Title
Amending Chapter 63 of the Legislative Code pertaining to salt storage regulation.
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, legislative language regulating salt storage practices is required by the City of Saint Paul’s Municipal Separated Sanitary and Storm Sewer (“MS4”) Permit, issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Planning Commission, in their Resolution 26-11, initiated a zoning study relating to salt storage regulations; and
WHEREAS, a zoning study, including proposed amendments and a memorandum containing analysis, has been prepared on the topic of salt storage regulations in the zoning code, titled the Salt Storage Ordinance Study; and
WHEREAS, in a memo dated March 20, 2026, staff submitted a report to the Planning Commission in which recommendations and a rationale for amending specific sections of the Zoning Code were set forth: and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on May 1, 2026 regarding the potential amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Planning Commission, having reviewed the public hearing testimony and the March 20, 2026 memorandum, finds the proposed text amendments to be supported by the policies of the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2026, the Planning Commission, based on the staff’s memorandum and all the testimony received from the public hearing, duly submitted its recommendation to amend certain sections of the Zoning Code regarding salt storage regulation 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 the staff 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 Chapter 63 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
Existing language to be deleted is shown by strikeout. New language to be added is shown by underlining.
Sec. 63.123 - Salt Storage at Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Facilities.
(a) Purpose. Negative environmental impacts may occur when salt and other deicers are not properly stored and transported. Proper utilization and management of deicing materials is critical to reduce environmental impacts of related practices to the maximum extent practicable.
(b) Definitions. The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Anti-icing. The application of a liquid deicer prior to the onset of a snow event.
Best Management Practice (BMP). Structural, vegetative, or managerial practices used to treat, prevent, or reduce pollution.
Bulk deicer storage. Storage of any material used for deicing and/or traction during winter conditions that is more than one ton in solid form (or 250 gallons in liquid form).
Deicer. Any substance used to melt snow and ice or used for its anti-icing effects.
Deicer truck. Any vehicle used in the application of deicer or anti-icing materials.
(c) Applicability. This section applies to all indoor and outdoor bulk deicer storage facilities (temporary or permanent) including salt piles, salt bag storage, sand piles, and other storage of deicing materials.
(d) General regulations.
(1) Indoor operations for the storage of deicing materials must be provided wherever possible in order to prevent such material from being affected by rain, snow, and melt water.
(2) All salt, sand, and other deicing materials stored outdoors must be covered at all times. When not using a permanent roof, a waterproof impermeable, flexible cover must be placed over all storage piles. The cover must
prevent runoff and leachate from being generated by the outdoor storage piles. The cover must be secured to prevent removal by wind or other storm events. Piles must be formed in a conical shape and covered as necessary
to prevent leaching. Deicer must be stored away from catch basins and other facilities conveying stormwater. Additional perimeter control may be required to ensure no deicing materials slough or are carried away by
stormwater.
(3) Storage facility siting.
a. The facility must be in close proximity to the area in which the deicing materials are to be used, if practical.
b. Each facility must be located outside of floodplains and at least 50 feet from lakes, rivers, streams, ditches, storm drains, manholes, catch basins, wetlands, and any other areas likely to absorb runoff. A facility must not be located in close proximity to surface water features, water supplies, wells or drywells.
c. A facility must be located on impermeable surfaces.
d. The property’s slope must be away from the facility’s salt, deicer, and sand storage area.
e. Salt vulnerable natural areas should be avoided as storage facilities to the extent possible. Where they cannot be avoided, specific measures should be instituted to protect vulnerable areas. Salt vulnerable areas
include, but are not limited to:
1. Areas with salt sensitive vegetation.
2. Areas serving as a source of drinking water (surface water and groundwater).
3. Areas with bodies of water with low dilution, low volume, or salt sensitive species.
4. Areas associated with groundwater recharge zones or shallow water table, with medium to high permeable soils.
f. On sites where siting a deicer storage facility is impacted by site limitations, permanent structural BMPs approved by the zoning administrator may grant allowance for deicing facility siting in regard to items a through e. The zoning administrator may grant the use of a permanent structural BMP as an exception to items a through e for deicing facility siting when compliance with items a through e is not practical because of site
limitations.
(4) Snow piles. Snow piles must be located downslope from salt and deicer storage areas to prevent the snow melt from flowing through storage areas and carrying material to the nearest drainage system or waterway.
(5) Deicer truck wash water. Deicer and salt-containing truck wash water must be captured, treated, and recycled for use as salt brine in pre-wetting and anti-icing activities. Should such facilities or re-use capabilities not exist, all deicer truck wash waters shall be directed to sanitary sewer.
(6) Transfer of materials. Practices must be implemented in order to reduce exposure (e.g. sweeping, diversions, and/or containment) when transferring salt or other deicing material.
(e) Penalty. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days from and after its passage, approval and publication.