Title
Amending Chapters 60, 61, 63, 65, 66, and 67 of the Legislative Code to correct errors, and to update and clarify language.
Body
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Zoning Code, found in chapters 60 through 69 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, is established to promote and to protect the public health, safety, morals, aesthetics, economic viability and general welfare of the community; and
WHEREAS, Section 61.801(a) of the Zoning Code calls for periodic review of said code to reflect current city policies and bring the zoning code up-to-date; and
WHEREAS, on August 28, 2026, the Saint Paul Planning Commission initiated a zoning study to correct minor text errors and clarify language regarding a variety of topics in the Saint Paul Zoning Code; and
WHEREAS, a zoning study, including proposed amendments and a memorandum containing analysis, was prepared, dated August 20, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on October 9, 2026 regarding the potential amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, having reviewed the public hearing testimony and the August 20, 2026 memorandum, finds the proposed text amendments to be supported by the policies of the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2026, the Planning Commission, based on the staff memorandum and all the testimony received from the public hearing, duly submitted its recommendation to amend certain sections of the Zoning Code to the Mayor and City Council for its review and consideration; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing before the City Council having been duly conducted at which all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard, and having considered all the testimony and recommendations concerning the proposed zoning text amendments, including the Planning Commission resolution and memorandum and their rationale for the recommended Zoning Code amendments which the Council finds persuasive and thus hereby incorporates by reference into this ordinance for the specific purpose of articulating the Council’s reasons and rationale for enacting the recommended amendments as set forth below in Section 1, in addition to any other reasons the Council might articulate on the record in adopting these amendments the Council, having considered all the facts and recommendations concerning the proposed zoning amendments and pursuant to the authority granted by and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Minnesota Statutes Sec. 462.357 states as follows:
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION 1 Chapters 60, 61, 63, 65, 66, and 67 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code are hereby amended to read as follows:
Existing language to be deleted shown by strikeout. New language shown by underlining.
Sec. 60.217. P.
Pervious pavement. Paving material that allows water to flow thoughthrough it to minimize stormwater runoff.
Sec. 60.223. V.
Variance. A modification or variation of the literal provisions and requirements of the zoning code where it is determined that strict enforcement would cause practical difficulties due to exceptional circumstances unique to the property. There are two (2) categories of variances:
(1) Minor variance. A modification of a provision regulating a one-family detached dwelling and pertaining specifically to construction of a fence, a deck, a swimming pool, an accessory building, or an addition to the main building when the addition is not designed to convert the building for use by more than one (1) familyhousehold.
(2) Major variance. A modification of a provision regulating any development not specifically included in the definition of minor variance. Major variance includes any modification allowing the construction or moving of a one-family detached dwelling or allowing the addition of a second dwelling unit.
Sec. 60.227. - Z.
Zoning committee. An advisory committee to the planning commission, established under section 107.03 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code.
Sec. 61.402. Site plan review by the planning commission.
(a) Plan to be submitted. A site plan must be submitted to and approved by the planning commission before a permit is issued for grading or the erection or enlargement of any building except for development of three (3) or fewer dwelling units, and including the following:
(14) Any filling, excavation, or tree removal, or common plan of development (as defined by the St. Paul Stormwater Management Design Standards Manual) that disturbs an area greater than ten thousand (10,000) square feet except the construction, installation or maintenance of public roads and public and private utilities.
(b) Site plan application:
(5) Alley access; notice. Where a site plan application review has been delegated to the zoning administrator and notification to adjacent property owners is required in section 63.310308, a notice shall be sent at least ten (10) days prior to a site plan review meeting by city staff to the applicant and owners of record of property located within three hundred fifty (350) feet of the proposed alley access. Notice shall be delivered either personally or by mail at the address of the owner contained in the records of the county department of property taxation.
Sec. 63.117. Vibration.
Every use in an IRIT or I1 district shall be so operated that ground vibration is not perceptible, without instruments, at any point on any boundary line of the lot on which the use is located. Uses in I2 and I3 districts creating intense earth-shaking vibrations, such as are created by heavy drop forges, shall be set back at least three hundred (300) feet from the boundary of a residence or business district and at least one hundred fifty (150) feet from an IRIT or I1 district unless such operation is controlled in such manner as to prevent transmission, beyond the lot lines, of vibration perceptible without instruments.
Sec. 63.118. Glare and heat.
Any operation in an IRIT or I1 district producing intense glare or heat shall be performed within a completely enclosed building in such a manner as not to create a public nuisance or hazard along any boundary line of the lot on which the use is located. Any operation in an I2 and I3 district producing intense glare or heat shall be performed within a completely enclosed building or within an enclosure in such a manner as not to create a public nuisance or hazard along any boundary line of the lot on which the use is located.
Sec. 63.212. - Electric vehicle parking.
For surface parking facilities with more than fifteen (15) parking spaces that require site plan review per section 63.202, electric vehicles shall be accommodated as follows:
(a) If intended to serve any use that do not include a multifamily dwelling, at least twenty (20) percent of the facility's parking spaces must have an electrical conduit or raceway connection to electrical service with sufficient panel space reserved that is capable of operating at Level 2 (two hundred eight (208) volts) or greater power.
(b) If intended to serve any use that includes a multifamily dwelling, at least eighty (80) percent of the facility's parking spaces must have an electrical conduit or raceway connection to electrical service with sufficient panel space reserved that is capable of operating at Level 2 (two hundred eight (208) volts) or greater power.
(c) Additionally, for surface parking facilities with more than thirty (30) spaces that require site plan review per section 63.202, and that are intended to serve any use that includes a multifamily dwelling, at least one (1) of the spaces per each thirty (30) must be served by installed wiring in electrical conduit or raceway, and electrical service sufficient to supply electric vehicle charging at a minimum of two hundred eight (208) volts power level. Such space may or may not include the associated above-ground charging equipment for charging an electric vehicle. Such spaces may or may not include the associated above-ground charging equipment for charging an electric vehicle.
A parking lot reconstruction that is not associated with a larger project may comply with this section only within the surface parking facility footprint, and does not need to comply with this section to the extent it would require work outside the surface parking facility footprint.
Conduit and raceway required above shall be installed in accordance with the Minnesota State Building Code and National Electrical Code, including with regard to sizing and location, and shall be capped. The amounts of electric vehicles parking infrastructure for structured parking shall be as directed by the Minnesota State Building Code.
Sec. 65.131. Housing for the elderly.
A multiple-family structure in which eighty (80) percent of e the occupants shall be sixty-two (62) years of age or over, or a multiple-family structure owned and operated by the city public housing agency (PHA) within which over ninety-five (95) percent of the units have no more than one bedroom and are occupied by persons who are eligible for admission to public housing in accordance with current federal regulations.
Sec. 65.155. - Foster home.
A dwelling unit in which a foster care program licensed by the commissioner of human services or the commissioner of corrections is operated, whether located in the principleprincipal residence of the license holder or not.
Sec. 65.160. - Shelter for battered persons.
One (1) main building, or portion thereof, on one (1) zoning lot where adults and children who have suffered assault or battery live on a 24-hour-per-day basis for a period of time generally not to exceed thirty (30) days and are served by a program certified by the state department of corrections.
Sec. 65.706. Auto sales and rental, outdoor.
Outdoor sales space for the sale or rental of new, secondhand, or pawned automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, or boats.
Standards and conditions:
a. A site plan shall be submitted showingthat includes the layout of the vehicles for sale or rent, employee parking, and customer parking. The lot or area shall be provided with a permanent, durable and dustless surface, and shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of all surface water accumulated within the area.
Sec. 65.847. - Solid waste compost facility.
A site that has been approved by the city, the county and the state pollution control agency (based on Minnesota Rules Section 7035.2835) for the storage, transfer or composting of specifically identified types of solid waste materials.
Sec. 65.921. - Solar energy system.
Standards and conditions:
(a) Building mounted systems shall be subject to the dimensional standards that apply to the building, except that roof-mounted systems that are more or less flush-mounted may extend to the roof edge and may be affixed to roofs with legal nonconforming setbacks, and provided that the height standards for building mounted systems in residential districts shall be as follows:
(1) The system shall extend no more than three (3) feet above the surface of a roof at its exterior perimeter, and shall be set back at least one (1) foot from the exterior perimeter for every additional foot that the system extends above the height of the roof at its exterior perimeter;
(2) The system may extend up to three (3) feet above the ridge of a gable, gambrel, hip or mansard roof.
Sec. 66.101. Use tables.
Use tables in this chapter list permitted and conditional uses in the primary underlying zoning districts, and note applicable development standards and conditions.
b. Prohibited uses. Any use not listed as either "P" (permitted) or "C" (conditional) in a particular district, or any use not determined by the planning commission or zoning administrator to be substantially similar to a listed permitted or conditional use, shall be prohibited in that district.
c. Prohibited uses. Any use not listed as either "P" (permitted) or "C" (conditional) in a particular district, or any use not determined by the planning commission to be substantially similar to a listed permitted or conditional use, shall be prohibited in that district.
d. Development standards. Permitted and conditional uses specified with a "✓s" in the development standards column shall be subject to the specific standards and conditions of chapter 65, land use definitions and development standards, in addition to all other applicable provisions of this ordinance.
Sec. 67.102. SFV state fair vending overlay district.
e. Sales and displays of merchandise, goods and services temporarily permitted. Notwithstanding any provision of section 66.221 to the contrary, the front yard, as defined in section 60.226.Y, of a property with the SFV overlay overlay district as well as the side and rear yards of the properties located at the southeast corner of Snelling Avenue and Hoyt Avenue and the northeast corner of Snelling Avenue and Midway Parkway, may be used for the display, exhibition, or sale of certain merchandise, goods or services only during the period of the annual "Minnesota State Fair" conducted by the state agricultural society pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 37.15.
Sec. 67.208. Replacement of trees.
(d) Deciduous replacement trees. Deciduous replacement trees of nursery stock shall be at least two and one-half (2 ½) caliper inches, of a species similar to the tree(s) lost or removed, and meet the standards in section 63. 106115, landscaping and plant materials. At the discretion of the superintendent of parks, coniferous trees may replace deciduous trees that are lost or removed.
(e) Coniferous replacement trees. Coniferous replacement trees shall be at least six (6) feet in height, of species similar to the tree(s) lost or removed, and meet the standards in section 63.106115, landscaping and plant materials.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days from and after its passage, approval and publication.