Saint Paul, Minn., Legis. Code ch. 34 § 34.13
Occupancy on residential properties
Operative Text
The owner of any premises regulated by this section, as specified in section 34.03, shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Minimum ceiling height. In calculating the floor area of habitable rooms, only those portions of the floor area of a room having a clear ceiling height in excess of five (5) feet may be included. At least half of the floor area of any habitable room shall have a clear ceiling height of seven (7) feet or more. Ceiling heights must be in accordance with the building code in effect at the time of construction or as altered/modified under an approved building permit. (2) Required space in dwelling units. Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum gross floor area of at least one hundred fifty (150) square feet for the first occupant, at least one hundred (100) square feet for each occupant thereafter, the floor area to be calculated on the basis of the total habitable room area. (3) Required space in sleeping rooms. In every dwelling unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one (1) occupant shall have a minimum gross floor area of at least seventy (70) square feet. In every dwelling unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by two (2) or more occupants shall have a minimum gross floor area of fifty (50) square feet per occupant thereof. Rooming units shall comply with section 34.17 (2) of this Code. (4) Emergency escape and rescue opening. At least one (1) window or door opening in every room used for sleeping purposes shall be openable from the inside and maintained in a professional state of maintenance and repair in accordance with the building code in effect at the time of construction or as altered/modified under an approved building permit. (5) Access limitation of dwelling unit or rooming unit to commercial uses. No habitable room, bathroom or toilet room which is accessory to a dwelling unit or rooming unit shall open directly into or shall be used in conjunction with any commercial or industrial use.
Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 34 § 34.13 establishes minimum physical standards for residential occupancy in regulated premises. Habitable rooms must meet specific ceiling height thresholds, and dwelling units must provide at least 150 square feet of floor area for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional occupant. Sleeping rooms carry their own minimum size requirements, must include an openable emergency escape window or door, and no habitable room may open directly into a commercial or industrial space.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners subject to Saint Paul Legislative Code ch. 34 § 34.13 generally maintain records confirming that each dwelling unit meets the gross floor area minimums—150 square feet for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional occupant—and that sleeping rooms satisfy the per-occupant size thresholds. Compliant operators also verify that at least one openable emergency escape window or door is present and kept in good repair in every sleeping room, consistent with the applicable building code. Owners typically ensure that no habitable room, bathroom, or toilet room accessory to a dwelling or rooming unit opens directly into or is used in conjunction with any commercial or industrial space.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Saint Paul regulated housing have a right to units that meet the occupancy and space standards set out in § 34.13, including minimum room sizes, adequate ceiling heights, and a functioning emergency escape opening in every sleeping room. If a unit appears to fall short of these standards—for example, a sleeping room that seems undersized or lacks an openable window—tenants can contact Saint Paul's Department of Safety and Inspections to request an inspection or file a complaint. Tenant-rights organizations in the Saint Paul area can also help residents understand how § 34.13 standards may be relevant to housing conditions concerns or code enforcement proceedings.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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