Mechanical Amusement Devices

Saint Paul Legislative Code tit. XXIX, ch. 318

in effect

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 318.01 License required; definitions.

Sec. 318.01. - License required; definitions. No person shall own and allow to be operated for business purposes any coin-operated mechanical amusement device without a license. A coin-operated mechanical amusement device is hereby defined as any machine which, upon the insertion of a coin, token or slug, operates or may be operated by the public for use as a game, entertainment or amusement, which amusement device contains no automatic payoff device for the return of money, coins, checks, tokens or merchandise, or which provides no such payoff by any other means or manner. The term "coin-operated mechanical amusement device" shall include so-called pinball machines; music machines; coin-operated television units; motion picture machines; amusement rides, excepting those provided for under Chapter 317, pertaining to amusement rides of the type used at carnivals; table shuffleboard games or similar games of amusement for which a fee is charged to players for the playing thereof; and all other machines which, by the insertion of a coin or token, operate for the entertainment or amusement of the player, except weighing machines. (Code 1956, §§ 412.01, 412.02)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 318.02 Fee.

Sec. 318.02. - Fee. The fee required for licenses defined under this chapter shall be established by ordinance as provided in section 310.09(b) of the Legislative Code. (Code 1956, § 412.03; Ord. No. 16784, 4-30-81; Ord. No. 16883, 2-11-82; Ord. No. 17891, § 1, 11-21-91; C.F. No. 95-1268, § 1, 11-8-95)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 318.03 Application.

Sec. 318.03. - Application. The application shall include, in addition to other required information, a list of the locations where the applicant proposes to install and operate such machines, the kind and number thereof, and the address of the place where the machines are to be stored. All applications shall contain a statement of the list price of such machines. (Code 1956, § 412.03)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 318.04 License tags; no transfer; removal.

Sec. 318.04. - License tags; no transfer; removal. (a) The licensee shall receive, in addition to the license, one (1) annual license tag for each machine he is licensed to own, which tag shall be displayed upon the machine in a prominent place. Such license tags must be secured and affixed to the machines before machines are set up for operation by the public. It shall be the responsibility of licensee to obtain and affix such tags to said machines. (b) No license issued hereunder may be transferred, but a machine with license tag affixed may be moved by the owner from one (1) location to another; provided, however, that the owner shall notify the inspector in writing at least five (5) days before the move to the new location, advising him of the name and address of the new location; and, further provided, that in the event the inspector notifies the owner that the intended location is not properly licensed if a license is required, is in violation of zoning, health, fire or other codes, or is otherwise unlawfully existing or operated, then the owner shall not move any machines to that location until the inspector advises that the illegality has been removed. (Code 1956, § 412.03; Ord. No. 17134, 5-10-84)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 318.05 No refund upon revocation; confiscation of unlicensed machines.

Sec. 318.05. - No refund upon revocation; confiscation of unlicensed machines. Upon revocation of a license provided for herein, no refund shall be made of any portion of the license fee. The inspector shall confiscate any machine set up for operation by the public if the same is not properly licensed or is operated by an owner or operator not licensed for said purpose. (Code 1956, § 412.03)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 318.06 Gambling prohibited.

Sec. 318.06. - Gambling prohibited. Neither any person licensed under these chapters nor any employee of any such licensee shall permit to be operated in any such licensee's place of business any such machine or device for the making of side bets or gambling in any form. (Code 1956, § 412.06)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 318.07 Loud music prohibited; hours of operation.

Sec. 318.07. - Loud music prohibited; hours of operation. No licensee shall permit the operation of a music machine upon his premises in such manner that the music is audible in adjoining premises to the disturbance of the residents of such premises between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. on weekdays; provided, however, that the operation of such machines is permitted from 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays until 2:00 a.m. on Sundays, and, further, that no licensee shall permit the operation of any music machine in any manner between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays, nor on Sundays from 2:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. (Code 1956, § 412.07)

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_CH318MEAMDEFetched: 11/1/2026