Yes. The City of Saint Paul requires a fence permit for a new fence. Permits are issued by the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI). The suburbs around the city each have their own rules, and some do not require a permit at all.
Do I need a permit to build or replace a fence?
To build a new fence in Saint Paul you need a fence permit from DSI. For a like-for-like replacement of a whole fence, plan on a permit as well, and expect the new fence to meet today's rules even if the old one did not. Whether a smaller repair needs one is DSI's decision, and we ask them for your job. Our town pages name the office to call in each suburb.
How tall can my fence be? Is 6 feet allowed?
Yes, 6 feet is allowed in side and rear yards. The city's fence page gives these limits:
- Front yard: 4 feet.
- Side and rear yards: 7 feet.
- Corner sight triangle: 2 feet, unless the fence is more than 80 percent open.
- Fences over 7 feet, swimming pool fences and barbed wire fences are inspected by the city.
- Barbed wire is not allowed on residential property.
Rules change, and special districts can add to them, so we confirm the figures with DSI for your address before we build.
How close to the property line can I build? Do I need a survey?
How close to the property line you can go is the question we get most, and the safe answer is up to the line and not past it. Finding the line is the owner's job. On old Saint Paul blocks the iron pins are often buried or gone, and garages and old fences are not reliable markers. If the boundary is not marked, get a plot plan or a survey before any post is set. It costs much less than moving a fence.
I live in a historic district. What can I build?
Saint Paul has local heritage preservation districts, among them Historic Hill, Dayton's Bluff and Irvine Park. In a historic district the city can review exterior changes before a permit is issued. Ask the city's heritage preservation staff what they accept for fences on your block. Wood picket and simple ornamental metal are the styles that fit these streets, and a plain wood fence is also the affordable one.
Can my condo association or HOA restrict my fence?
Yes. A condo association or HOA can restrict your fence by height, style, color and material, and can ban fences in some areas. Its rules apply in addition to the city's. This is rare inside old Saint Paul neighborhoods and common in townhome groups and in suburbs such as Woodbury and Eagan. Get written approval before you sign a fence contract.
We are adding a pool. What fence does code require?
A barrier that meets your city's pool rule, and in Saint Paul the city inspects swimming pool fences. Pool barrier rules cover minimum height, the gap under the fence, spacing between pickets and gates that close and latch by themselves. We get the current written requirement from DSI, or from your suburb's building department, and build to it. We do not quote a height from memory.
The inspector failed my existing fence for the pool. Who brings it up to code?
If the inspector failed the fence, a fence contractor does the corrections. Common items are gates that do not self-close, latches set too low, gaps at the bottom and sections that are too short or easy to climb. Give us the written notice and we price each item on it.
My association only allows a 4-foot open fence, but I want privacy. What are my options?
With a 4-foot open fence rule, you have three routes. Plant a hedge or shrubs inside the fence. Ask whether a taller screen near the patio, set well inside the lot, counts as a fence under the rules. Or apply to the board in writing for a variance. Check your survey for easements too. A drainage or utility easement can limit where any fence or screen goes.
Who calls 811 before digging, me or the contractor?
Whoever digs. Under Minnesota Statutes section 216D.04, the excavator must notify Gopher State One Call at least 48 hours before digging, not counting the day of the notice, weekends or holidays. When we install the fence, we file the notice. The utilities then mark their own lines. They do not mark lines you own, such as a sprinkler system, a wire to the garage or a gas line to a fire pit. Show us where those are.
My contractor wants to skip the permit and reuse the old holes. What is the risk?
A contractor who wants to skip the permit leaves you with the problem. Saint Paul requires a fence permit, and the property owner is the one the city writes to. An unpermitted fence can also come up when you sell. Reusing old holes is its own risk. They are as shallow as they were for the fence that just failed, and the new posts will heave the same way.
The city says my existing fence breaks the current rules. Can I just repair it?
If the city says your fence breaks the current rules, ask DSI in writing what you may do before paying for work. Cities often allow upkeep on an older fence and require a rebuilt one to meet the current code, but where repair ends and rebuilding begins is the city's call.
The only firm number is a written quote for your own yard, and the estimate is free. Call (651) 362-2183 or text us a photo of the fence line.