Traditional Neighborhood (T) District Zoning Study

The Traditional Zoning District Study amendments were adopted on November 12, 2025.  Please see below for background details on the study.  On the same date, a follow-up study was initiated to evaluate expanded use of Traditional Neighborhood districts and other needed zoning map amendments to plan for development along transit corridors within the city.

Background

Traditional Neighborhood (T) Zoning Districts are widely used throughout Saint Paul, especially along transit corridors and at major intersections. First adopted in 2004, T Districts are intended to:

• Encourage compact mixed-use development
• Improve walkability at nodes and along corridors
• Permit dense development to support transit ridership

The T Districts allow flexibility for mixed land uses and include development and design standards to create pedestrian-oriented places. There are four T Districts: T1, T2, T3, and T4. T1 is the least intense by allowing smaller-scale neighborhood serving uses and T4 is the most intense by allowing tall building heights and a wide range of land uses. Amendments and rezonings to T2, T3, and T4 occurred in 2011 as part of a Zoning Study of the Central Corridor along University Avenue.

Overview of Zoning Study

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan supports new affordable housing and compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development with flexibility to respond to changing conditions and opportunities. The proposed amendments to the Zoning Code offer an opportunity to better align the four T Districts with Comprehensive Plan goals and policies, and streamline standards and regulations consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s implementation chapter and Minnesota State Law.

The goals of the amendments are to:

• Increase development flexibility and provide opportunities for greater intensity
• Improve predictability related to design
• Create incentives for affordable housing

The scope of the study does not include rezoning property.

Study Area

The T Districts are highlighted in orange on the map. For more details and information, view the Zoning Map.

Timeline

The table below shows major dates and links to relevant information. Dates are subject to change.

Resources

Visit the following links for more information about T Districts in the Saint Paul Zoning Code: 

• Planning Commission Initiation Memo
• Intent of T Districts
• Principal Uses Permitted in T Districts
• Density and Dimensional Standards for T Districts
• T Districts Design Standards