South St. Paul Garage Permit & Zoning Requirements
This page summarizes the City of South St. Paul requirements for building a new detached garage. All garages must comply with City ordinances and the Minnesota Residential Code. Final approval depends on zoning, lot conditions, and plan review. Western Garage Builders verifies requirements by address and manages the permit and inspection process end to end.
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Verify My Address (Fast Zoning & Permit Check)
South St. Paul enforces strict height limits, driveway surfacing rules, and a one-garage ordinance. If you share your address and target garage size, we’ll confirm setbacks, height compliance, driveway requirements, and whether any conditional use approvals are needed.
City of South St. Paul – Building Permits & Inspections
City of South St. Paul – Building Inspections Department
125 3rd Avenue North
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Phone: 651-554-3220
Website: southstpaul.org
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Garage in South St. Paul?
Yes. A building permit is required for construction of a new garage in South St. Paul.
Building Permit Application – Required Documents
To obtain a garage permit, the City requires:
- Completed building permit application
- Two (2) sets of plans drawn to scale
- Site plan showing:
- Lot dimensions
- Existing house and other buildings
- Proposed garage location
- Measured setbacks from all property lines
- Garage elevation and section drawings
- Door header sizes
- Property stakes visible for inspection
- Contractor name, address, and subcontractors
Western Garage Builders prepares permit-ready plans and site drawings that match South St. Paul’s review checklist to avoid delays.
Garage Size & Height Limits
- Sidewall height: Maximum 10 feet
- Floor to roof peak: Maximum 16 feet
- Stories: No two-story garages permitted
- Quantity: Only one garage (attached or detached) is permitted per lot
- Second garage: Requires a conditional use permit (approximately 45 days)
Detached garages may not be located closer to the front lot line than the principal dwelling.
Driveway & Parking Surface Requirements
All off-street driveway and parking areas accessory to new residential garages must meet City standards:
- Hard-surfaced driveways required
- Approved materials include bituminous asphalt or concrete
- Driveway and parking improvements are subject to review by the City Engineer
Stormwater note: As part of the City’s Storm Water Management Plan, a $1,000 escrow is required for new garage permits. The escrow is returned upon completion of required landscaping, driveway, and parking improvements.
Required Inspections for South St. Paul Garages
- Footings / Concrete Slab: prior to pouring concrete
- Framing: after framing, blocking, bracing, and rough electrical are complete
- Final: after garage completion, electrical final, and final grading
All electrical work requires a separate electrical permit and inspection by the City Electrical Inspector.
Get a South St. Paul Garage Quote
Western Garage Builders — part of Western Construction, Inc. — builds code-compliant garages across the Twin Cities and handles zoning verification, permits, concrete, construction, and inspections.
Note: This page summarizes South St. Paul garage permit requirements. Final approval depends on City review, zoning compliance, and site conditions.
