St. Louis Park, MN
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- Yes. Following parking ban guidelines, removing snow from sidewalks promptly, not putting snow in public areas, removing snow around hydrants, and exercising caution while driving near our snow removal vehicles all go a long way in helping us do our jobs. The city always appreciates resident feedback. If you have any questions about our snow removal operations or you’d like to report an issue, please don’t hesitate to call Public Works at 952.924.2562.
- No. These items used to be collected through the program, but commercial composters no longer want them. These products have a thin plastic lining to keep grease and liquids from penetrating the paper. The plastic is not compostable and will not break down completely. The only to-go coffee cups accepted are those that are certified compostable by BPI or Cedar Grove.
- Block parties require a street closure permit (no fee). You should apply for the permit one to two weeks before the party. Learn more at the Block Party / Street Closure page.
- City permits and inspections are required for all storm-related repairs such as repairing roofing, siding, meter and mast. This is for your protection when working with contractors, as well as helpful in maintaining the value of your property. For more information about permits, and to ensure your repairs and replacements have been inspected, please contact the city at 952.924.2588.
- Yes. These items are accepted as part of the city’s program. All organics must be bagged in certified compostable bags. The only exception is pizza delivery boxes, which can be put loose in your cart. Make sure to remove any delivery stickers usually found on the sides of delivery boxes.
No Mow grass is a great alternative to the standard Kentucky Bluegrass you find on most lawns. No Mow grass is easy to install and grows to a limited height (approximately 8-10 inches), so you will never need to mow it, saving fossil fuels, water and fertilizer. For more information, read the No Mow Grass Fact Sheet or visit the Prairie Nursery's No Mow Lawn Seed Mix website.
St. Louis Park property owners who wish to install a No Mow landscape on their property need to complete and submit a Native Landscape Permit (so we know your landscape is special and not in violation of our weed ordinance). For more information, read the city's Weed Ordinance and Alternative Vegetation Ordinance. For more alternatives to standard lawns and landscapes, check out this Washington Post article.
Yes. There are some exceptions, but only in a few neighborhoods where parking is limited because of apartment buildings or commercial businesses. In these areas, parking within the first 24 hours of the snow emergency going into effect is allowed. After the 24 hours has passed, vehicles must be moved to allow snow plows to clear the street in that area. Vehicles that aren't moved are subject to ticketing and towing.
View the winter parking exemptions map to locate the areas that are exempt or call 952.924.2562.
Hennepin County offers technical assistance and grants of up to $50,000 to businesses that need help setting up or improving their recycling programs. Grants can be used for the purchase of containers, equipment purchase and installation, hauling service charges and minor improvements to loading docks and waste enclosures. Strong recycling programs conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, can help a business’s bottom line and demonstrate to customers a commitment to sustainability. Visit Hennepin County's website for more information.
Due to changes with our partnering organization, St. Louis Park has discontinued the regular collection of holiday lights for recycling. The city will, however, accept holiday lights at the spring cleanup in June and the fall cleanup in September. Residents can recycle strands of lights year-round by taking them to Express Metals, 8094 Excelsior Blvd., Hopkins, MN 55343 or to one of the locations found in Hennepin County’s Green Disposal Guide.
Please note: Never put holiday lights in your curbside recycling cart; they cause significant problems at the sorting facility.
- Residents may change the size of their cart one time in a 12-month period by calling utility billing at 952.924.2111. Available cart sizes are 30 and 60 gallons.
- Yes. If you need to collect recyclables in bags in your home, you may use paper grocery bags, which are recyclable. Please empty the bag into your recycling cart and toss the bag in as a separate item.
- No. Plastic bags may not placed in your recycling cart for any reason, including bagging your recyclables. Plastic bags cause significant problems at the sorting facility. Plastic bags are only accepted for recycling at retail drop-off locations like grocery stores and co-ops. Learn more and find drop-off locations.
- H.O.M.E., a program of Senior Community Services, a non-profit agency, provides homemaking and home maintenance services for residents age 60 or older in many suburban communities of Hennepin County, including St. Louis Park. Their services include snow shoveling, raking and mowing, interior and exterior painting, minor repairs, installation of safety bars, house cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping. To request services, please call 952.746.4046.
- The city accepts Visa, American Express, MasterCard and Discover. Credit card payments can be made on the Utility Billing website or in person at city hall. There is no charge for credit card payments.
- No. Per City Code Chapter 22, dumpsters are not allowed on city property or right of way, including streets, alleys, boulevards and sidewalks. Dumpsters must be placed on private property, such as a driveway or yard/lawn.
- The city partnered with Simple Recycling to provide collection of clothing, shoes and home goods beginning Feb. 13, 2017. Simple Recycling mailed specialized orange bags to households who receive city recycling service, at the beginning of February. All items must be placed in the orange bags and set out on the front curb for collection on your regularly scheduled recycling day. For more information about Simply Recycling. To report a missed pick-up, or if your bags did not arrive in February, call Simple Recycling at 866.835.5068 or email info@simplerecycling.com.
- Yes. Temporary no parking signs may be requested if you have a permit to work within the right of way. A separate refundable deposit fee will be collected for the usage of city owned signs. The deposit fee is $25 per sign (minimum $100 permit). The contractor is responsible for installing the signs and returning them to the city.
- Yes. Street closures can be requested for work that will be conducted within the right of way. Closures will not be granted for block parties or other events that do not have any physical work within the right of way. The police, fire and operations departments must all approve of the closure.
- No. Plastic bags are not compostable and are a contaminant. You risk turning an entire load of compostable material into garbage if you use plastic bags. Bags labeled BPI-certified compostable that meet ASTM D6400 standards are required. The city-provided bags meet this standard.
- If you are not a registered voter, that's not a problem. When you apply for an absentee ballot, you will be provided with the required voter registration materials.
Buckthorn is an invasive plant found in many areas of St. Louis Park, the metro area and Minnesota. Although it’s not required, removal of buckthorn from private property is strongly encouraged. The city loans out weed wrenches for a two-week period to any resident, to facilitate the pulling and removal of buckthorn up to one inch in diameter. To reserve a wrench, please contact Jean Zimmerman at 952.924.2562 or jzimmerman@stlouispark.org.
Once you remove buckthorn from your property, bundle it for your weekly yard waste pickup, bring it to the residential brush drop-off site located at 2501 Edgewood Ave. S. (open April – October), or hire a licensed tree contractor. A list of licensed tree service providers can be found under the Tree Care section.
- The city provides speakers to groups for topics ranging from water to fire prevention, to recycling. The speaker’s bureau topics form lists subjects and names of employees that are willing to share their expertise.
- The city arborist is available to answer your questions about tree care, tree diseases, landscaping or other concerns related to your yard and will even make free house calls. The city arborist can also advise you on tree and plant species that are suitable for your home or business site. Read more about selected tree species for St. Louis Park. For free tree and landscaping advice, contact the city forestry office at 952.924.2562 or jzimmerman@stlouispark.org.
No. As a landlord, you can decide who is responsible for paying utilities. If a tenant is responsible for paying utilities, this must be indicated on the Request for Tenancy Approval and in the lease. Utilities must be individually metered in order to be approved by the voucher program.
- Permits may be necessary for landscaping projects. Visit Permits and Erosion Control Permits for more information.
Permits are required for:
- All new construction
- Any building additions or alterations, including opening up walls that expose existing or new framing and/or insulation
- All roofing and siding
- Drain tile systems
- Any remodeling that changes a building's plumbing, mechanical or electrical system
- Any window, exterior door, or garage door replacement
- Any project that requires a property line or zoning review
- Adding insulation to your attic or walls
- Driveway and parking lots, new or replacement of
- The City of Minneapolis has used ranked-choice voting since 2009, and the City of St. Paul since 2011. Both cities have successfully used ranked-choice voting to elect mayors and city council members. Nationally, different variations of ranked-choice voting are used in San Francisco, CA and Maine.
No. The St. Louis Park Housing Authority does not pre-qualify properties. Each time a landlord rents to a voucher holder, their property/unit will be screened for affordability and an inspection will take place. Typically, the Housing Choice Voucher inspection does not have as strict of standards as the city inspection that is needed for a landlord's rental license.
- Yes. You are not required to rank your choices and can choose to vote for only one candidate. You are allowed to rank up to three choices per office.
- No. This is an overvote, and the first-choice vote will not be counted. If this happens, you can discard your ballot and receive a new ballot to correct the error.
- Yes. However, votes will count one time for that candidate. Ranking the same candidate for all three choices will not increase their chance of winning. It’s generally considered the same as leaving two of the choices blank.
- Yes. All valid votes cast on a ballot will be counted. Skipping a ranking or choosing not to vote for a particular office on the ballot is called an undervote. You are allowed to rank up to three choices for each city office (mayor and council member) and may vote for each office that appears on your ballot. Similar to what happens now, you can choose to vote for as many or as few of the offices on the ballot as you choose.
Yes. In exchange for allowing Golden Valley, Hopkins and Minnetonka residents to buy aquatic park season passes at St. Louis Park resident rates, St. Louis Park residents may use select facilities in these communities at their resident rates. Thanks to reciprocal agreements, we share use of the following:
- Brookview Golf Course, 200 Brookview Pkwy., Golden Valley — St. Louis Park residents are eligible to purchase patron cards and golf at patron rates for 18-hole, 9-hole and par-3 golfing at the Golden Valley resident rate.
- Shady Oak Beach, 5200 Shady Oak Road, Minnetonka — St. Louis Park residents are eligible to purchase season passes for the summer season at Shady Oak Beach at the Minnetonka resident rate. This 85-acre recreational area offers 76' of sandy beach shoreline and clear spring-fed waters with great amenities, including lifeguards, swimming, high dive, concessions, changing area, canoe rental, sand volleyball and free parking. The beach also offers a community play area featuring multiple play areas, water tables, water misters and a "fossil dig" for exploration.
- Williston Fitness Center, 14509 Minnetonka Drive, Minnetonka — St. Louis Park residents may join the Williston Fitness Center at the Minnetonka resident rate. Williston offers an indoor pool, indoor tennis, indoor baseball/softball practice facilities, a party room, basketball, volleyball and other gym activities. Williston also has a full complement of cardiovascular and strength conditioning equipment.
- The City of St. Louis Park will consider issuing private activity revenue bonds for eligible projects. Contact Tim Simon, Chief Financial Officer, at tsimon@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2683
- Free shredded wood mulch and compost is available to city residents. Mulch is stored near the intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Colorado Avenue (south side of Cedar Lake Road adjacent to the railroad tracks). The site is open seven days a week. Before going to the site, you may wish to call 952.924.2562 to verify availability. The city also offers mulch delivery within St. Louis Park. The cost is $130 for a full load or $70 for a half load. For more information, call Park Superintendent Rick Beane at 952.928.2854.
Does the city provide financing options for businesses looking to make energy efficiency improvements?
Yes. The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is an innovative way to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to buildings. It is available through a partnership with the St. Paul Port Authority.The city does not provide kitchen pails for organics collection. Pails were provided through a sign-up incentive for a short period of time in 2017, but are no longer available.
You can use any small bucket, ice cream pail or crock for collecting organic material. Some residents use larger under-the-counter bins or stand-alone cans in their kitchens for collection. Look online or check with your favorite local store if you wish to purchase your own indoor collection bin.
- Sidewalks and trails are not treated with chemicals or sand, and are limited to snow removal only. Sidewalks and trails are also extremely difficult to maintain and keep ice-free. As the snow melts, it often gets trapped between the snow banks on either side of the sidewalk or trail where it pools and refreezes.
- St. Louis Park promotes the use of alternative fuel vehicles. Visit the environment and sustainability page to learn more.
- The City of St. Louis Park does not treat any areas for mosquitos or other insects. Services to monitor and control nuisance insect populations in the metropolitan area, including St. Louis Park, are provided by the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. For more information, visit mmcd.org.
The emerald ash borer (EAB) has officially arrived in Minnesota. To help slow the spread of EAB, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has placed a quarantine on disposal of ash tree debris outside of Hennepin and at least 13 other Minnesota counties. This includes ash logs and lumber, ash tree waste, ash chips and mulch and ALL hardwood firewood.
Advanced Disposal, your residential yard waste hauler, will collect ash tree debris and will compost it in compliance with the quarantine. Your yard waste will continue to be collected on your scheduled collection day.
For more information about the quarantine, visit the MDA website, or call the state’s Arrest the Pest hotline at 888.545.6684 (voicemail) or email arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us.
No. A landlord that participates in the Housing Choice Voucher Program would handle any damages left by a tenant the same way they would handle those from an unsubsidized tenant. If a tenant leaves your property not in good standing or has been evicted, they can or will lose their voucher. Anytime a landlord issues a lease violation to a tenant, it is recommended that they copy the Housing Authority they work with and follow up with them.
- Waste Management will collect wood chips, along with yard waste, on your regular collection day. The wood chips must be free of dirt, rocks and other materials. Cocoa beans, dyed/colored and flavored chips (used for barbecues) are also acceptable. Yard waste bags or containers must not weigh over 40 pounds each when filled.
- A regional trail underpass is scheduled for construction as part of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) project. City staff continues to monitor the timeline for SWLRT construction.
- In 2011, residents were asked to complete a future civic and recreational needs and interests survey. In 2013, a feasibility study for the creation of a city-owned community center was completed. Given the significant cost associated with the community center project and uncertainties around the financial obligations of the city for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) project, the project was not pursued.
- The damage deposit must be provided via secured funds, and made out to the City of St. Louis Park, when the erosion and sediment control application is submitted. Applications will not be reviewed if the damage deposit is not included. The secured funds will be placed in a non-interest bearing account and will be returned to the applicant once the project is complete. Funds may only be used if the city or another regulatory entity determines the project is not compliant with erosion and sediment control requirements. In that case, applicants will be notified and given a timeframe to bring the site back into compliance. If the timeframe isn’t met, then the city can use the funds to reimburse city staff time, contractors, and/or consultants to bring the site back into compliance and to evaluate any natural resource impacts that have resulted due to the noncompliance issue. Damage deposits will be collected for each project and are not transferable. If you have questions, contact Erick Francis at efrancis@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2690.
- After the polls have closed on election night, all first-choice votes are counted and reported to the public, similar to what happens in all other elections.
- If a candidate reaches the threshold (50 percent plus one of total votes cast for that office) with first-choice votes, they will be declared the winner of that race. No more counting is needed.
- If no candidate reaches the threshold with first-choice votes and more than two candidates are running for that office, the ranked-choice voting process kicks in and round-by-round counting will begin the day following the election.
- The next round of counting begins by eliminating all candidates with no mathematical possibility of winning. Votes for the eliminated candidates are transferred to the next ranked candidate (second or third choice) on those ballots. Votes are then recounted.
- If no candidate reaches the threshold, the process is repeated until either:
- One candidate reaches the established threshold of 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast for the office and is declared the winner.
- Only two candidates remain. The candidate receiving the most votes is declared the winner.
- To arrange for an inspection regarding your right of way permit, contact the engineering department at 952.924.2656. Inspections must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. Inspections are available during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Inspection are not done on weekends or holidays.
- To change the name or mailing address on your water bill, call utility billing at 952.924.2111 or email utilitybilling@stlouispark.org.
- There are insects, plants and animals that are native to St. Louis Park and those that are not. As an example, for non-native insects, some have ample opportunity to travel to our area on lumber trucks, while some are accidentally brought over from Asia on a shipment of goods. This import of non-native or invasive insects disrupts the natural ecological cycle. For some species, there is no natural check and balance and the invasive species flourishes at the expense of native species. This pattern continues in the form of aquatic species (Zebra mussels), terrestrial plants (Buckthorn) or animals (Opossum). For more information about invasive species in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
How can I make sure my water meter or meter interface unit (MIU) is not damaged when I am doing home remodeling work?
When you are making these improvements, make sure the water meter and MIU remain accessible after the work is complete, and that the wiring between the meter and MIU is not damaged.
DON’T:- Put sheetrock over the wiring in basements. Screws may accidentally be run over the wire, either pinching it or breaking the wire completely.
- Cover the MIU with sheetrock.
- When re-siding your home, do not cut the MIU wire or throw the MIU away. There is a $100 fee for replacing MIUs.
DO:
- Contact public works at 952.924.2562 if you are re-siding your home. Public works staff can then remove the MIU and reinstall it after the siding work is complete. The siding company will need to drill a ½” hole where the existing MIU is mounted so the MIU wire can be reconnected and the unit can be mounted in the same location
If you have any additional questions, contact the public works department at 952.924.2562.
A new disease called bur oak blight (BOB) has been identified in the Twin Cities area and is affecting bur oak trees in St. Louis Park. BOB mimics the symptoms of oak wilt disease, with lots of brown leaves appearing in a tree’s crown and falling off during the latter half of the growing season, typically late to mid-July. BOB tends to be most prevalent during growing seasons that start out cool and wet. Successive years of BOB on your tree can kill your tree. The best treatment for BOB is a fungicide treatment administered by a St. Louis Park-licensed tree service in the early spring. Check your bur oak trees now to see if they are displaying and/or losing brown leaves and plan with your licensed tree service for treatment early next spring.
A list of licensed tree service providers in St. Louis Park can be found under the Tree Care section.
If you have a healthy elm tree or an infected oak tree, you may wish to have your tree injected with a fungicide that prevents Dutch elm disease or halts oak wilt disease. The City of St. Louis Park will reimburse you for 15 percent of the cost of a three-year warranty injection. Download the request for reimbursement form. For questions or concerns about tree injections, please contact Jim Vaughan at 952.924.2699 or jvaughan@stlouispark.org.
Dutch elm disease. Symptoms include wilting of one or more of the upper branches (leaves on these branches turn brown, wilt and eventually fall off) and brown staining of the wood immediately under the bark (in healthy trees, the sapwood is milky white).
Oak wilt disease. A tree infected with oak wilt will have leaf discoloration, which begins at the outer edge of the leaf and progresses inward. Leaves turn a dull green, bronze or tan and finally turn brown and shrivel. Oak wilt may be transmitted from tree to tree through root grafts (root transmission), so two or more oaks growing closely together may infect each other. For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that could potentially kill all ash trees (except mountain ash) in Minnesota. It has not yet been found in St. Louis Park, but it has been found in several areas of the Twin Cities. To help us slow down this insect, DO NOT remove any ash trees or ash wood from your property without first contacting the city’s forestry division at 952.924.2699 or jvaughan@stlouispark.org.
There’s a lot you can do to protect your trees from EAB, including pruning, chemical injections and having your trees inspected annually. St. Louis Park has teamed up with Rainbow Treecare to offer discounted preventative EAB injections for ash trees on private property. To schedule a visit or to get an estimate, contact Rainbow Treecare at 952.767.6920 or info@rainbowtreecare.com, or visit the Rainbow Treecare website. To schedule an appointment to have your trees inspected by the city, email jzimmerman@stlouispark.org or call 952.924.2562. Tree inspections are provided by the city at no cost to residents.
For more information about the emerald ash borer, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
- You can stay updated on the project status by signing up for project email updates.
You can also text SLPMN WDBRIDGE to 468311 for text alerts about the project. A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that provides communities, like St. Louis Park, with funding to address a wide range of activities benefiting low- to moderate-income households in the community.
Beginning in 2018, CDBG funds for social services will be awarded through combined Request for Proposals (RFP) coordinated by Hennepin County, and in partnership with St. Louis Park and other participating suburban cities. Read the Hennepin County CDBG Request for Proposals Guide.
To apply for a grant, organizations must have 501(c) (3) status, and activities must benefit low- to moderate-income households in St. Louis Park.
Timeline
- January 2018 - The application process begins with an advertisement by Hennepin County and on the city’s website. The advertisement informs the interested organizations providing social services about the availability of CDBG funds.
- Feb. 27, 2018 - All the interested organizations must submit their applications to Hennepin County by 4:30 p.m.
- May to July 2018 - Hennepin County Board and HUD approve the funding awards.
The St. Louis Park Police Department is recruiting interested citizens to become Block Captains. For more information and to see if your block is organized, visit the Crime Prevention page and contact the community outreach officer at 952.924.2661.
How do I determine the excavation length, width and depth if I am not sure how large the excavation will be?
Excavation must be done in accordance with all applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. If the size of the excavation is unknown, determine the minimum dimensions of pavement removal and replacement. Use these dimensions on the permit application form. Pavement removals will be marked by the city inspector in the field prior to restoration.- You can research a property's permit history using ePermits. Click on the search tab and enter the property address, permit number or contractor name.
For on-street parking during the winter, visit Parking & Vehicle.
For high school area parking, you can receive up to four permits to park on the street if you live near St. Louis Park High School, in an area where on-street parking is restricted. To be considered for a permit, submit an application and show proof of residence, such as a driver’s license or utility bill. Contact the Engineering Department at 952.924.2656 or info@stlouispark.org for an application. High School Area Permit Map.
For medical needs — In special cases where residents have medical conditions, a permit may be issued to restrict on-street public parking in front of a resident’s home. To be considered for a permit, submit an application form with a letter from your doctor. If the application is approved by Engineering staff and City Council, signs will be installed in front of your home. Permits are reviewed each year to confirm medical conditions still exist. Contact the Engineering Department at 952.924.2656 or info@stlouispark.org for an application.
- You can leave them next to your blue-lidded recycling cart and Waste Management will pick them up on your recycling collection day. It is best to tape a note to the bins so that the hauler knows you want the bins to be removed. The bins will be recycled.
There are a few indicators that can let you know if your connection is secure:
- Check the web address of URL of the site. Many URLs being with "http." However, for secure connections, the URL should begin with "https." The “s” indicates it is secure.
- Check for a closed padlock icon in the window browser. In many browsers, this is located to the left or right of the URL. You can click on the icon for more information.
- The inspector will inspect the repair after the excavation is paved. It is not necessary to call the inspector for this inspection. If the work is deemed to be inadequate, the inspector will contact the contractor and request that the work be corrected within two weeks. If the work is not corrected in the given time frame, the city can opt for other measures to correct the problem.
- There is no official certification process to be a Housing Choice Voucher landlord. A Housing Authority establishes policies and procedure, which are based on federal laws and regulations, they must follow to add any unit or property to the program. Contact the St. Louis Park Housing Authority at 952.924.2579 for additional information.
If you own more than one property, you can link them together in the online bill pay system. When registering your accounts, use the same email address and password for all your different accounts. You can then link the accounts and select multiple invoices by only signing in once. You can also request courtesy emails to be sent to your tenants when their account has been billed. A video on account linking can be found by clicking on "Support" → “Help – User Videos" → “Account Linking.”
Potholes on City Streets - St. Louis Park
Call St. Louis Park Public Works at 952.924.2562.Potholes on County Roads - Hennepin County
Excelsior Boulevard (CR 3) and Minnetonka Boulevard (CR 5)
Call 612.596.0300 or submit online.Potholes on State Highways - MnDOT
Interstate 394, State Highways 7, 100 and 169
Call 651.366.5165 or submit online.Whether reporting by phone or online, please be ready to list the street and closest intersection where the pothole exists, and a house number or some way of identifying the location. If you are unsure of which office to call, contact St. Louis Park Public Works at 952.924.2562.
- To report a sidewalk that has not been shoveled, call 952.924.2562 or email pworks@stlouispark.org.
Visit invoicecloud.com/stlouisparkmn to set up automatic or scheduled recurring payments. Your account number is an 18-digit number, which is a combination of your customer and account number separated by a dash. Include leading zeros and no spaces. Example:
- Customer Number: 00012345
- Account Number: 0012345678
- Enter your account number as: 00012345-0012345678
- You may rank up to three different candidates for each city office (mayor and council member) on the ballot. The front side of each ballot will have three columns (first, second and third choice) for each office, listing every candidate. You will complete the ballot from left to right, indicating your first choice for each race by filling in the oval next to the candidate’s name in the first-choice column. If you wish to rank second and/or third choices, you will select them in the corresponding second and third columns on the ballot.
- Apply for your permit and pay the permit fee online using ePermits.
- For permits that require plan review, you'll receive an emailed receipt for your permit fee payment.
- ProjectDox will send you an invitation to create your account. This includes a temporary password for first-time users. Use this information to log into your ProjectDox account.
- Now compile sheet files.
- Complete the Applicant Upload task.
- Plans will be sent to a city permit technician who will pre-screen the submitted drawings and documents. You'll be contacted if corrections are needed.
- The project then moves on to department review. At this step you'll also be notified if corrections are needed.
- If you are asked to make corrections, you can upload revised plans using the same name as the original file. This will create a "Version 2" of the plan. Subsequent revisions will be numbered accordingly.
- Once all relevant city departments have finished review, it will be determined if project valuations are accurate. You will be contacted about any changes to valuations.
- When the permit is approved, you'll be notified of approval and that final fees are due.
- Pay final fees online with ePermits or in person at the Inspections counter at City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park. The Pay Final Fees task is complete once you choose "pay online" or "pay in person."
- Once final fees have been paid, you will be notified that you can download your approved plans from the Approval folder in ProjectDox.
- First, make sure not to overfill your bag. Empty it at least weekly or when it is just over two-thirds full. Start by grabbing the opposite sides of the top of the bag, twist them a couple times, and then tie a knot using the two twisted areas you just created. Tie a knot one more time and place the bag in your organics cart. Please do not use twist ties because they are not compostable.
- Salt is applied to roadways to lower the freezing point of water. This in turn helps dissolve the snow or ice into a brine solution — a combination of water and salt — and prevents falling snow or rain from freezing. For the salt to work, a heat sources is also needed. The heat source can be air temperature above 15 degrees Fahrenheit, radiant heat from the sun or even friction from tires (traffic).
When the temperature drops below 15 degrees, the effectiveness of salt decreases and it must be treated with calcium chloride or magnesium chloride to help lower the freezing point. At temperatures below zero degrees, bulk products will no longer control snow or ice effectively. The city will then begin to use a sand/salt mixture to providing traction at stop signs, hills and other known hazard locations. A candidate is declared the winner of a race when they either:
- A — Reach an established threshold of 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast for that office.
OR - B — Only two candidates remain. The candidate with the most votes wins.
- A — Reach an established threshold of 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast for that office.
- You can compost more materials with organics recycling than in your backyard compost bin. Large-scale commercial composting facilities maintain higher temperatures than backyard compost bins. These temperatures are needed to kill bacteria and break down items that cannot be composted in a backyard compost bin, including meat, bones, dairy products and compostable plastics. Backyard composting is still a great option for recycling fruit and vegetable scraps and yard waste into a soil amendment that you can use at home.
- Sewer charges are based on water usage during the winter months. To calculate sewer use, the city reads your water meter during the winter months to determine a quarterly average. This is beneficial to residents because water use is substantially less in the winter. However, if a resident's current actual water use is less than the winter average, the sewer charge is then based on actual water use.
- Pavement repairs must be guaranteed for a minimum of two years from the date of inspection. If repairs are needed during the year, the inspector will contact the contractor and request that the work be corrected within two weeks. If the work is not corrected in the given time frame, the city can opt for other measures to correct the problem.
- You will be allowed to rank up to three choices for the 2019 municipal election (mayor and council member) in St. Louis Park.
- Residents are not allowed to submit requests for temporary parking more than two weeks per calendar year.
- Waste Management picks up organics recycling every week on your regular collection day. If your cart collection is missed, call Waste Management at 763.783.5423.
- It is recommended that you follow the guidelines and instructions that are provided with your extinguisher. Guidelines and instructions may be different depending on the fire extinguisher you purchase.
- Traffic signals and a regional trail underpass are planned for this area as part of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) project. That project is scheduled to open for passenger service in 2023, with construction tentatively set to start in late 2018 or early 2019. No exact date has been identified for installation of traffic signals and the regional trail underpass.
- A five-pound ABC extinguisher would work well for a household. This type of extinguisher would cover class A, B and C fires. Class A fires are those that result from ordinary combustibles, such as wood, cloth and paper. Class B fires are those that that result from combustible and flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oil, oil-based paints and grease. Class C fires are those that are of an electrical nature from appliances, tools or other equipment that is plugged in.
- Yes you can switch to a smaller cart smaller cart by filling out the online recycling cart selection form or by calling utility billing at 952.924.2111. Before downsizing, remember that collection is every-other-week and additional bulky plastics will be collected and will need to fit inside your cart. Also, you are allowed one cart change per 12-month period at no charge; additional cart changes will require a fee.
- City ordinance prohibits anyone from cutting down live trees from public land, including boulevard spaces (the right-of-way along a street). City ordinance also provides requirements for tree removal and replacement on public and private land. For more information, look for Section 36-364 Landscaping in the City Code. If your construction plans call for tree removal, contact Zoning Administrator Gary Morrison at 952.924.2592 or gmorrison@stlouispark.org or Natural Resources Coordinator Jim Vaughan at 952.924.2562 or jvaughan@stlouispark.org.
I received a letter that I may have continuous water flow (a water leak). How can I detect the leak?
Homeowners are responsible for all water use, even if it results from a leak, so it’s important to find out what causing the continuous flow. First, check your water meter to confirm the continuous flow. Your water meter is inside your home and has two indicators showing water use. Follow the steps below or watch the video to see how to check it:
- Open the black cap on top of the meter.
- Shine a flashlight on the solar panel. (It’s important to use a flashlight, not a smartphone – the smartphone light isn’t strong enough to activate the panel.)
- The screen below the solar panel will then display the current water meter reading in gallons.
- It will also flash other indicators such as “Leak” or “Rate of Flow.” If you see a light in the shape of a faucet, this indicates an intermittent flow (flashing faucet) or continuous flow (faucet light stays on). The rate of flow should be 0.00 if there is no water flowing through the meter.
Once you’ve determined you have a leak, check common leak sources like toilets, water softener malfunctions, indoor and outdoor faucets, humidifiers attached to furnaces and irrigation systems. You may be able to hear a leak before you see it, so listen carefully for water flow or leaks. If you can’t find anything, you may want to hire a plumber to investigate.
- No. All organic material must be put in compostable bags and placed in the organics cart for efficient collection.
If I get approval for temporary parking and there is a snow emergency, can I still park on the street?
No. If a snow emergency has been declared, you must follow the guidelines for parking during a snow emergency.- No. Each voter only gets one vote counted. If a winner can be declared after all first-choice votes are counted, the second and third choice votes are never counted. If a candidate is eliminated, all votes for that candidate are transferred to the next highest candidate chosen on those ballots.
If my driveway is plowed in and I throw the snow back into the street, can city crews come by and clean it up?
No. Pushing snow from private property onto a public street actually violates state statute and city ordinance.
- No. All recycling, organics, and garbage carts are the property of the City of St. Louis Park. Do not take them when you move.
In St. Louis Park, ranked-choice voting may only be used to elect the offices of mayor and council member. Under current state law, ranked-choice voting cannot be used to elect any federal, state, county or school district offices.
- Major additions (second story additions or additions of 500 square feet or more), demolitions and new construction are required to have a construction management plan (CMP). The purpose of the CMP is to provide neighbors with information about what is happening at the property and contact information on who to call if they have concerns during construction. It may include sending written notification to neighbors within 200 feet of the property, a neighborhood meeting and/or signage. View the construction management plan page to view the CMP packet for more information.
- In many ways, voting will be the same as other elections. You will use a paper ballot, fill in ovals next to your choices and place the ballot into a machine to be counted. The main differences in a ranked-choice election are the elimination of the primary election in August, and a ballot design that allows you to rank up to three choices for each city office (mayor and council member).
- You have the option to rank your choices for each city office (mayor and council member). You are not required to rank. Others who have used the system believe that having the option to rank their choices allows them more opportunity to have their voice heard. Voters who choose to rank essentially have the chance to say, “If my first choice is not elected, this is the next candidate I would like to see elected.”
- No. There is no fee for a temporary parking permit.
- The State of Minnesota offers a Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral program. To be eligible you must be at least 65 years old, have a household income of $60,000 or less and have lived in your home for at least 15 years.
My work involves excavation in the boulevard and street. Which box do I check on the permit application form for type of surface to be disturbed?
Check all applicable boxes. For example, if the excavation takes place in a bituminous street and in the boulevard, check both of these boxes.The city follows a city council adopted snow removal/ice control policy which provides for snow removal activities and establishes priorities for how this is accomplished. The council has not established a "bare pavement" or ice-free (safety) requirement. The city uses an industry-proven salting strategy that balances financial and environmental responsibility to achieve a safe driving surface for the public.
The effectiveness of salt in removing ice and snow from roads depends on several factors, including the moisture content of the snow, chemical concentration, pavement temperature, weather conditions, road surface topography, traffic volume and width of application.
Road salt is a great tool in the snow and ice fighting toolbox, but it is not a cure-all for all things icy and it doesn’t work well by itself. The purpose of salt is to dissolve the snow or ice into a brine solution, which then activates the melting process. Before any melting occurs, a heat source is required. The heat source can be air temperature above 15 degrees, radiant heat from the sun or even friction from tires (traffic). The city uses accepted industry guidelines that determine the amount of salt required to create the brine needed for various weather conditions.
Thus, treatment of slippery areas with chemicals/sand is essentially limited to high traffic thoroughfares, select hills and curves, and known hazardous intersections. For more information, view our salting strategies.
The rent I need to charge is higher than the Housing Authority will allow, and I can't afford to lower my rent. The family has offered to pay the difference, is that ok?
No. That would be considered fraud. Any payments between a landlord and tenant need to be disclosed in your lease. The portion of rent the tenant is responsible for is determined by the Housing Authority. In this case, the landlord would need to tell the family they are not able to work with them.- The current bridge opened in 2010. Several factors have contributed to the current planned enhancements, including changes to best designs for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles; additional development planned for the area; and continuing delays to the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) project timeline.
- City staff continues to work with the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) on installation of traffic signals and a regional trail underpass. Both projects are planned as part of SWLRT construction; no exact date has been identified.
- Putting food scraps down the garbage disposal places extra processing burdens on wastewater treatment facilities. It takes energy and resources to process solids, including food waste, at wastewater treatment plants. Organics recycling is a better option as finished compost puts valuable nutrients back into the soil.
The city requires Waste Management to leave educational tags on recycling carts for improperly prepared recycling.
Improperly prepared recycling includes:
- Extra recyclables not set out in the cart, a paper bag, box, or separate reusable container.
- Cardboard boxes that are too large (must be flattened and no larger than 3 foot by 3 foot pieces) or placed loose next to cart (extra cardboard that cannot fit into your recycling cart must by bundled with tape or twine.
- Scrap metal inside the cart (this must be placed in a separate container next to the cart and be less than 2 foot by 2 foot).
- Unacceptable items like garbage, foam packaging, and plastic bags/film which must go into your garbage cart.
- Unacceptable items like yard waste which must be separated for yard waste collection.
- Unacceptable items like food scraps which must be separated for organics recycling (if your household participates) or garbage.
- Unacceptable items like electronics and household hazardous waste which must be separated and delivered to special collection facilities or events.
- Improper cart placement in the street, on the sidewalk, on a snowbank, or in the alleyway.
Contact Waste Management at 763.783.5423 or stlouispark@wm.com if you receive a tag and have questions.
- 30-gallon cart — 39" tall x 20" wide x 23" deep
- 60-gallon cart — 41" tall x 27" wide x 28" deep
- 90-gallon cart — 46" tall x 28.5" wide x 34" deep
- Visit the water and sewer page for information about sprinkling restrictions.
In 2016, FEMA announced changes to the floodplain boundaries. Some property owners within or close to the floodplain may have received letters from their mortgage companies requiring the purchase of flood insurance. Other property owners may find themselves no longer required to carry flood insurance, based on the new data.
View the floodplain map changes page to learn more.
- Residents may conduct two garage sales per year, each lasting a maximum of 72 consecutive hours. Please do not post signs on utility poles, traffic signs or public right-of-ways, such as curbside areas of lawns. Garage sale signs should be removed as soon as the sale is over. Please consider donating unsold household items to a charity, such as the Salvation Army, rather than throwing them in the garbage.
- After a snowfall, snow on residential sidewalks must be removed by the same day if there are six or more hours of daylight following the snowfall or by noon the following day. Sidewalks in front of apartments or commercial buildings must be cleared within four hours once the snow has stopped falling or by the beginning of business hours the next day. Sidewalks are inspected on a random basis. Failure to shovel may result in a fine.
In St. Louis Park, there are special road restrictions in late winter and early spring. The city follows the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MnDOT) schedule for imposing and removing spring road weight limit restrictions. In a typical year, spring road restrictions go into effect in March and end about eight weeks later, depending on weather conditions.
St. Louis Park's road weight limits are six tons (12,000 lbs.) per axle on residential streets and nine tons (18,000 lbs.) on municipal state aid streets, unless otherwise posted. There are limited instances, such as moving trucks or emergency issues, when a weight waiver will be given. All other requests will be examined for options other than issuing a permit such as to divide the load in two or bring less amounts in on each trip. The city does not issue permits for any type of demolition or construction project for the duration of the restrictions. If a permit is issued, there is a $50 fee and the permit is good for one trip only. No open-ended permits will be issued.
For more information:
- Call the MnDOT road restriction hotline at 651.366.5400.
- Visit the MnDOT seasonal load limits webpage.
- View the city’s seasonal load limits
- Contact Jeff Stevens, public works operations manager, at 952.928.2853 or jstevens@stlouispark.org.
- Open house, for sale, for rent and other temporary signs cannot be posted on public property, trees or the public right-of-way, including curbside areas of lawns, utility poles and traffic signs. City ordinance also regulates the size and placement of permanent signs. For more information, contact Zoning Administrator Gary Morrison at 952.924.2592 or gmorrison@stlouispark.org.
Branches, brush or logs greater than four feet in length or four inches in diameter are too big for residential curbside collection. Bring them to the city’s brush drop-off site located at 2501 Edgewood Ave. S., at the intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Colorado Ave. S.
The drop-off site is open annually from April to October. There is no charge for St. Louis Park residents. A Minnesota ID or driver’s license is required as proof of residency.
Yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and small branches are not accepted at the site and should be set out for curbside collection. View additional Hennepin County drop-off sites.
- See a list of acceptable recycling items or call public works at 952.924.2562. There is also a label on the lid of your blue-lidded cart explaining many of the items that can be recycled.
- Do not throw an expired or empty fire extinguisher in the garbage. Residents are able to drop off any unwanted or used fire extinguishers at Fire Station 1 or Fire Station 2 free of charge. The fire department staff will then properly dispose of them.
Construction-related permits generally require the items listed below; however, requirements may vary. If you are unsure what to bring, call 952.924.2588.
- Project plans or blueprints
- Site plan (if you're adding to the overall footprint of your property, installing a fence or building a deck or addition)
- Method of payment (cash, credit card or checks accepted)
- Contractors need to bring their Minnesota state license EPA Lead Safe Certificate
- St. Louis Park is committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship. Visit Environment & Sustainability to learn more.
When you sign up, your household will receive the following:
- A brown-lidded cart for organics and yard waste (30- and 60-gallon sizes are available)
- A supply of BPI-certified compostable bags at no additional cost
- An informational packet, expert advice and assistance
If you have questions, please contact public works at 952.924.2562.
The following resources are available for residents interested in completing energy improvements:
- Xcel Energy Windsource Program (for businesses) — A Windsource subscription helps your business generate goodwill, meet sustainability goals and earn LEED certification points.
- Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) — Commercial financing for energy efficiency and/or renewable projects.
The following resources are available for residents interested in completing energy improvements:
- Home Energy Squad (residents only) — Home Energy Squad’s goals is to help you make energy improvements a reality. They can connect residents with rebate information and affordable financing options.
- Xcel Energy Windsource Program (for residents) — Windsource® is a program that allows customers to pay a little extra every month to get some or all of their energy from renewable resources.
- The effectiveness of salt in removing ice and snow from roads depends on several factors, including the moisture content of the snow, chemical concentration, pavement temperature, weather conditions, pavement type, traffic volume and width of application.
- Please call public works at 952.924.2562.
- Organics material is composted at a commercial composting facility. Compost can be made using items that can’t be easily composted in a back yard, such as bones, fish skins and dairy products. Organics become compost in just 180 days after you put them out for weekly collection.
Improvements for the Wooddale bridge will include:
- Widening the bridge deck by seven feet on each side, creating a four-lane road for traffic. Widening the bridge will create 12-foot-wide sidewalks, six-foot-wide bike lanes and a turn lane for the Highway 7 entrance ramps.
- Concrete walls will be pulled back as part of the bridge widening, creating better sight lines for drivers approaching Wooddale Avenue South from the Highway 7 ramps.
- Landscaping will soften the feel of the corridor and complement the Southwest Light Rail Transit Wooddale Station and and Via development.
The St. Louis Park Housing Authority encourages landlords to have specific written criteria for their tenants, and to consistently adhere to it. When a voucher holder applies, a typical response from a landlord could include, “I am willing to work with the voucher program, as long as the applicant is able to pass my screening criteria.” If you are a landlord that works with the program regularly, including information in your marketing materials such as "Rental Assistance Accepted" will let voucher holders know you are willing to work with them.
Compliance with PCI, Payment Card Industry, industry standards is required for companies or entities that accept major credit cards for payments and for software providers who have applications which involve the transmission and/or storage of credit card information. If breaches are found on systems that are not PCI compliant, the major credit card companies have the ability to levy significant fines on the offending parties.
- Ranked-choice voting (RCV) allows you to rank multiple candidates in order of preference. This voting method combines the primary and general election into one event. Simply put, you have the chance to say, “If my first choice candidate is not elected, this is my second choice (or third choice) for who I would like to see elected.”
On June 16, 2017, Standard & Poor's (S&P) affirmed their highest rating "AAA" for the city, making st. Louis Park one of 21cities in Minnesota with this rating from S&P.
- Weeds and grass must be trimmed. If they grow higher than six inches, the city will cite the property owner. If the property owner continues to take no action, the city have the offending grass/weeds cut at the property owner's expense. See the city’s Vegetation Ordinance for more information. If you have a complaint about uncut grass or weeds, call 952.924.2562 or email jvaughan@stlouispark.org.
Community sidewalks are located on streets that are directly adjacent to community or area destinations, such as the library, schools, retail areas, parks, regional trails, transit nodes and places of worship. Most of these sidewalks are located along roadways that have high traffic volumes.
Neighborhood sidewalks are all other sidewalks in the city. They provide accessibility for pedestrians within the immediate area and feed into the community sidewalk system. These sidewalks are generally located on lower volume roads.
- The project cost is approximately $2.4 million and is being funded through the Elmwood tax increment financing (TIF) district, established for redevelopment projects in the area. The city is able to use some of those TIF funds to pay for infrastructure improvements.
- The Zero Waste Packaging Ordinance went into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. The goal of the ordinance is to reduce the amount of trash created by food and beverage packaging. Visit Zero Waste Packaging Ordinance page to learn more.
The University of Minnesota Extension Service provides access to master gardeners who can answer questions about gardening, yard care, soil testing, composting, insects and animal predation. There is no charge for this service. Visit extension.umn.edu or call 612.596.2110 for more information.
In addition, watch the Spring Landscape Workshop for more lawn and garden tips. The presentation is given by St. Louis Park Environmental Coordinator Jim Vaughan, and it’s also available as a PDF.
- Free blood pressure checks are available at the fire stations from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The St. Louis Park Fire Department also offers a car seat installation program, open to residents and non-residents at $40 per car seat installed.
A landlord should screen voucher holders like any other tenants. While the screening process is taking place, a landlord may fill out a Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) form. The RTA lets the Housing Authority (HA) know about the unit the tenant is wanting to rent. The tenant is responsible for returning the form, along with an unexecuted lease, to the HA by the 15th of the month in order to be assisted for the following month. We encourage tenants not to leave this form with landlords due to the time-sensitive nature of the program.
Once the HA receives the RTA form, the unit is determined to be affordable or not based on the agency’s payment standards and the family’s income. After the unit is determined to be affordable, the HA will contact the landlord to schedule and complete a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. The inspection must pass by the first of the month. A unit cannot be included in the program if it does not pass the HQS inspection.
The landlord is required to fill out a W9, sign a HAP contract and submit the executed lease to the HA. At that point, the landlord can be paid based on the HA’s practices.
- Most residential accounts are charged for water, sewer, storm water and solid waste.
What should I put for the date of work to begin on the right of way permit application form if I’m not sure when the work will begin?
If you are not sure if the date the work will begin, put “unknown” in the space for date of work to begin and indicate an approximate time frame (ie. within the next week). The end date of the work should typically not be greater than one month after the anticipated start date. The contractor is responsible for calling the city at least 48 hours prior to beginning any work.
Note: Permits are only valid for six months from the date of issuance.
- Any work (above or below ground) performed in the City of St Louis Park within the street right of way requires a permit, including irrigation and driveways. The right of way is located within the street section and typically 10 to 15 feet behind the curb.
A regional trail underpass will be constructed with the Southwest Light Rail Transit project. View the visual of the planned underpass.
- As in all other elections, city staff work with county and state officials to ensure accurate and secure counting procedures. The city is subject to all election laws related to equipment testing, tabulation and post-election review. The city’s rules governing the administration of elections have built-in measures to verify that the ranked-choice system correctly counts each vote. The city will also produce results with detailed round-by-round election abstracts, which will be available to the public and reviewed by the city council prior to the canvassing of election results. Additionally, accuracy testing of city voting equipment and the tabulation process are open to the public.
- The bike lanes will have green markings at the intersections. View the visualization of Wooddale Avenue northbound to see what they will look like.
- Construction sequencing for the 2018 improvements is still being finalized; however, plans are to keep at least one half of the bridge open throughout construction. The project started in late July and is expected to be completed by late fall. Refer to the project webpage for the most current schedule.
A later phase of the project – traffic signal installation and a regional trail underpass – is part of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) project. An exact date has not been set for these improvements; city staff continues to work with the SWLRT on scheduling. SWLRT construction is tentatively set to start in late 2018 or early 2019, with passenger service starting in 2023. - We hope you’ll consider adopting a park or garden near you! Monitor one as a family, community group, neighborhood, church or business. It’s a great way to get outdoors and take pride in the community you live in. We just ask that you visit the park twice a month through September to pick up litter and check for damage. (Assignments can be arranged around summer vacation schedules.) For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Laura Smith at 952.928.2847 or lsmith@stlouispark.org.
- Unless out on a call, firefighters are at the stations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including all holidays.
Property taxes are due in May and October of each year. Payments or questions should be directed to Hennepin County Property Taxation.
A Property Information Search is available for more information regarding taxes on a specific property.
The City of St. Louis Park does not prune around power lines; this is the responsibility of Xcel Energy. In 2017, Xcel Energy will contract line clearance (tree pruning from pole to pole) in parts of St. Louis Park to Asplundh Tree Expert Company. Xcel Energy will notify impacted property owners. If you have questions, call Excel Energy at 1.800.895.4999.
If your service line (the power line running from an Xcel power pole to your home) is being obstructed by tree branches, you need to have it cleared by a responsible tree service. Never prune around power lines yourself; leave it to a professional! View a list of licensed tree service providers in St. Louis Park.
Routine pruning of public property trees is handled by city contractors and is typically done during the dormant months of January – March. Boulevard trees are pruned once every nine years. The city uses a tree trimming rotational schedule to prune a portion of the city’s boulevard trees each year.
The tree service, S & S Tree and Horticulture, was hired by the city for pruning work in 2017–2019. Boulevard tree pruning is done at no cost to the adjacent property owner.
Pruning trees on private property is the responsibility of individual property owners. Property owners may only use tree services licensed by the City of St. Louis Park. The city licenses tree contractors to ensure they have adequate insurance and qualifications to perform safe and professional tree work. Pruning of trees is strongly recommended during tree dormancy (November – March). View a list of licensed tree service providers under the tree care section.
- You can vote early Sept. 20, 2019 Nov. 4, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The city clerk's office will offer extended hours for absentee voting on the following days:
- Nov. 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This service is for St. Louis Park residents only.
Spring Sweep (March/April – May). Sweeping commences as soon as the snow/ice allows the sweepers to get into the curb lines. The focus is to remove any organic material or sand applied for snow and ice control. If time allows for a second sweep prior to summer sweep kickoff, the city will sweep a second time.
Summer Sweep (June – July). The goal is to remove any organic material that has migrated to the street/curb lines.
Fall Sweep (Early October – Snow Season). Due to the volume of leaves in the street, sweepers are ineffective so the city uses equipment to push leaves into a pile and haul away. The goal is to remove as many of the leaves as possible prior to snow season to prevent plugged catch basins. Once the majority of the leaves are removed, the sweepers will resume sweeping to do a final clean up.
- You will receive a final bill approximately 2 – 3 weeks after your move-out or closing date, provided you gave a forwarding address.
- No. The city does not turn off the water when someone moves out. City staff will obtain a meter reading and send out a final bill.
- Inspection checkpoints will be noted when a right of way permit is issued on the inspection record.
- Your collection day is the same day as garbage collection, but recycling is collected every-other-week instead of weekly.
- St. Louis Park has two fire stations. Fire Station 1 also houses the fire administration staff and is located at 3750 Wooddale Ave. S. Fire Station 2 is located at 2262 Louisiana Ave.
St. Louis Park Fire Station Locations Additional compostable bags are available at City Hall (first floor), 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. and the Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St. at discounted prices in both 13- and three-gallon sizes.
In addition, compostable bags may also be purchased at retail locations such as Ace Hardware, Lunds & Byerlys, Target and Whole Foods. Remember, only bags labeled BPI-certified compostable that meet ASTM D6400 standards may be used.
- Visit the elections page for details on voter registration, absentee voting, running for office and other elections services. Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website for general voting information.
- Finished compost is available on a limited basis at the city’s brush drop-off site located at 2501 Edgewood Ave S., at the intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Colorado Avenue South. The site is open from April to October each year. The high-quality compost is located beyond the check-in gate. Program customers will receive a notification when it becomes available during the season.
- St. Louis Park encourages the use of green building practices and has adopted a Green Building Policy. The policy must be followed for all new planned unit developments and for construction projects that receive city financial assistance and meet certain conditions. Visit the environment and sustainability page to learn more.
Once you sign up, pick up your supply of compostable bags at one of the following locations:
- City Hall (first floor), 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St. from 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Vote by absentee ballot at:
- St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.
- Hennepin County Service Center, 300 S. 6th St. Visit Hennepin County's website for more information.
- St. Louis Park offers free Wi-Fi in many public buildings and parks. Visit the Free Wi-Fi page for a complete list of locations.
A watershed is an area of land in which all of the water that drains from it goes into the same place. This place could be a wetland, pond, lake or creek located outside your back door. St. Louis Park residents live in one of two watersheds. View the watershed district map to find out which watershed you live in.
Only St. Louis Park residents, property owners or businesses are allowed to apply for temporary parking.
Who is responsible for any damages that may occur to a car while parking in the approved temporary parking area?
The vehicle owner will be responsible for dealing with any damages that occur to a car while it is parked in an approved temporary parking area.- For construction projects that are one acre or greater, erosion and sediment control is regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). For construction projects that will disturb an area of 5,000 square feet or greater, or that will excavate a volume of 50 cubic yards or greater, erosion and sediment control is regulated by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and the City of St. Louis Park. In early March, the MCWD granted regulatory permitting authority to the city of St. Louis Park, so now residents, builders and developers who need an Erosion and Sediment Control Permit for smaller projects can work with just the city.
Damage deposits are now required with erosion and sediment control permit applications. The amount required is $3,000 per acre, with a minimum of $1,500 for smaller projects. This is not meant to be a barrier to construction or an added permit expense. If permit requirements are met throughout the construction process, the entire deposit will be returned once the project is complete. Stormwater runoff from construction projects can have a serious effect on the environment and nearby water resources, including Minnehaha Creek, Bass Lake and Lake Calhoun. Because of this, St. Louis Park takes compliance with erosion and sediment control permits very seriously. Damage deposits are intended to reduce noncompliance issues and to ensure that outstanding non-compliance issues are corrected quickly.
- When there is a large amount of snow present, snow storage in the medians, boulevards and alleys becomes sparse or non-existent in most places in the city. With boulevards generally being no more than four to five feet wide and alleys having 10 feet or less driving area, snow storage space is in short supply. The fallout from this shortage is that snow banks creep in a couple of feet or more along each curb line to cause the streets to become narrow. Therefore, “curb-to-curb” plowing simply means crews push the snow back as far as possible. This applies to alleys too, where space is likewise restricted due to the large volume of snow.
- Grass clippings and leaves that are swept into the street end up in our local water bodies, which causes algae to grow and turns lakes green. Raking leaves into the street is a violation of city ordinance and violators may be fined up to $100.
- The City of St. Louis Park bills each residential property quarterly (four times per year); however, not all properties are billed in the same month. The city is divided into six residential billing cycles. Therefore, one property may receive its utility bill in January, April, July and October, while another property might receive its utility bill in February, May, August and November. Commercial accounts are billed monthly and irrigation accounts are billed yearly in November.
- The St. Louis Park City Council voted unanimously to approve the use of ranked-choice voting for elections for city offices in an effort to continue to advance racial equity and inclusion, promote civic engagement and provide an opportunity for all voices in St. Louis Park to be heard.
- When snow banks are large, there are few options for where new snow can go. Snow being cleared from the roadway will build up along the plow until there is a “break” or opening in the snow bank. Often times, the only breaks in the snow banks are driveways so that’s where the snow gets deposited. Due to the significant cost involved, city policies don't allow for the clearing of snow from driveways.
- Water bills are based on how much water is used. Watering the lawn or garden will increase water usage, as will the addition of occupants in the home. Leaks can also lead to an increase in your water bill. If a water meter detects continuous flow (a water leak), the city will send letters detailing the steps that should be taken.
- Registering to pay a bill provides you with access to all your invoices, regardless of type, and all the features of the payment portal. The payment portal features include the ability to view all current invoices, view previous invoices and payment dates, update your profile information, access the online customer service system, go paperless, schedule payments for a specific date and sign up for auto-pay. By registering, you also avoid having to enter your payment information each time you pay a bill.
The city occasionally hears reports of residents being asked to provide water samples. A small bottle is left at a resident's home with a form asking for personal information. The city believes these requests are coming from third-party companies selling water products, such as softeners. When the city conducts occasional water testing, residents are notified well in advance with a letter on official city letterhead. Please don't give out personal information if you're unsure who's asking for it. Also, some third-party sources have used local water safety statistics out of context in an effort to sell products. If you have questions about local water quality, please review the city's annual Drinking Water Reports or visit the Minnesota Department of Health.
- The original bridge design met all state and federal requirements. Several factors have contributed to this year’s bridge enhancement project, including changes in best designs for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists; additional development planned for the area; and continuing delays to Southwest Light Rail Transit construction.
Organics won't smell any more than your regular garbage smells. Remember that with organics recycling, you're simply moving the organic materials from your garbage cart into your organics cart.
Help prevent odors by using a collection container that has a vented lid. Food waste starts to decompose and creates odors more quickly when access to oxygen is cut off. You can purchase a pre-made kitchen pail with a vended lid (with or without a carbon filter), or you can make one using an ice cream pail or other container.
Consider collecting your "wet" organics (food scraps, meat trimmings, etc.) in a large yogurt or cottage cheese container or ice cream pail, and keep that container in your refrigerator or freezer. Dump the wet organics into a compostable bag and place the bag in your organics cart the night before your collection day.
- No. By law, the school district does not have the option to use ranked-choice voting. You will use the traditional voting system for school district races. In St. Louis Park, because the school district also holds elections in odd-numbered years, you will see city offices on one side of the ballot using ranked-choice voting. The other side of the ballot will contain races for school board offices using the traditional voting method. Each side of the ballot will be clearly marked with its own voting instructions.
- No. You will not use ranked-choice voting to elect the president and vice president. By law, ranked-choice voting can't be used for federal offices.
The ballot counter will alert you if you overvote in a race or submit a completely blank ballot. You may choose if you would like to cast your ballot as marked or discard your ballot and receive a new one to fix any mistakes. The ballot counter will not alert you if you skip rankings or vote for the same candidate at multiple rankings.
- Yes. Extra recycling will be collected at no extra charge. Extra recyclables must be in a paper bag, cardboard box, or old recycling bin next to your cart. If you have excess cardboard, please cut or fold the cardboard into three feet by three feet sections, and bundle them with twine, string or tape. Place the bundles next to your recycling cart. If you consistently have extra recycling, call utility billing at 952.924.2111 to request an additional cart.