Trying to pull a building permit from the Ramsey County government is a quick way to frustrate yourself. The county doesn't issue them.
To build a deck, shed, or addition in Ramsey County, you must apply with your individual city (Saint Paul, Roseville, Shoreview, etc.). Because these cities all adhere to the Minnesota State Building Code, they share a firm requirement: you must submit a site plan that proves you are building within your legal boundary lines and zoning setbacks.
Do You Need a Site Plan for a Small Permit in Ramsey County?
Yes. If your exterior project requires a building permit from your city, a site plan is required.
According to state code, site plans must be drawn according to an accurate boundary line survey. Your city's building department will require the plan to show:
- Property lines with exact dimensions and total lot area.
- Setbacks (the distance from the proposed structure to all property lines).
- Existing structures and the proposed construction.
- Impervious surface and lot coverage calculations (in square feet and percentages).
- Easements, driveways, and waste storage areas.
- The Ramsey County Parcel ID number.
- A North arrow and an indicated scale (1/4″ scale recommended).
Who Runs Into This in Ramsey County
- Saint Paul residents who try to drop off a hand-drawn sketch at the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI), only to be told they must upload a digital PDF through the new PAULIE system.
- **Suburban homeowners
** who assume their 180-square-foot shed is exempt because Saint Paul allows up to 200 square feet, ignoring the statewide 120-square-foot limit that applies in most other Ramsey County cities.
- DIY deck builders who guess where their property lines are, failing to qualify for a city survey waiver because they couldn't locate their physical iron monument pins.
- Contractors submitting plans for an ADU in Saint Paul who forget to explicitly calculate the green space and impervious surface percentages required for site plan review.
What Needs a Site Plan in Ramsey County
- Fence permit site plan — Fences over 6 feet generally require a permit in Saint Paul. Corner lots have strict sightline rules requiring a site plan to prove compliance.
- Shed permit site plan — Required for sheds over 120 sq ft (statewide rule). Note: Saint Paul specifically regulates accessory structures larger than 200 sq ft.
- Deck permit site plan — Required for decks attached to the house or raised more than 30 inches above grade.
- Patio permit site plan — Required to calculate impervious surface for stormwater compliance.
- Pool permit site plan — Required for pools with a water depth greater than 24 inches.
- Addition permit site plan — Required. Additions that change the footprint almost always require a highly detailed site plan.
- ADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit) — Required. Saint Paul encourages ADUs, but strict site plans showing setbacks, utilities, and green space are mandatory.
Why This Trips People Up in Ramsey County
The Jurisdiction Divide. Ramsey County only reviews site plans for developments impacting county rights-of-way. Residential building permits are handled by the 15 municipalities. You must verify your jurisdiction using the MapRamsey interactive property map before applying.
The PAULIE Portal. The City of Saint Paul uses PAULIE (Permits, Applications, User Licenses, Inspections, and Enforcement) for all submissions. You must submit your site plan digitally through Electronic Plan Review (Project Dox). A messy, unscaled pencil sketch photographed with a cell phone will be rejected by the system.
Boundary Line Surveys vs. Waivers. The Minnesota State Building Code requires a boundary survey for construction. However, most cities in Ramsey County will grant a "survey waiver" for small projects like decks and sheds. To get this waiver, you must physically find your property pins and submit a homeowner-drawn site plan that shows you are leaving a "reasonable margin of error" between your project and the setback line.
The Shed Size Exemption. The state building code exempts sheds 120 square feet or less from building permits. However, Saint Paul's local code specifically notes that accessory structures larger than 200 square feet require a permit. Regardless of the permit exemption, all sheds must comply with zoning setbacks.
Zoning and Setbacks in Ramsey County
Because Ramsey County contains everything from dense urban Saint Paul neighborhoods to suburban North Oaks, setbacks vary massively.
Saint Paul Setback Nuances:
- Saint Paul is an older city with diverse architecture (e.g., Summit Avenue vs. postwar bungalows). Setbacks in Chapter 63 of the zoning code are highly specific to your neighborhood block.
- Through Lots: If your property connects two streets, both street lines are considered "front" lot lines for setback purposes.
- Established Patterns: In some areas, if a setback pattern has already been established by neighboring houses, the city may allow you to conform to that pattern rather than the strict written code.
How the Tool Handles This — 4 Steps
SitePlans.ai loads Ramsey County parcel data so you can generate the scaled, digital site plan required for portals like Saint Paul's PAULIE system:
- Enter your address — Lot lines load from county GIS records (MapRamsey data).
- Place your project — Add your deck, shed, or ADU to the lot.
- Label the and setbacks — Drop distance lines to prove your project meets zoning rules and qualifies for a city survey waiver.
- **Export a clean PDF
** — Download a professional, scaled plan ready for digital upload.
Where This Tool Fits — and Where It Doesn't
| Situation | Best path |
|---|---|
| Shed, deck, or small addition | SitePlans.ai for the preliminary site plan (often qualifies for a survey waiver) |
| Verifying setbacks for an exempt shed | SitePlans.ai to visualize layout and avoid zoning violations |
| New home construction | Licensed MN Surveyor legally required |
| Disputed property lines / missing pins | Licensed MN Surveyor required |
| Multi-family commercial development | Licensed Civil Engineer/Architect required |
What This Doesn't Replace
SitePlans.ai helps create preliminary, conceptual site plans for projects where your city building department allows homeowner-prepared drawings (via a survey waiver). It is not a licensed land survey. If you are building a new residential dwelling, or if you cannot physically locate your property pins to satisfy the city's margin of error, the Minnesota State Building Code requires you to hire a licensed Minnesota surveyor.
Comparison: Your Options for a Ramsey County Site Plan
| Method | Cost | Time | Stamp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand sketch | Free | 1–2 hrs | ✗ | Hard to format correctly for Saint Paul's PAULIE digital upload |
| SitePlans.ai | Free first plan | Minutes | ✗ | Generates the clean PDF and math required for city portals |
| CAD drafter | $300–$800+ | 1–2 weeks | Sometimes | Overkill for most decks and sheds |
| Licensed MN Surveyor | $800–$2,500+ | 3–5 weeks | ✅ | Mandatory for new homes and large footprint additions |
| SitePlans.us (done-for-you) | Custom | 1–3 days | ✗ | Best if your first attempt was rejected by DSI Electronic Plan Review |
Common Mistakes That Delay Ramsey County Permits
- Applying to Ramsey County — Wasting time trying to file a residential building permit with the county instead of the city.
- Bad digital formatting — Submitting a site plan to PAULIE that isn't drawn to standard scale or lacks a North arrow.
- Forgetting the Parcel ID — Failing to include the Ramsey County Parcel ID on the title block.
- Ignoring green space math — Failing to list the total impervious surface and green space percentages, causing a delay in site plan review.
- Corner lot blindness — Forgetting that corner lots have stricter setbacks on the street side, placing a fence or shed in a blind spot.
Support and Local Resources
- MapRamsey (GIS Property Map) — maps.ramseycounty.us — CRITICAL for verifying your city jurisdiction and Parcel ID.
- Saint Paul DSI — stpaul.gov (Department of Safety and Inspections).
- PAULIE Portal — stpaul.gov/paulie — Saint Paul's digital permit system.
- Ramsey County Surveyor's Office — (Can provide recorded subdivision plats for a fee if property lines are disputed).
- FEMA Flood Maps — msc.fema.gov
Nearby Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Ramsey County issue residential building permits?
No. Residential building permits are issued by the individual cities within the county, such as Saint Paul, Maplewood, and Roseville.
2. What is PAULIE?
PAULIE is the City of Saint Paul's online permitting portal (Permits, Applications, User Licenses, Inspections, and Enforcement). All building permits and site plans for Saint Paul must be submitted digitally through this system.
3. Do I need a surveyor for a deck in Ramsey County?
Not always. While state code requires a boundary survey, most cities offer a "survey waiver" for small projects like decks. You can submit a homeowner-drawn site plan if you can locate your property pins and prove your deck meets the required setbacks with a reasonable margin of error.
4. Do I need a permit for a shed?
Under the Minnesota State Building Code, sheds 120 square feet or less are generally exempt from building permits. However, Saint Paul specifically regulates accessory structures over 200 square feet. Regardless of size, all sheds must meet local zoning setbacks.
5. How do I find my Parcel ID number?
You can find your Parcel ID by searching your address on the MapRamsey interactive GIS map.
6. Can I use SitePlans.ai for a permit in Saint Paul?
Yes. For projects that qualify for a survey waiver, SitePlans.ai allows you to create the scaled, dimensioned PDF site plan—complete with impervious surface calculations—that the PAULIE system requires for Electronic Plan Review.
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