Fuel Dealers—Solid Fuel

Saint Paul Legislative Code tit. XXIX, ch. 333

in effect

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.01 License required.

Sec. 333.01. - License required. No person shall sell or offer for sale in Saint Paul any fuel, or advertise or in any manner represent or hold himself out as one who sells or offers for sale at retail any fuel, without a license; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to persons employed as solicitors or salesmen for fuel dealers duly licensed under this chapter; provided, further, that this section shall not apply to establishments licensed as Class A1 grocery stores under Chapter 331 which sell firewood. (Code 1956, § 353.02)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.02 Definitions.

Sec. 333.02. - Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except in those cases where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) Fuel means and includes coal, lignite, briquets, coke, firewood and other solid matter commonly used for heating purposes. (2) Registered scale means and includes every motor truck scale or wagon scale duly designated as a "registered scale" by certificate issued by the inspector. (3) Registered weigher means and includes every person duly qualified and acting as a "registered weigher" under certificate of registration issued by the inspector. (4) Fuel dealer means and includes every person who sells or offers for sale at retail any fuel to consumers, or who holds himself out to the public as one who sells or offers for sale any fuel at retail to consumers, or who physically handles and delivers any fuel sold or to be sold at retail to any consumer, but shall not include persons employed as solicitors or salesmen for fuel dealers duly licensed under this chapter. (Code 1956, § 353.01)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.03 Fee.

Sec. 333.03. - Fee. The fee required is as set forth in Saint Paul Legislative Code section 310.18. (Code 1956, § 353.04; C.F. No. 03-107, § 1, 3-5-03)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.04 Application; insurance or bond.

Sec. 333.04. - Application; insurance or bond. The following provisions shall apply to the application and insurance or bonding requirements for solid fuel dealers: (1) The application shall state the location of all fuel storage yards of the applicant. (2) By reason of the fact that licensees hereunder, in addition to using the public streets and alleys, are required, from time to time, to drive upon private property in making deliveries, therefore, each licensee hereunder shall be insured with an insurance company, authorized to do business in the State of Minnesota, against loss in the sum of at least five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for each delivery vehicle used in his business, against liability imposed by law on account of damage to or destruction of property by reason of the ownership or operation of any such fuel delivery vehicle, or in lieu of such insurance each licensee hereunder may furnish and file with the inspector a surety bond running to the City of Saint Paul in the penal sum of at least five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) approved as to form by the city attorney, conditioned that said licensee shall pay any and all final judgments rendered against said licensee on account of any such damage to private or public property occasioned during the period of the license. The policy or policies evidencing such insurance, or the surety bond required hereby, shall in each case be filed by the licensee with the inspector. (3) Any person, firm or corporation who has for a period of three (3) years been a licensed fuel dealer, and who has never violated any of the provisions of this or any prior ordinance covering a similar subject, and who is unable to obtain insurance or a bond as provided by this section, may obtain a license hereunder upon furnishing satisfactory proof of his inability to obtain such insurance or bond. A license issued under this chapter shall be construed to provide that if the licensee or any other person, firm or corporation who delivers coal for said license shall fail to pay a judgment for any damage which would have been covered by such insurance or bond within thirty (30) days after such judgment is entered, in that event, such license would become subject to revocation by the council. (Code 1956, §§ 353.03, 353.05, 353.06)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.05 Sales certificate.

Sec. 333.05. - Sales certificate. (a) In all sales of any kind of fuel regardless of quantity, a sales certificate as required by the terms of this chapter and in form approved by the inspector, shall be delivered to the purchaser at the time of delivery of said fuel, whether the same be delivered by the vendor or hauled or carried by the vendee. Each certificate required by this chapter shall be numbered serially, and each duplicate or copy thereof shall bear the same number as the original. In all cases where fuel is sold by weight, such certificate shall state in writing thereon the gross, tare and net weights of the fuel so delivered, together with the name and address of the vendee thereof. (b) Each licensee hereunder shall furnish to the driver of the vehicle in which fuel is being delivered a sales certificate for each delivery of fuel on the vehicle, said sales certificate to be signed by the registered weigher who weights or measures such fuel. The licensee shall be responsible for the delivery of said certificate to the purchaser. (c) The sales certificate for any delivery of fuel shall be shown to the inspector by the dealer or driver whenever requested and may be retained by him at his discretion, in which case a copy of same showing the same information as contained on the original certificate and shall be issued by the person retaining the original certificate and be delivered in place of the original. The inspector shall have the right to inspect or re-weigh any load or intended delivery of fuel, and at his request the driver shall proceed with the vehicle to any registered scale directed by the inspector for the purpose of checking the weight before and after making the delivery. (d) Said sales certificate, at the time of delivery of said fuel, shall be delivered by the driver to the vendee or his agent or some competent person in charge of or residing at the place of delivery or, in the absence of all of them, left at said place of delivery. (e) Every licensed dealer in all cases of sales of fuel to another dealer for delivery to a consumer, upon the certificate of the vendee in such sales, shall print, write or stamp upon the certificate to be delivered to the consumer, as herein required, the number of the sales certificate and the license number of the dealer who makes such sale to such other dealer for delivery by him to a consumer. (Code 1956, § 353.07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.06 Identification of fuel sold.

Sec. 333.06. - Identification of fuel sold. In the case of any sale or delivery of coal, coke, lignite, briquets or similar fuel, the sales certificate shall state, in addition to the gross, tare and net weights, the true name, size and grade thereof, as well as the trade name, if any, be used, together with the name of the state or mining district where the fuel was mined or manufactured. In the sale of a mixture of fuel, such certificate shall give the above-mentioned information as to true name, size and origin of each constituent part of the mixture and shall also state the amount and weight of each constituent part of the mixture. (Code 1956, § 353.08)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.07 Weighing required.

Sec. 333.07. - Weighing required. No person shall sell any firewood without first having the same weighed or measured by a registered weigher. In all such sales, the certificate shall state whether the firewood is "seasoned" or "green," together with a true statement of the quantity or weight of such firewood, the date of such measurement or weighing, and the name and address of the vendee. (Code 1956, § 353.09)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.08 "Cord" defined.

Sec. 333.08. - "Cord" defined. In all sales of firewood or wood by measurement, the term "cord" shall mean one hundred twenty-eight (128) cubic feet of wood in four-foot lengths, and if the sale is of "sawed" wood, a cord shall mean one hundred ten (110) cubic feet when ranked, or one hundred sixty (160) cubic feet when thrown irregularly or loosely into a conveyance for delivery to the vendee. If the sale is of "sawed and split" wood, a cord shall mean one hundred twenty (120) cubic feet when ranked, and one hundred seventy-five (175) cubic feet when thrown loosely into a conveyance for delivery. The term "stove cord" shall not be used in any sale of firewood or wood in any advertisement thereof. (Code 1956, § 353.10)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.09 Records.

Sec. 333.09. - Records. Every licensed fuel dealer shall and he hereby is required to keep a complete record in writing, at his principal place of business, of all sales and deliveries of fuel for the period of at least six (6) months from and after the date of all such sales and deliveries of fuel, which record shall at all reasonable times be subject to inspection and examination by the inspector or his duly appointed deputies, and it shall be the duty of every licensee hereunder and of every person delivering fuel to display and keep displayed at all times, in a prominent place on each side of the vehicle used for such deliveries, the name of the licensee, which shall be printed in plain letters not less than five (5) inches in height, and to keep such printed name in such condition that the same may be at all times readily distinguishable. He shall also provide and keep securely fastened on each side of each vehicle a metal plate upon which shall be stamped or printed the number of his license and the year for which issued in letters not less than three (3) inches in height, such metal plate to be kept in such condition that the license number and year for which it was issued may at all times be readily distinguishable. (Code 1956, § 353.11)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.10 Registered weighers.

Sec. 333.10. - Registered weighers. (a) Each registered weigher is hereby authorized and empowered, in conformance with the authority conferred upon him by his certificate of registration issued by the inspector, to measure or weigh all fuel sold or delivered to consumers within the corporate limits of Saint Paul and to issue measurement or weight certificates in each instance in form prescribed herein and subject to the approval of said inspector. Such registered weigher shall be some competent employee of such dealer, or a dealer, and the inspector shall have the power to revoke the appointment of any registered weigher when in his opinion such weigher is incompetent or unsuitable to discharge his duties. The same person may serve as a registered weigher for one (1) or more licensed dealers. (b) It shall be the duty of each registered weigher to report to the inspector any violation of this chapter within twenty-four (24) hours after such violation has come to his attention. The appointment of any such registered weigher who fails to make such report may, at the discretion of said inspector, be revoked. It shall be unlawful for any registered weigher to issue or sign any certificate required by this chapter if the same contains any false, untrue or misleading statements as to any facts required to be stated thereon. It shall be unlawful for any fuel dealer licensed hereunder to suffer, permit or allow any certificate required by this chapter to be signed or issued by a registered weigher or to be delivered to the vendee or the person as required herein if the same contains any false, untrue or misleading statement as to any facts required to be stated thereon. (Code 1956, § 353.12)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 333.11 Advertisements.

Sec. 333.11. - Advertisements. (a) Every advertisement or offer to sell coal, coke, lignite, briquets or any combination or mixture of any thereof shall contain the true, full and complete name and address of the advertiser; a true statement of the name, origin, grade, quality, characteristics, kind and size of the fuel; and, if a mixture or combination, a like true statement as to each constituent part thereof, together with a statement of the amount or percentage of each constituent part of such combination or mixture in relation to the total amount thereof; and shall specify the mining district and the state in which the same was mined or manufactured, and the use of a trade name to describe any such fuel is hereby prohibited in any such advertisement unless the same also contains the further information required in this section. In all such advertisements the names of the states or places where the fuel is mined or manufactured shall be described plainly, and the following abbreviations only shall be used: Ark., Col., No. Dak., So. Dak., Ind., So., Cent., or No. Ill., Iowa, East or West Ky., Mich., Missouri, Mont., Ohio, Okla., Penn., Tenn., Virginia, West Va., Wis., and Minn. All sizes must be described in such advertisement as follows: Lump | (Show size) Egg | " | " Stove | " | " Nut | " | " Pea | " | " Buckwheat Mine Run Dock Run Screenings | " | " Stoker Screenings | " | " Dust or Breeze No abbreviations of the above may be used. (b) The description of the mining district or origin and size shall appear only immediately before or immediately following the description of the place and kind of said fuel. (c) No dealer in any such advertisement shall use such terms as "Pocahontas—all sizes," "L. E. St. N. P. Scgs." or "Furnace size." No bituminous coal or lignite shall be advertised as smokeless, sootless, no soot, ashless or clinkerless. The term "dustless" may be used only when the coal has been specifically treated to allay dust. (d) The term "anthracite" shall not be used in advertising any but Pennsylvania hard coal. In advertising semianthracite coal, that term must be used without abbreviation. The term "advertisement" shall include any and all forms of advertising including price lists. (e) In any advertisement for sale of wood or firewood, the same shall contain a statement as to whether such wood or firewood is "dry" or "green" and the term "dry" shall be construed to mean seasoned wood. (Code 1956, § 353.13)

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_CH333FUDEOLFUFetched: 11/1/2026