# Sign Regulations in St. Paul, Minnesota

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for St. Paul, Minnesota, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** St. Paul, Minnesota (MN)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/minnesota/st-paul
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08

## At a glance

St. Paul, Minnesota regulates 7 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Identification Signs in the RL—RM3 residential and entirely residential uses in T1—T4 traditional neighborhood and F1—F6 Ford districts zoning district are capped at Not specified tall, 2 square feet, and Not specified wide. Most commercial signs in St. Paul require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RL—RM3 residential and entirely residential uses in T1—T4 traditional neighborhood and F1—F6 Ford districts | 3 | Not specified | 30 square feet | Yes |
| T1—T4 traditional neighborhood, F1—F6 Ford and OS—BC business districts | 2 | 37.5 feet | 75 square feet | Yes |
| B2—B3 business and IT industrial districts | 2 | 37.5 feet | 75 square feet | Yes |
| B4—B5 business districts | 1 | Not specified | Not specified | Yes |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### RL—RM3 residential and entirely residential uses in T1—T4 traditional neighborhood and F1—F6 Ford districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | Not specified | 2 square feet | Not specified | — | — | On premises | Yes | — |
| Identification Sign for Multiple-Family Structures | Not specified | 6 square feet (for parcels ≤ 25,000 sq ft), 24 square feet (for parcels > 25,000 sq ft) | Not specified | — | — | On premises | Yes | — |
| Bulletin Board | Not specified | 30 square feet | Not specified | — | — | On premises | Yes | — |

### T1—T4 traditional neighborhood, F1—F6 Ford and OS—BC business districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business and Identification Signs | 37.5 feet | 75 square feet | Not specified | — | — | On premises | Yes | — |
| Projecting Sign | 30 feet | 16 square feet per side | Not specified | — | — | On premises | Yes | — |

### B2—B3 business and IT industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Signs | 37.5 feet | 75 square feet | Not specified | — | — | On premises | Yes | — |
| Freestanding Sign | Not specified | 15 square feet | Not specified | — | — | On premises | Yes | — |

## Prohibited signs in St. Paul

- Advertising signs prohibited in all zoning districts except as permitted in specific cases.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- No signs shall be located in, project into or overhang a public right-of-way, except those specifically permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in St. Paul

- Signs of the city, county, state, and federal government.
- Changing of the message on the display surface of signs that are designed to have changeable copy.
- Signs six (6) square feet or less in area.
- Political signs.
- Sports facility sponsorship signs.
- Sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 4 zoning districts in St. Paul — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=St.+Paul+MN&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-st-paul

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