Regulations generally.
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 409.08
in effectSec. 409.08. - Regulations generally.
All licensees hereunder are hereby required to observe the following regulations; provided, however that any such regulation which specifically refers to an on-sale licensee must not bind an off-sale licensee, nor must any regulation which specifically refers to an off-sale licensee bind an on-sale licensee:
(1) All sales must be made in full view of the public.
(2) A "minor," as used herein, is any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years.
a. No licensee, or agent or employee thereof, shall serve or dispense upon the licensed premises any intoxicating liquor to any minor; nor shall such licensee, agent or employee permit any minor to be furnished with or to consume any such liquor on the licensed premises; nor shall such licensee, agent or employee permit any minor to be delivered any such liquor.
b. No minor may misrepresent his or her age for the purpose of obtaining intoxicating liquor nor may they enter any premises licensed for the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for the purpose of purchasing or having served or delivered to him or her for consumption of any such intoxicating liquor or beer nor may any such person purchase, attempt to purchase, consume, or have another person purchase for him or her any intoxicating liquor or beer.
c. No minor shall induce any person to purchase, procure or obtain intoxicating liquor for him or her.
d. Proof of age for purposes of consuming, purchasing or possessing an alcoholic beverage, the consumption, sale or possession of which is regulated by age, may only be established by a valid driver's license or a Minnesota Identification Card issued pursuant to Minn. Stats. § 171.07, or, in the case of a foreign national, by a valid passport.
(3) No sale may be made in any place or in part of a building where such sales are prohibited by state law or this chapter.
(4) No person under eighteen (18) years of age may be employed in a place where intoxicating liquor is sold for consumption on the premises, except persons under eighteen (18) years of age may be employed as musicians or in bussing or washing dishes in a restaurant or hotel that is licensed to sell intoxicating liquor and may be employed as waiters or waitresses at a restaurant, hotel or motel where only wine is sold; provided, that the person under the age of eighteen (18) may not serve or sell any wine.
(5) Every licensee is hereby made responsible for the conduct of his place of business and required to maintain order and sobriety in such place of business.
(6) No licensee may keep, possess or operate, or permit the keeping, possession or operation of, on any licensed premises or in any room adjoining the licensed premises any slot machine, dice or any gambling device or apparatus, nor permit any gambling therein (whether or not licensed by the state), nor permit the licensed premises or any room in the same or in any adjoining building directly or indirectly under his or her control to be used as a resort for prostitutes or other disorderly persons, except that pull tabs, tip boards, paddlewheels and raffle tickets may be sold on licensed premises when such activity is licensed by the state pursuant to Minn. Stats. Ch. 349 and conducted pursuant to regulations contained in this Legislative Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a licensee may permit, for specific functions or events, up to five (5) times per calendar year, for which written notice is given to the department of safety and inspections at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance, the use of slot machines, dice and lawful gambling devices on the licensed premises if:
a. Their presence or use on the licensed premises does not violate state or federal law;
b. Their use is solely for social, recreational or amusement purposes, and not for fundraising of any kind or for any cause or purpose; and
c. No gambling other than lawful gambling takes place on the licensed premises;
d. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Legislative Code to the contrary, the council may permit an on-sale licensee to permit the holding of a single event, such as a banquet, that includes the sale of raffle tickets as a part of the event activity; provided, that such events are separate from the public areas of the licensed establishment, not open to the general public, and the raffle conducted by a charitable organization licensed by the State of Minnesota.
(7) No dancing wherein the public participates, and no dancing, singing or other vaudeville exhibitions or entertainment is permitted on the premises of any on-sale licensee unless such premises are duly licensed for entertainment. Each on-sale licensee shall be responsible for all entertainment of any kind that is provided on the licensed premises, and by others on property in the same building as the licensed premises which the on-sale licensee owns or has the right to control, when such property has been leased or otherwise made available to another (hereafter, "rental property"). Each such on-sale licensee shall take reasonable and adequate steps to prevent entertainment and other activities on the rental property from violating any provision of law including, but not limited to, the noise regulations in chapter 293 of the Legislative Code, and to prevent the conduct of persons present at or leaving the rental property from causing a nuisance in the community in the immediate area of the rental property. Such steps may include written lease agreements, conditions in each lease agreement for the rental property which require the provision of security guards, the limitation of the hours during which entertainment may take place, the termination of entertainment upon the receipt of two (2) or more noise complaints by the police, and consent for inspection of the rental property by the police or license division at times when the rental property is in use. Notwithstanding such steps, the on-sale licensee shall be subject to adverse action for entertainment and other activities taking place on the rental property or on the licensed premises which violate the provision of any law or ordinance, or which constitute a nuisance.
(8) The license issued to said licensee must be posted in a conspicuous place in that portion of the premises for which the license has been issued.
(9) No person may remain in or loiter in the parking lot of an on-sale licensee after the lawful closing hour.
(10) When a licensee is notified by the police department that a parade will be held within one (1) block of the licensee's establishment, all beer and all intoxicating liquor or liquid of any type sold during the entire day of said parade must be sold only in plastic or paper containers. In addition, upon receiving such notice, the licensee must place a person at each entrance and each exit of the establishment at least one (1) hour prior to the time of parade, and the licensee must require a person to remain at those locations until one (1) hour after the parade, to ensure that patrons do not enter or exit with beer or intoxicating liquor.
(11) When an existing building is converted to on-sale intoxicating liquor purposes, existing off-street parking facilities which serve the building must be provided with a visual screen where the parking facility adjoins or abuts across an alley any residential use or residential zoning district. The screen must be between four and one-half (4½) and six and one-half (6½) feet in height and of sufficient density to visually separate the parking facility from the adjacent residential use district. The screen may consist of various fence materials, earth berms, plant materials or a combination thereof. Access by patrons to the parking facility from an adjacent alley should generally be prohibited. This regulation does not apply to a license issued to a private nonprofit college.
(12) No person may give, sell, procure or purchase intoxicating liquor to or for any person to whom the sale of intoxicating liquor is forbidden by law.
(13) No person may mix or prepare intoxicating liquor for consumption, or consume it, in any public place not licensed in accordance with this Code and the state.
(14) No intoxicating liquor may be sold or consumed on a public highway or in an automobile.
(15) Each on-sale licensee has the responsibility of taking reasonable and adequate steps to prevent persons from leaving the licensed premises with a bottle, can or glass containing any alcoholic beverage, and the failure to do so may subject such licensee to adverse action against his or her license.
(16) No person, group or association applying for or holding a license under this chapter may restrict membership in its club or organization or restrict access to the licensed premises or any facilities of such person, group or association, on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status or status with respect to public assistance. This provision does not apply to any religious corporation, association or society with respect to membership or access based on religion, where religion is a bona fide qualification for membership or access. A violation of the foregoing constitutes sufficient grounds for adverse action against the license or license application, including revocation or denial of the license.
(17) An off-sale/brew pub, off-sale brewery and small brewer off-sale - 128 ounces licensee may only sell at off-sale during legal hours for off-sale at exclusive liquor stores, except that an off-sale brewery and small brewer off-sale - 128 ounces may sell at off-sale between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Sundays. The malt liquor sold off-sale must be removed from display at all times when off-sale is not authorized under this paragraph.
(18) An off-sale/brew pub and off-sale brewery must package the malt liquor in sixty-four-ounce containers commonly known as growlers, bearing a twist-type closure, cork, stopper or plug. At the time of the sale, a paper or plastic adhesive band, strip or sleeve must be applied to the container and extend over the top of the closure, forming a seal that must be broken upon opening of the strip. The band, strip or seal must bear the name and address of the brewer, and the container must be identified as malt liquor, contain the name of the malt liquor and bear the name and address of the brewer selling the malt liquor and must be considered intoxicating liquor unless otherwise labeled in accordance with Minnesota Rules, part 7515.1100.
(19) The total retail sales at on-sale or off-sale of a brewer licensed to sell at off-sale as an off-sale brew pub or an off-sale brewery may not exceed three thousand five hundred (3,500) barrels per year provided that off-sales may not total more than five hundred (500) barrels.
(20) No licensee may sponsor, advertise and/or host events for individuals under the age of twenty-one (21) such as "18 and up" nights, "college nights," "teen nights" or other such designations unless the events are held in a portion of the establishment where liquor, including 3.2 malt, is not consumed sold or served. The licensee will be responsible for ensuring that individuals under the age of twenty-one (21) who enter to attend such events cannot gain access to an area where liquor is sold, served, permitted or consumed. Any advertisements in connection with such events must contain disclaimers that the events will be in an alcohol-free area of the establishment and that alcohol will not be sold or served to anyone under the age of twenty-one (21).
(21) Licensees are responsible for ensuring that any individual under the age of twenty-one (21), other than an employee, who enters the establishment is present only for the purpose of consuming a meal or attending a social function open to the public held in a portion of the establishment where liquor is not sold, consumed, served or displayed. The requirements of this section do not apply to the River Centre complex, theaters or bowling alleys or social functions which are not open to the public.
(22) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (18), above, an establishment which holds an entertainment license may host up to twelve (12) live entertainment events annually at which individuals under the age of twenty-one (21) may be present, providing the establishment obtains a permit for such an event. A "live entertainment event" means live musical performances by individuals or groups. The fee for such license is set forth in Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.01. No more than twelve (12) permits may be issued to any licensee annually and no more than one (1) event may occur within three (3) weeks of another such event. A permit issued hereunder is not effective for any premises other than the licensed premises. Application for such permit must be made at least two (2) weeks prior to the event. Any person obtaining an eighteen (18) and up permit shall be required to have in place a system of checking identification and identifying with indelible marks or non-removable wristbands those patrons who are not yet twenty-one (21). At no time during an event authorized pursuant to this section are patrons be served more than one (1) alcoholic beverage per person from the bar, and servers will be required to independently verify that patrons have been carded for age prior to serving them alcoholic beverages. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the council or the department of safety and inspections may, at any time and with respect to any establishment, deny such request for a permit or place additional conditions on permits issue hereunder in order to protect the public peace, welfare and safety, so long as such conditions or prohibitions do not relate to the content of the entertainment. Appeal of the denial of a permit or the addition of conditions under this subdivision shall be to the city council and follow the procedures for notice and approval laid out in Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.02(2)(d).
(23) An off-sale micro distillery may only sell at off-sale during legal hours for off-sale at exclusive liquor stores, and the distilled spirits sold off-sale must be removed from display at all times when off-sale is not allowed under this paragraph.
(24) An off-sale micro distillery may not sell spirits at off-sale unless the brand is also available for distribution by wholesalers.
(25) No licensee of an exclusive liquor store which sells or displays any tobacco, tobacco-related device, electronic delivery device, or nicotine or lobelia delivery product as defined under section 324.03 may allow any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years of age to enter the store unless accompanied by an adult over the age of twenty-one (21).
(26) The holder of a Small Brewer off-sale - 128 ounces license must package the malt liquor in a container or a combination of containers permitted under Minnesota Statute 340A.29 or any subsequent amendments or renumbering thereto.
(27) Extended hours for on-sale during the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship. During the period beginning at 8:00 a.m. on December 24, 2025, and ending at midnight on January 6, 2026, License Holders of licenses issued under Chapter 409, notwithstanding more restrictive provisions and provided the License Holders comply with Minnesota Statutes, may: extend service of licensed alcoholic beverages until 2:00 a.m.; extend service of licensed alcoholic beverages to Sundays; and/or temporarily extend service of alcoholic beverages to areas outside the building structure that are immediately adjacent to and contiguous with the licensed premises. License Holders intending to utilize this extension must complete and submit the World Juniors extended-hours permit application, as issued by the department of safety and inspections, and the materials required by the application at least two (2) business days prior to the requested extension.
(Ord 22-47, § 11, 11-9-22; Ord. No. 25-70, § 2, 11-19-25)
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_CH409INLI_S409.08REGEFetched: 11/1/2026