Saint Paul Legislative Code § 340.01 License required.
Sec. 340.01. - License required.
No person shall engage in or carry on in Saint Paul the occupation of mercantile broker without a license.
(Code 1956, § 359.01)
Mercantile Broker
Saint Paul Legislative Code tit. XXIX, ch. 340
in effectSaint Paul Legislative Code § 340.02 Definition; exemptions.
Sec. 340.02. - Definition; exemptions.
(a) "Mercantile broker" means and includes any person who through himself or any agent or agents, for commission or compensation of any type, kind or nature, engages in and carries on the business of selling, trading, exchanging or negotiating for the sale, trade or exchange of mercantile or merchandise business of any kind or description, or engages in the business of acting as an intermediary between buyer and seller of business in consideration of a brokerage fee or commission or compensation for the sale of the business or merchandise. The term shall include salesmen or agents of such mercantile brokers who shall also be licensed under this chapter.
(b) The term "mercantile broker," as used herein, shall not include an executor, administrator or guardian selling or purchasing for an estate, a receiver appointed by law, nor a trustee in bankruptcy acting pursuant to order of court. The term also shall not include any person engaged solely in the business of selling or purchasing real estate, i.e., land or structures or both. Any real estate broker who maintains an office in Saint Paul and has so maintained his office for a period of at least three (3) years prior to the passage of this chapter, and who does not accept a listing or advance fee as provided in section 340.06, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
(Code 1956, § 359.02)
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 340.03 Jurisdiction of city.
Sec. 340.03. - Jurisdiction of city.
Any person shall be deemed to be carrying on the occupation of mercantile or merchandise broker in the City of Saint Paul if he maintains an office in the city from which such occupation is carried on and if he causes advertising to be published in connection with such business in publications circulating in the city, or by radio, or by television broadcasts distributed by stations whose programs are broadcast in the city; or by means of circulars distributed within the city, or if such person enters into any listing agreement, exclusive or nonexclusive, for the sale or exchange of, or sells or exchanges or negotiates for the sale or exchange of any mercantile or merchandise business located within the city.
(Code 1956, § 359.07)
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 340.04 Fee.
Sec. 340.04. - Fee.
The fee required is as set forth in Saint Paul Legislative Code section 310.18
(Code 1956, § 359.04; Ord. No. 16883, 2-11-82; C.F. No. 03-110, § 1, 3-5-03)
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 340.05 Record of sale.
Sec. 340.05. - Record of sale.
Each mercantile broker shall, at the completion of each sale, file with the inspector the name and address of the purchaser and the name and address of the business sold, traded or exchanged.
(Code 1956, § 359.04)
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 340.06 Regulations—Listing fees.
Sec. 340.06. - Regulations—Listing fees.
Any mercantile broker who receives a listing fee or retainer, and represents and agrees that a portion of such fee will be spent in advertising the property so listed, must spend a minimum of fifty (50) percent of said listing fee for that purpose. At the termination of the listing arrangement or within ninety (90) days from the date thereof, if no termination date is specified in the listing arrangement, he must refund to the customer the difference between the amount actually spent in advertising and the minimum herein set forth for that purpose.
(Code 1956, § 359.08)
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 340.07 Required data in advertisement.
Sec. 340.07. - Required data in advertisement.
No mercantile broker, as the term is herein used, shall advertise the selling, trading, exchanging or negotiating for the sale, trade or exchange of any mercantile or merchandise business unless his name and address, together with the term "Licensed Mercantile Broker" and his license number shall appear in the advertisement. Every advertisement must contain the name of the state and the portion thereof in which the business is located and either the total selling price or the amount of cash down payment.
(Code 1956, § 359.06)
Source: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, City Charter, Legislative Code and Administrative Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITXXIXLI_CH340MEBRFetched: 11/1/2026