64.200. ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Saint Paul Legislative Code tit. VIII, ch. 64, art. II

in effect

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 64.201 Duties of zoning administrator.

Sec. 64.201. - Duties of zoning administrator. (a) The zoning administrator shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and any amendment thereto and shall have the power to certify zoning compliance and sign permits, and to make inspections of buildings or premises necessary to carry out his duties in the enforcement of this chapter. (b) Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter, or whenever the zoning administrator or his authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists any sign or any condition which makes such sign unsafe or violative of this chapter, the zoning administrator or his authorized representative may enter the premises or building on which such sign is located, at all reasonable times, to inspect the sign or to perform any function or duty required of the zoning administrator by this chapter; provided, that if such a building or premises on which the sign is located is occupied, he shall first present proper credentials and demand entry; and if such building or premises is unoccupied, he shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises and demand entry. If such entry is refused, the zoning administrator or his authorized representative shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry. (c) No owner or occupant or any other person having charge, care or control of any building or premises shall fail or neglect, after proper demand is made as herein provided, to promptly permit entry therein by the zoning administrator or his authorized representative for the purpose of inspection of signs and those conditions rendering such signs unsafe pursuant to this chapter. Any person violating this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (d) The zoning administrator shall not issue any sign permits that do not conform to this chapter. (e) The zoning administrator shall not grant any variances with respect to this chapter in carrying out his duties as zoning administrator. Variances may be granted by the board of zoning appeals. The zoning administrator shall grant a permit upon a finding of compliance with the conditions imposed by this chapter. (C.F. No. 05-632, § 1, 3-22-06; C.F. No. 07-1106, § 3, 12-12-07; Ord 14-37, § 1, 11-12-14)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 64.202 Licensing.

Sec. 64.202. - Licensing. (a) General. No person engaging in or seeking to engage in the business of erecting or installing, repairing, maintaining or constructing any sign or sign structure, or offering for rent any sign, within the limits of the city shall so operate without a sign contractor/operator license issued in accordance with the provisions of this section. If signs are offered for rent, the license application shall include the total number of sign(s) offered for rent in the city and, if any are attached to a stationary structure or object, a detailed list must be provided including the location, size, description and number of sign(s) at each location. (b) Procedure. The zoning administrator, upon a finding that the information on the application indicates that the applicant meets the minimum requirements of applicable laws, and attests to a general knowledge of the city's sign regulations, shall issue a license to the applicant. An applicant who believes he or she is wrongfully denied a license by the zoning administrator may appeal to the city council for a further determination of whether a license should be issued. (c) Place of business. No license shall be granted under the terms of this section to any person unless that person shall have and maintain a bona fide business address. The license certificate shall be kept at this address at all times, and the zoning administrator shall be notified of any change of business location to another address. (d) Bond requirements. (1) No license issued under the terms of this section shall become effective until the licensee shall have filed with the zoning administrator a surety bond in the sum of eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00) in favor of the city and conditioned that the city will be saved harmless from any loss, damage, costs or lawsuits by reason of improper or inadequate work performed by the holder of said license under the provisions of this chapter. Such bond shall be subject to approval as to form, execution and surety. Approved bonds shall remain in force for a period of time equivalent to the period of the license. (2) In lieu of the bond required in (1) above, the licensee may post a compliance bond with the state department of commerce, as set forth in Minn. Stat. 325E.58. (e) Fees. Any person fulfilling all qualifications and regulations stated herein and upon payment of a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) shall be issued a license under the provisions of this section. (f) Expiration and renewal of licenses: (1) All licenses shall expire on the first day of the last month of the calendar year of issuance unless sooner revoked or forfeited. If a license granted hereunder is not renewed previous to its expiration, then all rights granted by such after the expiration of the license shall be a violation of this chapter. (2) Renewal. Licenses may be renewed after the expiration date. (g) Revocation or suspension of licenses: The city council may suspend or revoke the license of any person licensed under this chapter through the adverse action process upon a finding of a violation of section 310.06, according to hearing procedures as defined in section 310.05. (C.F. No. 04-743, § 1, 9-1-04; C.F. No. 05-632, § 2, 3-22-06)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 64.203 Permits.

Sec. 64.203. - Permits. A permit shall be required for all exterior signs visible from a public right-of-way. (a) Application. Applications for sign and/or sign structure permits shall be submitted to the zoning administrator. Each application shall contain the names and addresses of the owners of the display structure and property; the address at which any signs are to be erected; the lot, block and addition at which advertising signs are to be erected and the street on which they are to front; a complete set of plans showing the necessary elevations, distances, size and details to fully and clearly represent the construction and placing of the display structure; and a fee as required under chapter 33.04. Structural plans are required for all freestanding signs greater than fifty (50) square feet. Permit applications for advertising signs along state trunk highways and interstate highways shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant has obtained a permit from the state for the advertising sign. (b) Consent. Applications for signs and/or sign structures erected, maintained or used for the public display of posters, painted signs or reading material shall be accompanied by an affidavit of a lease in force or deed indicating the consent of the owners of the property on which the display structure is to be erected. (c) Advertising sign bond: (1) The owner or persons in control of each and every advertising sign maintained within the limits of the city shall file a bond in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for each and every advertising sign. The bond shall be conditioned to indemnify and save the city harmless from all damages, costs and expenses, actions and causes of action that the city may incur or be liable to incur by reason of construction, maintenance or removal of any advertising sign. (2) In lieu of the two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) bond required above, the owner may provide a bond covering all advertising owned or in control of any person, firm or corporation which shall be in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) and shall be filed with the city. This bond shall be conditioned as stated above. (3) All bonds shall be kept in force as long as the advertising signs are maintained. If any of the bonds becomes discharged by reason of nonpayment, liability, lapse of time for any reason whatever, the same shall be renewed immediately. If the bonds are not renewed upon demand, the advertising signs for which said bonds were enacted may be summarily removed by the city. (Ord. No. 11-32, § 1, 12-14-11; Ord 14-37, § 1, 11-12-14)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 64.204 Exemptions.

Sec. 64.204. - Exemptions. (a) Signs of the city, county, state, and federal government and subdivisions and agencies thereof which give orientation, direction or traffic-control information shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter. (b) The following signs shall not require a permit. These exemptions shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance, and its compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance regulating the same. (1) The changing of the message on the display surface of signs that are designed to have changeable copy. (2) Signs six (6) square feet or less in area. (3) Lettering on motor vehicles when not utilized as a parked or stationary outdoor display sign. (4) Political signs. (5) Sports facility sponsorship signs. (6) Sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106 of this code. (C.F. No. 05-632, § 3, 3-22-06; Ord. No. 11-32, § 1, 12-14-11; Ord 19-27, 4-24-19)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 64.205 Abandoned signs.

Sec. 64.205. - Abandoned signs. Any business sign which advertises, identifies or pertains to an activity no longer in existence shall be removed by the owner of the property within thirty (30) days from the time the activity ceases existence by removing the sign face, painting the sign face a neutral color or installing blank sign face panels. This provision does not apply to seasonal activities during the regular periods in which they are closed. If the sign face is not re-used within one (1) year, the remaining sign structure must be removed unless the zoning administrator grants an extension subject to the owner submitting a statement of intent and a reasonable time line for re-use of the sign structure. (C.F. No. 05-632, § 4, 3-22-06)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 64.206 Inspection and removal.

Sec. 64.206. - Inspection and removal. (a) All signs requiring a permit shall be inspected by the zoning administrator. The sign installer shall notify the zoning administrator at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the installation of the sign. (b) Footing inspections may be required by the zoning administrator for all signs having footings. (c) All signs containing electrical wiring shall be subject to the provisions of the electrical code, and the electrical components used shall bear the label of an approved testing agency. (d) The zoning administrator may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with provisions of this chapter, provided he has sent a letter specifying the grounds for removal to the permittee giving the latter ten (10) days in which to appear before the zoning administrator to show cause why the sign could not be removed. (e) All signs may be reinspected at the discretion of the zoning administrator.

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 64.207 Variances.

Sec. 64.207. - Variances. Applications for variance from the strict enforcement of the provisions of this chapter shall be filed and reviewed according to the provisions in chapter 61, administration and enforcement. In addition to the requirements for variances in section 61.601, the applicant shall demonstrate that such variance is needed due to unusual conditions pertaining to sign needs for a specific building or lot, and that the sign would not create a hazard, would not be objectionable to adjacent property owners, would not adversely affect residential property through excessive glare and lighting, and would be in keeping with the general character of the surrounding area.

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_TITVIIIZOCO_CH64ZOCOIG_ARTII64.200.ADENFetched: 11/1/2026