.
The Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act requires open board meetings (Minn. Stat. § 515B.3-103), annual meetings with director elections (§ 515B.3-108), and gives owners broad access to association records (§ 515B.3-118), with only narrow exceptions for closed sessions.
Minnesota associations enforce the declaration, bylaws, and rules under the Common Interest Ownership Act. Minn. Stat. § 515B.3-102 lets the board adopt rules and regulations and enforce covenants and architectural standards through fines and liens, subject to notice-and-hearing due process.
Under the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act, an association may levy fines only after due process. Minn. Stat. § 515B.3-102(a)(11) lets it, "after notice and an opportunity to be heard," levy reasonable fines for violations. There is no fixed dollar cap — fines must simply be reasonable.
Minnesota law overrides HOA covenants in two areas. Minn. Stat. § 500.216 bars associations from prohibiting roof-mounted solar on qualifying single-family homes, and Minn. Stat. § 500.215 makes any HOA document limiting display of the U.S. or Minnesota flag "void and unenforceable."
Minnesota does not require private employers to use E-Verify, and the state has not enacted a general E-Verify mandate, leaving federal I-9 verification as the universal standard for hiring.
Minnesota's North Star Act, codified in Minn. Stat. 645.221 and related provisions enacted in 2023, limits state and local agency cooperation with federal immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant.
Minnesota agricultural zoning combines local authority under chapter 394 county planning with state feedlot rules in Minn. Stat. 116.07, while Right to Farm protections in 561.19 limit nuisance challenges.
Minnesota's Right to Farm law in Minn. Stat. 561.19 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits when they have operated for at least two years and comply with applicable laws.
Minnesota previously preempted local plastic bag bans under Minn. Stat. 325E.045, but the legislature repealed that preemption in 2023, allowing cities like Minneapolis to enforce bag fees and bans.
Minnesota does not impose a statewide polystyrene ban, but with auxiliary container preemption repealed, cities like Minneapolis and Saint Paul restrict expanded polystyrene foam food packaging.
Minnesota has no statewide plastic straw ban, but with the 2023 repeal of Minn. Stat. 325E.045 preemption, cities may impose upon-request rules and switch to compostable alternatives.
Minnesota raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco and electronic delivery devices to 21 in 2020 through changes tied to Minn. Stat. 461.12 and 609.685, aligning with federal Tobacco 21 requirements.
Minnesota does not impose a statewide flavored tobacco ban, but Minn. Stat. 461.12 authorizes cities and counties to adopt stricter local rules including restrictions on menthol and flavored vape sales.
Minnesota requires a license to sell electronic delivery devices and tobacco products, with cities and counties issuing local licenses under Minn. Stat. 461.12 alongside state regulation of vape product registration.