Are you looking for a Garage Contractor? If you are then Western Construction is the contractor for you. We've been building garages in the city of St Paul for over 67 years.
One of the recent code changes that effect detached garages but is hard to find until its too late is related to driveways. You can no longer have a dirt or gravel driveway when you build a new garage. It has to be some type of hard cover like Asphalt, concrete or any other hard surface driveway material.
Another code change relates to fire protection and side yard set backs. Every building in the state of Minnesota that is closer to the property line then 5' needs to have 1 hour fire protection on that wall. Since the side yard setback in St Paul is 3' just about every garage built today needs a fire wall.
In any St Paul residential neighborhood, detached garages shall not exceed 15' in height. This does not apply to garages in the heritage preservation districts. In these situations a design review will determine the maximum garage height.
1,000 square feet is the maximum square footage a garage can be. However a detached garage can not take up more than 35% of the rear yard. You measure from the back of the house to the rear property line multiply that measurement by the width and divide by 35%. Lots that adjoin alleys may include 1/2 the width of the alley into the total rear yard square footage.
DISTANCE FROM FRONT STREET PROPERTY LINE
a) Detached: Maintain established setback
b) Attached: Maintain established setback
DISTANCE FROM REAR PROPERTY LINE
a) Parallel to rear property line: 1′ - eave not to overhang alley; 3′ without alley
b) Perpendicular and garage door faces alley: Eave not to overhang
c) Perpendicular and garage door faces house: 3′ without alley
d) Attached to house:
e) Percentage of rear yard allowed for garage:
a) Detached and behind the house: 3′
b) Detached along side of house: 4′ - some areas require more
c) Attached to house: 4′ - some areas require more
DISTANCE FROM SIDE STREET PROPERTY LINE
a) Detached and parallel to street: Maintain setback
b) Detached and perpendicular to street: Maintain setback
c) Attached and parallel to street: Maintain setback
d) Attached and perpendicular to street: Maintain setback
e) Corner Lot: Maintain minimum side yard setback
MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM OWNER’S DWELLING
a) Without frost footing: 6′
b) Without fire proofing: 6′ - less separation need 1 hour fire wall
MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM NEIGHBOR’S DWELLING
a) Without frost footings:
b) Without fire proofing:
MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM UTILITY EASEMENT LINE
a) Existing detached garage: Eave to easement
b) Existing attached garage:
IS MORE THAN ONE GARAGE ALLOWED ON THE SAME LOT AS THE DWELLING
a) Existing detached garage: Yes, when sf of both does not exceed that allowed for one garage
b) Existing attached garage: Yes, when sf of both does not exceed that allowed for one garage
or 1000 sf
MAXIMUM SIZE GARAGE ALLOWED BY CITY
a) Detached: 1000 sf or 35% of rear yard; not to exceed
1000 sf
b) Attached: Garage and house not to exceed 30% of lot.
CAN A GARAGE BE BUILT ON A VACANT LOT
a) Adjoining lot: No, unless lots are combined
b) Non adjoining lot: No
MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS
a) Uniform Building Code requires removal of all decomposable material prior to placing slab.
b) 15′ height measured from average grade to midpoint of peak and eave.
c) 12′ for garages with flat/shed roofs measured from average grade to midpoint of peak and eave.
d) Heritage Preservation Districts will vary & garages with dormers may vary
APPLICATION FORMS & ADDENDUM
Permit Application: Required
a) When survey is on file:
b) When survey is not on file:
Survey or Scale Drawing: Plot plan required
Lot Size & Identification: To be on plot plan
Elevation of Building: To be on plot plan and info to be identified on WGBI elevation page
Exposed corner irons: To the satisfaction of BI
Other:
REQUIRED PERMITS
Demolition Permit:
Driveway Permit:
Building Permit: Required
Miscellaneous Permits:
REQUIRED INSPECTIONS
Demolition Inspection:
Footing/Slab Inspection: After forming and reinforcements are in place; prior to placing slab
Framing Inspection: After framing and roofing; prior to siding; for firewalls/eaves & shear walls
Sheathing Inspection:
Electrical Inspection: Prior to final inspection
Final Building Inspection: After garage door installation and electrical inspection
The City of St Paul has everything you want to know about building garages on their website. Here's a direct link. Detached garage construction permit and inspections.
City of Saint Paul, MN
Western Construction, Inc. is a local Minneapolis St Paul Garage Contractor. We specialize in garage construction and serve the entire Twin Cities metro area.
Western Construction was founded by my father in 1949 on two basic principals.
"Give people what they want, and don't charge too much." - Milton Chazin
Almost seven decades and three generations later we still operate using these simple and basic principles. Times may have changed but our company's vision set forth by my father remains untouched.