Administrative Citations

How Would Administrative Citations Be Used?

1. Animal Services (DSI)

   Dog Bites and Unlicensed Animals

   The Department of Safety & Inspection (DSI) Animal Services division currently relies on criminal citations for certain issues, such as unlicensed animals, dog bites, and dogs running at large. These cases often spiral into much larger problems for residents.

   A single mother was trying to get her kids out the door when her dog slipped into the hallway and bit a neighbor. She was issued a criminal citation, which put her at risk of eviction. Being in court made her feel like she was being treated as a criminal rather than a pet owner dealing with an accident. Through the ETHOS expungement program, the charge was eventually cleared. Without that option, a single incident could have permanently limited her housing and employment opportunities. She is one of 69 residents in the last four years who have had to seek expungement after a dog-bite citation.

   In another case, a licensed dog bit someone in a nearby park. The owner misunderstood the court process and missed the hearing. A warrant was issued, and they were arrested, booked, and held for more than two hours before being released. Even though they took immediate steps to resolve the issue once they realized, the owner still faces the possibility of a gross misdemeanor — all for a single incident with their pet.

2. Construction (DSI)

   Work Without Permits and Safety Concerns

   Construction citations are issued when work takes place without the right approvals, without a licensed worker, or when safety rules are ignored. Sometimes projects move forward without the required final inspections. These issues create risk for workers and residents, increase project costs, and slow down compliance, often leading to conflict between contractors and the City.

3. Zoning (DSI)

   Land Use and Property Compliance

   Zoning rules exist to guide how land is used and to protect neighborhoods. Violations that can trigger citations include putting up unapproved signs, failing to follow a site plan, using land in a way that isn’t allowed, or installing lighting that affects neighbors. Property owners often find these rules confusing, and citations can lead to drawn-out disputes.

4. Rent Stabilization (DSI)

   Unapproved Rent Increases

   The City’s rent stabilization rules limit rent increases to 3% per year unless an exception is approved. Property owners who increase rent above this limit without applying for or receiving approval can be cited. For tenants, this protection is critical — even one unapproved increase can put housing out of reach. For landlords, the current system makes it hard to resolve issues without a lengthy process.

5. Housing (DSI)

   Chronic Non-Compliance in Buildings

   Housing cases often involve long-term failures to maintain safe conditions.

   • A downtown high-rise serving mostly residents earning below 50% of area median income repeatedly failed inspections for basic maintenance. Over more than three years, the City issued reinspection fees, provided education, and attempted mediation. When the local property manager and investor-owner failed to act, the City filed a criminal citation. Eventually the case settled with a compliance path, but if it had gone to court, the result could have displaced more than 200 families and multiple small businesses.
   • In another downtown building, routine fire safety inspections stalled because the property owner stopped cooperating. Months of follow-up education, reinspections, and mediation led nowhere. The City ultimately joined the lender in court to appoint a receiver to take over management of the property. While this likely would have ended up in court regardless, earlier use of administrative tools could have brought stability sooner, ensuring safer conditions for residents and businesses.

6. Labor Standards (HREEO)

   Protecting Wages and Sick Time

   The Labor Standards division enforces Saint Paul’s Wage Theft, Minimum Wage, and Earned Sick and Safe Time ordinances. The division receives weekly complaints from employees who say they have not been paid the wages they earned or have been denied sick time to care for themselves or their families. Most of these workers are low-wage earners who cannot afford to miss even one paycheck without devastating consequences. Administrative enforcement is an effective tool nationally and in Minnesota to make sure workers get their wages back quickly.

   In the Caremate case, employees filed a complaint in July 2020 after the company denied them earned sick time. The City first tried to resolve the matter through education, mediation, and the City’s appeal process. When that failed, the case moved through the courts and was ultimately resolved in the Minnesota Court of Appeals. In the fall of 2024 — more than four years later — 114 employees were finally paid $32,942.15 in back wages. Their average hourly wage was just $11.56, making the delay especially harmful.

   Currently, the City can only negotiate with employers over the actual wages owed. Administrative citations would allow the City to negotiate over fines as well, creating a stronger incentive for employers to comply quickly.

7. Right of Way (Public Works)

   Keeping Public Spaces Safe and Accessible

   Right of Way (ROW) permits cover sidewalks, streets, bike lanes, utilities, and other public spaces. Contractors and subcontractors are expected to follow strict access and safety requirements when they work in the ROW.

   Today, if a contractor blocks a sidewalk or fails to provide safe passage for pedestrians, bicyclists, or drivers, the only options are probation or a misdemeanor ticket. These penalties impact the contractor’s fees but do little to hold subcontractors accountable. As a result, compliance is often delayed or ineffective.

   With administrative citations, fines could be applied to anyone working in the ROW — contractor or subcontractor. This would create faster, more consistent accountability and better protection for residents.

   Examples of ROW issues include

   • Car, pedestrian, or bike access violations
   • Work on sewer or utility lines without the right permits
   • Encroachment onto City property
   • Unauthorized use of sidewalks or other ROW areas
   • Illicit discharges into storm or sanitary sewers

8. Criminal History Impacts (Across Divisions)

   How Small Citations Follow People

   Even minor City citations can leave residents with a criminal record that affects their future.

   One resident lost their job as a bus driver after a background check flagged a citation from the City — not for a violent offense, but for failing to paint their house in time. Many residents seeking expungement explain that their biggest challenge isn’t the citation itself, but the way it creates barriers to housing, education, and employment.