Drinking on Streets and in Parks

Saint Paul Legislative Code tit. XXIV, ch. 246

in effect

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 246.01 Drinking on streets and in parks.

Sec. 246.01. - Drinking on streets and in parks. No person shall upon the public streets, lanes or alleys of the city, or in any park, playground or recreation center owned by or under the jurisdiction or control of the City of Saint Paul or in any parking lot or area within or adjacent to such park, playground or recreation center, or being a trespasser upon the private premises of another, drink or have in his/her possession in an opened container any intoxicating liquor, intoxicating malt liquor, nonintoxicating malt liquor or alcoholic beverage of any kind whatever. No person shall in any park, playground or recreation center owned by or under the jurisdiction or control of the City of Saint Paul or in any parking lot or parking area within or adjacent to such park, playground or recreation center, or being a trespasser upon the private premises of another, have in his possession any intoxicating liquor, intoxicating malt liquor, nonintoxicating malt liquor or alcoholic beverage of any kind whatever. No person shall have in his possession any intoxicating liquor, intoxicating malt liquor, nonintoxicating malt liquor or alcoholic beverage of any kind whatever upon any public street, lane or alley located within the boundaries of such a park, playground or recreation center; provided, however, that it shall be an affirmative defense that possession was for the purpose of transportation of such liquor or beverage through the park, playground or recreation center or to a designated shelter, facility or area as provided herein, and where such liquor or beverage is in an unopened container. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person may, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., within picnic shelters, facilities or areas within any park, playground or recreation center, which are designated for that purpose by the director of the department of parks and recreation or his delegate, drink or have in possession nonintoxicating malt liquor and intoxicating liquor which contains no more than five and one-half (5.5) percent alcohol by weight. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the director of the department of parks and recreation or his delegate may issue permits for the consumption of intoxicating liquor in Town Square Park and Phalen Park Clubhouse during hours in which the sale of liquor by the drink is permitted by state law. All permits shall be subject to regulations which have been proposed by the director of the department of parks and recreation and approved by the city council. Copies of the regulations shall be on file in the offices of the city clerk and the director of the department of parks and recreation. Such regulations may be amended by the council by resolution. (Ord. No. 17294, § 1, 10-3-85; C.F. No. 94-1033, § 4, 9-14-94; C.F. No. 95-795, § 4, 8-9-95; C.F. No. 97-603, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 97-625, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 01-375, § 1, 5-2-01; C.F. No. 01-375, § 1, 5-2-01; C.F. No. 09-81, § 12, 2-11-09; Ord 22-4, § 2, 1-26-22)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 246.02 Reserved.

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 246.03 Not applicable on licensed premises.

Sec. 246.03. - Not applicable on licensed premises. (a) This chapter shall not apply to or prohibit the sale, possession or consumption of such liquors or beverages on the premises of any establishment properly licensed under Chapter 409 or Chapter 410 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code. (b) Notwithstanding the prohibitions of section 246.01, the sale and service of alcoholic beverages within a sidewalk cafe by a food establishment, which is licensed as a restaurant under Chapter 331A of the Legislative Code and which is in compliance with the provisions of section 106.01 of the Legislative Code, is permitted. (c) The prohibitions of section 246.01 shall not apply to or prohibit the possession or consumption of nonintoxicating malt liquor, strong beer or wine purchased and consumed during a block party, festival or community event which has been duly licensed under Chapter 366 of the Legislative Code, when such possession or consumption occurs on a street which has been blocked off for the block party, festival or community event in the downtown business district, downtown entertainment district, the great lawn entertainment district or the creative enterprise zone entertainment district and the nonintoxicating malt liquor, strong beer or wine is purchased from a duly licensed vendor. (d) Notwithstanding the prohibitions of section 246.01, the director of the department of parks and recreation may authorize the sale or service of alcoholic beverages on property under its jurisdiction by either a person who is the holder of a state catering permit and who has complied with the provisions of Saint Paul Legislative Code § 409.01 or by the holder of a temporary wine and liquor license issued pursuant to § 409.25 or temporary 3.2 beer license issued pursuant to § 410.10, except that in no event can the prohibitions contained in section 246.05 be waived. Such sale or service must be in connection with an event of limited duration which has been approved by the director of parks and recreation and is subject to all other requirements and restrictions contained in Minn. Stat. Chapter 340A and Saint Paul Legislative Code Chapters 409 and 410. (C.F. No. 94-1033, § 4, 9-14-94; C.F. No. 95-795, § 4, 8-9-95; C.F. No. 97-603, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 97-625, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 01-375, § 2, 5-2-01; C.F. No. 02-710, § 1, 9-4-02; C.F. No. 03-371, § 1, 5-7-03; C.F. No. 09-81, § 12, 2-11-09; Ord 12-46, § 1, 9-12-12; Ord 19-50, § 2, 8-7-19; Ord 19-80, § 1, 1-22-20)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 246.04 Designation of permitted shelters, facilities and areas.

Sec. 246.04. - Designation of permitted shelters, facilities and areas. The director of the department of parks and recreation shall promulgate, by filing with the city clerk, a list or description of the picnic shelters, park facilities or park areas within which the possession and consumption of nonintoxicating malt liquor and intoxicating liquor which contains no more than five and one-half (5.5) percent alcohol by weight is permitted by this chapter between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., together with such maps or illustrations as may assist the public to comply with this chapter. The director shall also direct that appropriate signs be erected at locations in which the consumption and possession of nonintoxicating malt liquor and intoxicating liquor which contain no more than five and one-half (5.5) percent alcohol by weight is permitted. It shall not be a defense to a charge of violation of this chapter that such informational signs, maps or illustrations are defaced or removed from the shelters or facilities designated, so long as the list required by this section has been filed with the city clerk. (C.F. No. 94-1033, § 4, 9-14-94; C.F. No. 95-795, § 4, 8-9-95; C.F. No. 97-603, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 97-625, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 01-375, § 3, 5-2-01; C.F. No. 09-81, § 12, 2-11-09; Ord 22-4, § 3, 1-26-22)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 246.05 No consumption at any time in certain parks.

Sec. 246.05. - No consumption at any time in certain parks. The director of the department of parks and recreation shall not have the power to designate any shelter, facility or place within Hidden Falls Park or Crosby Lake Park for permitted possession or consumption of nonintoxicating malt liquor. No person shall at any time consume or possess any intoxicating liquor, intoxicating or nonintoxicating malt liquor, or alcoholic beverage of any kind in Hidden Falls Park or Crosby Lake Park. (C.F. No. 94-1033, § 4, 9-14-94; C.F. No. 95-795, § 4, 8-9-95; C.F. No. 97-603, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 97-625, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 09-81, § 12, 2-11-09)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 246.06 Definitions.

Sec. 246.06. - Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter: (1) The term "intoxicating liquor" and the term "intoxicating malt liquor" mean and include ethyl alcohol, distilled, fermented, spirituous, vinous or malt beverages containing in excess of three and two-tenths (3.2) percent of alcohol by weight or containing in excess of four (4.0) percent alcohol by volume. (2) The term "nonintoxicating malt liquor" means and includes any malt liquor containing not less than one-half of one percent (½ of 1%) of alcohol by volume nor more than three and two-tenths (3.2) percent of alcohol by weight. (3) The term "alcoholic beverage" means and includes any beverage containing ethyl alcohol in any quantity or amount. (4) The term "downtown business district" means and includes that portion of the City of Saint Paul lying within and bounded by the following streets: Beginning at the intersection of Shepard Road with Chestnut Street, Chestnut Street to Interstate Freeway 35E, Interstate Freeway 35E to Tenth Street, Tenth Street to Interstate Freeway 94, Interstate Freeway 94 to Lafayette Bridge, Lafayette Bridge to where the bridge crosses over Warner Road, Warner Road to the Wabasha Bridge, the Wabasha Bridge across the Mississippi River to the water line on the south bank of the river, thence in a westerly direction along the shore line to the point at which it intersects with "Line A," and then in a straight line across the Mississippi River to the intersection of Chestnut Street with Shepard Road. The location and legal description of "Line A" are set forth in the map attached hereto, and incorporated and adopted herein by reference. (5) The term "intoxicating liquor which contains no more than five and one-half (5.5) percent alcohol by weight" means and includes most beer, hard cider, hard seltzer, wine spritzers, wine coolers, and other intoxicating liquor beverages which do not exceed five and one half (5.5) percent alcohol by weight or seven (7) percent alcohol by volume. (C.F. No. 94-1033, § 4, 9-14-94; C.F. No. 95-795, § 4, 8-9-95; C.F. No. 97-603, § 1, 6-25-97; C.F. No. 97-625, § 1, 6-25-97; Ord 22-4, § 4, 1-26-22)

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_TITXXIVLIBE_CH246DRSTPAFetched: 11/1/2026