Saint Paul Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Saint Paul’s Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) is the municipal building, permitting, inspection, zoning, and code-compliance authority inside Saint Paul city limits. Ramsey County coordinates county services and planning matters, but a Saint Paul building permit is issued through the city rather than a countywide Ramsey County building department.

Saint Paul building permits and PAULIE login

PAULIE is Saint Paul’s current online permitting and licensing system. Applicants create an account, choose the correct building or construction application, upload supporting documents, pay fees, track review, and communicate with the city through the portal. The same online-services system provides property searches for permit information, code-compliance reports, vacant-building data, and other city records.

For commercial, multifamily, and complex residential projects, assemble the building permit application, plans, site information, contractor details, and any required fire, mechanical, plumbing, historic-preservation, or site-plan materials. The city’s DSI guidance should control over legacy forms or third-party permit websites.

Inspections, zoning, code compliance, and occupancy

The permit holder must arrange required inspections after permit issuance; for residential properties this is often the contractor’s responsibility. Keep the permit and approved plans available, and do not cover work before the required inspection. Saint Paul’s zoning administrator, Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission, and City Council share zoning decision responsibilities depending on the application.

Saint Paul requires a building certificate of occupancy before a new building is occupied or an existing building is used for a new purpose. A separate fire certificate of occupancy can continue to apply after the building certificate and may involve recurring fire-safety inspections.

Official contact information

DSI lists its customer service address as 375 Jackson Street, Suite 220, Saint Paul, MN 55101. General information is 651-266-8989. Use PAULIE for current permit applications, inspection tracking, and property searches; use Ramsey County only for a county service that is actually within the county’s authority.