The Saint Paul rule
From the City's Fence Plan Review, Permit and Inspections page (last edited 7 October 2026, read 26 October 2026):
| Item | Saint Paul's requirement |
|---|---|
| Application | Fence Plan Review/Permit application in PAULIE (homeowner and contractor versions) |
| Plan | "A survey or Basic Site Plan showing the proposed location of your fence" |
| Fee | $45 for the first 200 lineal feet or fraction, $15 for each additional 100 lineal feet or fraction |
| Review | A plan examiner checks location and height; "Upon approval, you may install your fence" |
| Inspection | Only for fences over 7 ft, swimming pool fences and barbed wire fences |
| Variance | $85 nonrefundable; "in most cases, a Fence Variance will be approved/denied within 1-2 business days" |
| Historic districts | Heritage Preservation Commission design review; HPC approval comes before the fence approval |
Height and location
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Front yard | 4 ft |
| Side and rear yards | 7 ft |
| Corner lot, triangle 10 ft from the corner | 2 ft, unless the fence is more than 80% open (chain link) |
| Pool fence, residential | An obscuring fence 4 ft tall, self-closing and self-latching gates with the latch inside, lockable |
| Location | "entirely inside your property line": not on it, not on a neighbor's lot, not on the boulevard or sidewalk area |
The City "cannot locate your property markers and does not settle private property line disputes". A survey is "not required for fences less than seven feet tall", but locating the markers is your job; it suggests talking to the neighbors first. Barbed wire is barred on or next to residential lots. Before digging post holes, Minnesota law requires a call to Gopher State One Call.
Who can apply, and how
Both. PAULIE has separate permit types for homeowners ("Residential Fence 7 Feet and Under Permit for homeowners", the over-7-feet version, "Pool Fence for Homeowners") and for contractors.
- Draw the site plan (or use a survey) showing where the fence goes.
- Apply in PAULIE, the City's permitting system (about PAULIE), choosing the homeowner or contractor fence type. Paper applications can be dropped off but "will not be processed the same day."
- Wait for plan approval, then build.
- Book an inspection only if the fence is over 7 ft, encloses a pool or carries barbed wire.
Fees for common fences, from the City's per-foot rates:
| Fence length | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 200 ft | $45 |
| 201 to 300 ft | $60 |
| 301 to 400 ft | $75 |
| Plus a height or corner variance | add $85 |
What 1,256 Saint Paul fence permits show
| Measure | Saint Paul fences |
|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 1,256 |
| Firms and owners that filed them | 63 |
| With a permit in the last 12 months | 14 |
| Usual filed value | $6,500 |
| Middle half of firms' usual value (22 firms) | $4,356 to $8,994 |
| Share held by the busiest firm / five busiest | 36.3% / 71.7% |
| Firms with 10+ permits | 12 |
| Busiest / quietest month | May (index 182) / February (13) |
Saint Paul's fence permits are concentrated: Midwest Fence alone filed 36.3% of them and the five busiest 71.7%. The season is sharp: filing in May runs at 182% of an average month and in February at 13%. With so few firms and so much of the year's work in late spring, ask for a start date in writing before you sign. Prices by job size are on the Saint Paul fence cost page.
See every Saint Paul fence company by permits →
Related
Other cities' rules: do I need a permit for a fence. National prices: fence installation cost. Choosing the installer: hiring a fence contractor. Licenses: Saint Paul contractor license lookup. Past permits on your house: Saint Paul building permit search. Monthly counts: Saint Paul permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
Most Saint Paul fences get no inspection, so the City's file has no meaningful final date or finished share for them, and we show neither. Filed values are the applicant's estimate. The City's older paper application (effective 2022) prints $41 and $13; the web page, edited October 2026, lists $45 and $15, so confirm the fee when you apply.
How we know this
Requirements, fees, height and location limits, inspection rules and permit types are quoted from the City of Saint Paul DSI's Fence Plan Review, Permit and Inspections page, last edited 7 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026. Counts are City of Saint Paul permits on homes classified as fences, October 2023 to September 2026.
Numbers come from City of Saint Paul building and trade permits (the City's old approved-permits file up to June 2025, and the City's PAULIE permit system since September 2025), with the contractor named on each permit, data through October 22, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to build a fence in Saint Paul?
Yes. The City's fence page asks for a Fence Plan Review/Permit application, a survey or basic site plan and the fee for every fence; a plan examiner checks location and height, and on approval you may install. There is no height below which a fence is exempt.
- How much is a fence permit in Saint Paul?
$45 for the first 200 lineal feet or fraction thereof and $15 for each additional 100 lineal feet, per the City's fence page edited 7 October 2026. A 250-foot fence is $60. A height or corner variance adds a nonrefundable $85.
- How tall can a fence be in Saint Paul?
Four feet in the front yard and seven feet in side and rear yards. On a corner lot, fences in the triangle within 10 feet of the corner may be no more than two feet tall unless more than 80% open, such as chain link. A variance may be requested for more.
- Does Saint Paul inspect fences?
Only fences over seven feet tall, swimming pool fences and barbed wire fences. Other fences are approved at plan review and need no inspection.
- Can I put my fence on the property line in Saint Paul?
No. The City says the fence and all supporting structures must be entirely inside your property line, not on it, on a neighbor's property or on the boulevard or sidewalk area. A survey is not required for fences under seven feet, but you must know where your markers are.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a permit for a fence? The rule in 20 cities, and how many get filed
- Do I need a fence permit in Cape Coral? Height, waterfront and front-yard rules, who can pull it, fee
- Do I need a fence permit in Chicago? Not up to 5 feet; yes for a 6-foot backyard fence
- Do I need a fence permit in Cleveland? Yes: the site plan the City wants, the fee lines and who pulls it
For one city
- Fence Plan Review, Permit and Inspections — City of Saint Paul DSI (last edited 2026-10-07, accessed 2026-10-26)
- PAULIE: New Permitting and Licensing System — City of Saint Paul (2026-10-23)
- Find Property Information — PAULIE (2026-10-23)
- Gopher State One Call (2026-10-26)