Planning a Project in St. Paul? Here's How DoNotPay Can Help You Secure a St. Paul Building Permit! 

Obtaining a St. Paul building permit before beginning most types of projects is a must in order to make sure that all work is done properly and your building and the buildings around it are safe during and after construction. Here is an overview of how to get a building permit in St. Paul and how DoNotPay can make the process easier and more convenient!

When Is a Building Permit Necessary in St. Paul? 

The City of St. Paul requires residents to obtain a building permit prior to beginning most types of projects that involve constructing a new building or making changes to a current structure. This applies to both residential and commercial buildings, even if you own the building or originally built it yourself, to make sure that construction is done properly and the finished building and nearby structures that incompetent construction could affect are safe. Although certain minor repairs that do not alter the overall structure of the building usually will not require a building permit, you will typically need to apply for one before:

• Constructing a new building
• Renovating a building
• Having any repairs done that could affect the structure of the building
• Adding a deck
• Adding a swimming pool or hot tub that holds more than 5,000 gallons
• Adding a shed that is larger than 200 square feet
• Having any alterations done that will cost a total of at least $500 when both materials and labor costs are considered
• Demolishing a building, shed, deck, or other structure

How to Get a Building Permit in St. Paul

Residents of St. Paul can find various building permit application forms on the city's website. Depending on the type of project you are planning, you and your licensed building contractor will need to submit a combination of the following:

1. General Building Permit Application (may need to be completed by both homeowner and contractor)
2. Homeowners Building Permit Affidavit
3. Contractor Express Permit

All completed applications should be submitted to St. Paul's Public Works Department. General Building Permit Applications can be submitted by email, while other forms will need to be submitted by mail, fax, or in person. The City of St. Paul is currently experiencing a significant backlog in reviewing and approving building permit applications as most of this work is being done remotely. You can expect your building permit application to take a minimum of two weeks to be approved, and the city has requested that residents not contact them with questions concerning the status of their applications until this time frame has passed.

What Fees Are Associated With Getting a Building Permit in St. Paul?

Basic building permit fees in St. Paul range from $32.52-$1,367.78 for projects with a total estimated value of up to $100,000. Projects that are valued at over $100,000 incur additional fees for each $1,000 over this limit. You will also need to pay the State of Minnesota's surcharge. This state surcharge is typically an additional 0.0005% of the total expected value of the project, and there is a $0.50 flat rate for projects valued at under $1,000.

Next Steps for Getting a Building Permit if You Can't Do It Yourself

Knowing exactly which forms you need to submit can be challenging, and St. Paul's backlog of building permit applications means that you will likely have a hard time getting through to anyone in a timely manner if you have any questions about what you need to do or when you can expect to be able to start on your project. Fortunately, having little help from the city does not mean you will have to handle the entire process yourself. DoNotPay can handle the added challenge of communicating with the City of St. Paul for you to make your application process easier, faster, and more convenient. 

Get a Building Permit With the Help of DoNotPay

If you want to get a building permit easily in St. Paul but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered. Create your own cancellation letter in 6 easy steps:

1. Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.

    

2. Choose one of the following options:

• Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
• Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
• Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application

3. Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.

    

4. Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and timeline for the project.

    

5. Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.

    

6. And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

    

Why Use DoNotPay to Get a Building Permit

The City of St. Paul currently expects building permit approvals to take a minimum of two weeks, and this estimate is for applications that are submitted properly the first time, are free of errors, meet all local requirements, and do not require any revisions. You do not want to waste any more time than necessary by having to resubmit your application and potentially restarting the waiting period before you can get started on your project that is probably already longer than you would like it to be.

DoNotPay Works Across All Entities With the Click of a Button

Although getting a St. Paul building permit is particularly difficult right now, our process is just as easy no matter where you are applying for a permit. We help home and business owners across the country quickly and conveniently obtain building permits that meet local requirements, including:

• Palm Beach County
• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Sarasota County

What Else Can DoNotPay Do? 

DoNotPay makes handling a wide range of legal issues from home easy, affordable, and successful. Among other categories of services, we can help you:

1. Obtain copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
2. Make sure you are getting any veterans' benefits you may be entitled to
3. Get free fast food without the hassle of filling out surveys yourself
4. Obtain other types of permits

At DoNotPay, we are here to help you navigate the challenges of obtaining a building permit in St. Paul. Contact us today to get started!