Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a forum for public discussion. The board members, appointed by the mayor with the consent of the City Council, are comprised of private citizens who live in Saint Paul. Any questions about the Board and its processes can be directed to the DSI zoning administration office at DSI-ZoningReview@stpaul.gov or 651-266-9008.
The seven-member board meets on Mondays, every other week. All items to be placed on the agenda must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the hearing date. The public hearings are held at 3:00 pm at City Hall (15 Kellogg Blvd. W), generally in Room 330. It is highly recommended that the applicant or their representative attend the hearing. Interested parties may attend the hearing and speak during the public comment portion(s) or submit written comment to express their opinions.
The board hears two types of requests: Variances and Appeals of Administrative Decisions.
Zoning variances are exceptions to regulations that are in the zoning code and are made for a specific case. The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) has the authority to grant zoning variances. The Board also has the power to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the appellant that there is an error in any order, requirement, permit, decision or refusal made by the Zoning Administrator in carrying out or enforcing any provision of the Zoning Code. To find out more, go to the Administrative Review (Appeal) page.
An application for variance may be filed by any person having an ownership or leasehold interest in the subject land and/or building (contingent included). Such application shall be filed with the zoning administrator, or with the planning commission as provided in section 61.202(b), along with a site plan meeting the requirements of article IV, site plan review, and other information as required to support the application.
The BZA holds a public hearing before deciding each case. There are two types of variances cases - minor and major. Minor variances are for single family additions, garages, fences and pools; all other variances are major variances. The Citizen Participation District Council for the area is notified by mail at least 10 days prior to the public hearing. The city will notify property owners within 350 feet of the subject property for major variances and within 100 feet for minor variances at outlined in Sec. 61.303 of the zoning code. Anyone may testify at the hearing or send in written comments either in support or opposition to the request. A zoning staff report is given for each case, including a recommendation for approval or denial, a copy of which is sent to the applicant prior to the hearing.
Since this is a public hearing, any written comment or testimony that is submitted to the BZA for consideration should include the following:
- Name and address of the person writing the letter
- Reference the address, file number, or applicant that is applying for the variance(s)
- State which variance requests that you would like to comment on
District Council Participation
District councils are independent neighborhood organizations that represent Saint Paul’s 17 planning districts. They work with residents, businesses, community partners, and City leaders to share information, address local priorities, and build engagement across Saint Paul. District Councils have an advisory role on site plans, and they may make a recommendation to staff or the Board of Zoning Appeals depending on the size of the project or proposals that raise neighborhood concerns. To facilitate this citizen participation process, it is highly recommended that applicants contact the relevant District Council prior to or during the application process so they can address any concerns at their neighborhood committee meetings. To determine what district council the subject property is located in, utilize the City of Saint Paul's District Council and Ward Lookup Map.
Meetings
2025 BZA Hearing Schedule 2026 BZA Hearing Schedule
The BZA will typically conduct a public hearing within four weeks of the application's submission. By State Law 15.99, a decision is required on zoning-related requests within 60 days of submission or automatic approval will be given. An extension of 60 days may be given, provided the applicant is given written notice. The BZA holds public hearings every other Monday. The hearings start at 3:00 p.m. and are generally held in Room 330 of the City Hall/Courthouse. It is highly recommended that the applicant or their representative attend the hearing.
BZA agendas and meeting results may be found below in the Board of Zoning Appeals Meetings & Documents section of this webpage.
Interested parties may also sign up to receive BZA agendas, BZA agenda results, and notices of received applications via email. To subscribe, visit the GovDelivery Portal. Enter your email and click "Submit." Doing so will take you to another page where specific notifications may be selected from a wide variety. Scroll down to "Early Notification System" (ENS) and select the District Council area in which you want to receive notifications for. Scroll down and press "submit." You are now subscribed and will receive notices pertaining to that area.
Zoning Code Requirements
According to Sec. 61.601 of the zoning code, the BZA must make the following findings before they can grant a variance:
• The variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the zoning code.
• The variance is consistent with the comprehensive plan.
• The applicant has established that there are practical difficulties in complying with the provision, that the property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by the provision. Economic considerations alone do not constitute practical difficulties.
• The plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by the landowner.
• The variance will not permit any use that is not allowed in the zoning district where the affected land is located.
• The variance will not alter the essential character of the surrounding area. In granting a variance, the board or commission shall make written findings stating the grounds upon which the variance is justified. Inadequate access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems constitutes a practical difficulty in the third bullet point above.
Zoning variance requests pertaining to signage (Chapter 64) are also subject to the following standards as laid out in Section 64.207 of the zoning code: ". . .the applicant shall demonstrate that such variance is needed due to unusual conditions pertaining to sign needs for a specific building or lot, and that the sign would not create a hazard, would not be objectionable to adjacent property owners, would not adversely affect residential property through excessive glare and lighting, and would be in keeping with the general character of the surrounding area."
In granting a variance, the BZA may attach reasonable conditions to their approval. The BZA does not have the authority to allow a use that is not otherwise permitted in the zoning district.
Zoning Variance Fees & Inspections
A zoning staff person will visit the site and take photos that will be shown during the public hearing. If the variance is granted, an inspection by the Building Inspector is made as part of the building permit for the project. A zoning inspector will verify that any conditions attached to the approval are met. Call 651-266-9008 to reach a zoning inspector.
Sec. 61.302 of the zoning code outlines the fees associated with variance applications.
Effective April 3, 2021, a 2.49% service fee will be charged for all credit or debit transactions and will appear as a separate transaction on your card statement. This fee is charged by the service provider the Department of Safety and Inspections uses to handle credit card transactions. The City will not receive any of the convenience fees.
| Description | Amount |
Minor Variance
| $442 |
Major Variance
| $547 |
Multi-family residential use (Major Variance)
| $589 |
| Commercial, industrial or institutional use (Major Variance) | $856 |
| Sign Variance (Major Variance) | $547 |
Checks should be made payable to the City of Saint Paul. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are also accepted.
When a zoning application is submitted for a development that has been built or started without the required city permits, a late fee will be assessed. The late fee is double the filing fee.
Application Requirements
Per Section 61.301(b), an application for a zoning variance may be filed by any person having an ownership or leasehold interest in the subject land and/or building (contingent included). If not the owner, PAULIE will ask for uploaded documentation regarding the applicant's interest in the property.
PAULIE will prompt for the following information in the application wizard:
- Property location (address or parcel number)
- Zoning code citation
- Requirement and variance requested
- Applicant response to the findings - additional findings for sign variances
The application must have the following documents attached:
- A survey or site plan drawn to scale with dimensions listed. For setback variance requests, a survey or site plan with location of relevant property stakes is required.
- Building elevations (if applicable)
- Floor plans (if applicable)
An invoice will be sent to the applicant for fee payment once staff deem that the application is otherwise complete.
How to Submit a Completed Application:
Submit a zoning variance application online with Saint Paul's permitting and licensing system PAULIE:
Board of Zoning Appeals - Minor Variance Board of Zoning Appeals - Major Variance Board of Zoning Appeals - Sign Variance
The date a complete application is submitted determines which hearing date the public hearing is scheduled for. Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. (Central Standard Time) on the cutoff date (listed on the meeting schedule) in order for your case to be heard on the associated hearing date.
Please contact the primary BZA staff member David Eide at 651-266-9088 if you have any questions or need help with the variance application or the public hearing process.
Appeal
Any affected party may appeal the decision of the BZA to the City Council within 10 days of the date of the decision.
Expiration/Renewal
A zoning variance is valid for two years unless a building permit is obtained within the time frame and construction is proceeding according to the terms of the permit. The zoning administrator may grant an extension not to exceed one additional year. However, this request must be made before the variance expires.
