Rediscover South St. Paul Minimum Architectural Standards

Front Yard Setbacks

New residents must have a front yard setback consistent with the average setback of all residences on the same side of the city block. In the case of a corner lot, the “front yard” shall mean the street frontage with the lesser amount of lineal feet. If the street frontage dimensions are equal, the HRA Board shall designate the “front yard”. (example: If the average front yard setback is 20’, the new setback must be 20’, no more, no less.)

Garage Access

Residential garage loading must be consistent with a majority of adjacent residences on the same side of the city block. (example: If the majority of adjacent residences along the same side of the city block are rear loading onto an alley way, then the new residences must be rear loading onto the alley way.)

Front Building Face

The following are minimum architectural treatments expected with all new residences in the Rediscover South St. Paul Program:

• Ample window breaks on the front face of the building.
• All front face windows must be complimented with such treatments as shutters or decorative window edging, and/ or divided light windows with decorative grills. Any other decorative window treatments are subject to the review and approval of the HRA Board.
• 1/3 of the front building face must be brick, stone or stucco. (A full front porch treatment may be used in lieu of the 1/3 brick, stone, stucco requirement, or other architectural treatment, subject to HRA Board approval.)
• The front face of the residence must be treated with such architectural features as roofline breaks, building face fenestration, window and roofline dormers, decorative entrance canopies or parapets, and decorative front doors.
• All garage doors are required to have architectural treatments. Said treatments may include raised panel garage doors; wood veneer garage doors; and garage doors with window installation, including grill installations .

Side Wall Building Treatments

Residences with exposed side walls, or residing on corner lots, are required to provide ample window breaks on the exposed side wall of the residence.

Front Porch Treatment

If a majority of the immediately adjacent residences have full front porch treatments, the new residence must have a full front porch or other architectural features consistent with the neighborhood approved by the architectural review board. If unfinished wood components are used to construct the porch, the wood must be stained, painted or otherwise treated. All front stairway entrances must be constructed with concrete, stone or masonry materials. No wooden entrance stairs are permitted.

Revised 5/06