Building permits in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Saint Paul, 6 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Saint Paul
City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI)
- Department of Safety and Inspections, 375 Jackson Street, Suite 220, Saint Paul, MN 55101-1806
- Phone: 651-266-8989
- Email: DSI-BuildingPlanReview@ci.stpaul.mn.us
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Saint Paul
Saint Paul runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
What needs a permit in Saint Paul
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Saint Paul, 6 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of a deck or platform above grade, where it is also not attached to a structure with frost footings and does not act as a landing outside an exterior door | A deck building permit is priced from the valuation table in Sec. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Sec. |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Saint Paul Legislative Code Sec. |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Warm air, Sec. |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | There is no patio line item in the fee schedule. |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | DSI's Plumbing Application, Inspection and Fees page (last edited March 3, 2026) and Sec. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | water capacity of an in-ground or above ground swimming pool; the prefabricated pool exemption additionally requires the pool to be no more than 24 inches deep and installed entirely above ground | The pool building permit is priced from the valuation table in Sec. |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | A reroof is a general building permit priced on valuation under Sec. |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use | A shed over 200 square feet is a general building permit priced from the valuation table... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Two fees. |
Planning a project in Saint Paul?
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
Planning several things at once? Check your whole project