Overview

Site Plan Review (SPR) and the approval process is generally for new residential development involving four or more dwelling units and one- and two-family dwelling development on very large lots, new commercial buildings and additions, or parking lot reconstructions that involve more than a partial mill and overlay. Regulations regarding Site Plan Review are found in Section 61.400 of the Zoning Code.

A site plan must be submitted to and approved by the planning commission before a permit is issued for grading or the erection or enlargement of any building except for development of three or fewer dwelling units and including the list of development types specified in Zoning Code Sec. 61.402(b) . Most projects are delegated to City staff for review and approval, but staff may recommend that the project be reviewed by the Planning Commission.

Process

  1. Preliminary Meeting (Recommended, but optional)

    • When your design team is ready to apply, you may schedule one preliminary virtual meeting with staff to review the requirements for a complete application.

    • Please note: staff cannot provide detailed plan reviews or feedback before an application is submitted.

    • To request a prelim meeting, email SitePlanReview@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

  2. Submit Your Application

  3. Site Plan Review Meeting

    • Once your application is received, staff will schedule a virtual Site Plan Review (SPR) meeting.

    • City staff and partner agencies will provide written feedback, required revisions, and important notes during this meeting.

    • After the SPR meeting, you will receive a conditional approval letter. This letter lists the corrections and outstanding comments from staff during the first review cycle, along with standard notes (such as requirements for permits, inspections, or coordination with other City departments). The letter is not final approval but provides clear direction on what must be addressed in your revised site plan.

    • A conditional approval letter is an appealable action under Leg. Code Sec. 61.701 – Administrative Appeals. Appeals must be filed with the Zoning Administrator within ten days of the letter date.

  4. Revise, Resubmit, and Final Approval

    • Submit a revised site plan that addresses all required revisions. If any comments or corrections remain "Unresolved" or "Not Met", the project will be returned for additional review cycles until all required changes are resolved. City staff are given two weeks to complete their reviews for each review cycle.

    • Once all outstanding corrections have been marked "Resolved," the final site plan approval letter will be emailed to the applicant, architect, and the civil engineer for the project.

    • After final approval is granted, any required building permits may be issued. Site plan review can run concurrently with the building permit process and with reviews for variances, conditional use permits (CUPs), or plats; however, final site plan approval will not be issued until any required variances, CUPs, or preliminary plats are approved.

    • Final approval may also be appealed to the Planning Commission within ten days of the approval letter date, per Leg. Code Sec. 61.701 – Administrative Appeals. Appeals must be filed with the Zoning Administrator.

For more details about the Site Plan Review process, please see the resources below.

Resources for business owners and developers

Site Plan Electronic Review Step-by-step Process

  1. Create a basic site plan of your project and reach out to Site Plan Review Coordinators at SitePlanReview@ci.stpaul.mn.us, if you have questions about completing your application or preparing application materials before applying.
  2. Complete the application form and submission checklist and email both to: SitePlanReview@ci.stpaul.mn.us
  3. Once staff enters your application into the system, you will receive two emails:
    1. Email 1: Notification of payment options. Online payments may be made using Saint Paul’s Online portal, Pay My Bill.
    2. Email 2: An Electronic Plan Review login link, which will enable you to upload plan sets. First-time users will also get a third email with a temporary login password and instructions to set up an Electronic Plan Review account.
  4. Customers can learn how to use the Electronic Plan Review platform here. Please note that any file incorrectly uploaded or applications that are found to be missing documents will be returned within 15 days, resulting in a delay of your project.
  5. Within a week of uploading all necessary documents, you will be contacted through Electronic Plan Review with a date and time for your review meeting with the SPR Committee. The SPR Committee is comprised of City staff from several departments plus outside partners and subject matter experts. [Note: SPR meetings are held virtually via the Internet (Skype or MS Teams). You can log in by computer, a phone app, or you may dial in to the meeting].
  6. Within three to four weeks after the meeting, staff will send you and your project team a “Conditional Approval” letter summarizing any revisions requested for a final Site Plan Review Approval to be granted.
  7. You can upload site plan revisions, which meet the SPR Committee’s requirements, through your Electronic Plan Review account. You will be notified by email if your revised site plans do not meet the requested requirements. Once no corrections are needed, plans will be stamped as approved and available to download and a final approval letter will be issued and emailed to you.

Site Plan Review agendas

Site Plan Review agendas are posted below.

Last Edited: September 5, 2025