St. Paul City Council passes cannabis business zoning ordinance

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – The St. Paul City Council unanimously passed an ordinance on Wednesday that regulates how and where cannabis retailers conduct business in the city. 

What the ordinance says 

• The zoning ordinance states cannabis businesses must be at least 300 feet from a primary or secondary school.
• Cannabis retailers must also have a 24/7 surveillance camera system that visually records all sales areas and points of entry and exit. 
• The entrance to a cannabis shop must also be separate from a business licensed as a tobacco shop.
• The ordinance also prohibits outdoor cultivation in residential areas.
• St. Paul now requires a conditional use permit (CUP) for retail locations that are larger than 15,000 feet, unless the location is in an industrial district. 
• Limited cannabis production and cultivation, defined as an operation that is under 15,000 square feet, is allowed in mixed-use, commercial and industrial districts. Commercial outdoor cultivation, like rooftop growing, requires a CUP.
• Cultivation operations larger than 15,000 square feet can only be located in industrial-zoned districts. 

Cannabis zoning maps 

The St. Paul Planning and Economic Development Department shared maps that illustrate the zones outlined in the ordinance. 

What city leaders are saying 

Council President and Ward 4 Representative said “I am proud of the thoughtful zoning amendments passed by the City Council today, which set the table for an equitable and economically beneficial local cannabis industry in our capital city. St. Paul is leading the way in modeling how cities can approach the opportunity of this landmark new state law.”

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said “This is a critical step forward toward establishing a vibrant and responsible cannabis industry.”