Saint Paul offers density, height, and parking-reduction bonuses for projects providing affordable housing, supporting the Comprehensive Plan 2040 goal of housing along transit and in mixed-use districts.
Under Title VIII, qualifying affordable housing projects can receive bonuses including reduced minimum lot area per unit, additional height of one to two stories, and waivers of off-street parking minimums in T-districts. The 2021 inclusionary housing ordinance separately requires affordability set-asides in larger residential developments, with bonuses calibrated to depth and duration of affordability. Projects must record covenants enforceable by the Department of Planning and Economic Development, ensuring units stay affordable for decades.
Failure to maintain promised affordability triggers covenant enforcement, possible recapture of bonus value, and zoning violations for properties exceeding base entitlements without active affordable units.
Saint Paul, MN
Saint Paul implements neighborhood-level zoning through small area plans and Green Line LRT station area plans adopted as chapters of the Comprehensive Plan ...
Saint Paul, MN
Saint Paul applies Traditional Neighborhood and Mixed-Use districts along the Metro Transit Green Line LRT to encourage dense, walkable, transit-oriented hou...
See how Saint Paul's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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